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CoolWays. Development of a smart sensor controlled adiabatic cooling and attenuating paving technology

Project Leader: Pitha Ulrike, BOKU Project Leader

Duration:: 01.10.2020-30.09.2023

Programme:: Eurostars - MIT österreichischer KMU-Beteiligung

Type of Research: Applied Research

Project partners: Gartenhof Küsters GmbH , Am Gartenhof 1, 41470 Neuss, Germany.
Contact person: Hr. Küsters;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Green4cities GmbH, Plenergasse 1/Top 5, 1180 Wien, Austria.
Contact person: Bernhard König;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Raintime GmbH , Santorastraße 8, 2482 Münchendorf, Austria.
Contact person: Alfred Janousek;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Weissenböck Baustoffwerk GmbH , Weissenböck Str. 1, 2620 Neunkirchen, Austria.
Contact person: Stefan Weissenböck;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner

Staff: Langergraber Günter, Sub Projectleader; Pressl Alexander, Sub Projectleader; Scharf Bernhard, Project Staff; Stangl Rosemarie, Project Staff; Frühwirt Günther, Project Staff; Spörl Philipp, Project Staff; Mezger Lars, Project Staff

BOKU Research Units: Institute for Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control; Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction

Subproject(s):

Funded by: Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Sensengasse 1, 1090 Wien, Austria

Abstract: The main goal of this research project will be twofold. The Coolways Technology aims to provide major contribution to
1) The project result will be to develop, test and bring to the European market an innovative paving stone system called Coolways, which is able to disruptively reduce urban heat islands and significantly improve the retention capacity of rainfall up to 100%. By combining a new type of paving stone technology with integrated, intelligent irrigation technology, the Coolways system stores rainwater and gray water near the surface and homogenously evaporates it over a wide area. This will also contribute to the active adiabatic cooling of urban areas and thus will help to mitigate urban overheating. By storing rainwater and greywater in underground cisterns, the Coolways system also helps conserve natural drinking water resources and conserves the local canal system.
2) The rapid market entrance and penetration will be secured by having integrated important players along the value chain already in the project consortium and by having organized and integrated into that proposal different LoIs of main European market players in that sector (producers, sellers and adopters) wishing to establish a direct business cooperation after successful project end.
Climate change is the Nr.1 challenge of our generation according to UN. Urban adaptation to climate change is often linked only to plants. But the predominant parts of cities are subject to intensive use of pedestrians, mobility, and grey infrastructure as pipes that limit the applicability of plants. New innovative approaches, as Coolways, are needed that allow usability of valuable urban areas and climate adaptation regarding both, urban heat island and pluvial flooding.
The Coolways research consortium wants to develop a disruptive paving technology combining unrestricted usability and significant contribution to climate adaptation, called Coolways. Coolways can be realized in various aesthetic designs as concrete slabs, pavings and drainage concrete, with focus on inner cities. In contrast to standard pavings, Coolways react actively on heat and provide adiabatic cooling and reduce heat emission to reduce urban heat islands. AND Coolways retain rainwater, thus reducing run-off.

Keywords: Urban water supply and sanitation; Landscape architecture; Vegetation technology;; unsealing; grey water; Paving; rainwater management; water balance;