Citation:

Brown, R., Mike Borst, J. Rivard, J. Gray, AND L. Kurtz. Use of Time Domain Reflectometers (TDRs) in Permeable Pavement Systems to Predict Maintenance Needs and Effectiveness. Presented at 2013 International Low Impact Development Symposium, Saint Paul, MN, August 18 - 21, 2013.

Impact/Purpose:

This abstract is for a presentation to describe the use of time domain reflectometers to predict the maintenance needs of permeable pavement strips installed along the parking lanes of roads in Louisville, KY.

Description:

As the surface in permeable pavement systems clogs, infiltration capacity decreases, so maintenance is required to maintain hydrologic performance. There is limited direct guidance for determining when maintenance is needed to prevent surface runoff bypass. Research is being conducted using multiple embedded time domain reflectometers (TDRs) beneath the permeable pavement surface to remotely monitor surface infiltration. These instruments are used to measure the relative amount of infiltrating water at each location. This research refines earlier work at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Edison Environmental Center and evaluates placement strategies and responses to maintenance activity at a field application in Louisville, Kentucky. Placement is critical to adequately evaluate surface clogging and develop maintenance guidance. Contributing drainage area size and composition influence sediment load, so the ratio of drainage area to working width of permeable surface is an important design parameter to predict the rate of surface clogging. TDR responses from rainfall events at the first two installed controls support the hypothesized mechanics of surface clogging progressing from the upgradient edge. Manual surface infiltration measurements were conducted at each site before and after maintenance activities. These measurements supported changes in TDR response with the progression of surface clogging and evaluation of restoration of infiltration capacity. A benefit of the embedded sensors and remote monitoring capability is that manual surface infiltration measurements and repeated field visits are not required to understand surface condition and to schedule maintenance. This presentation will describe how TDRs were used to provide guidance for maintenance scheduling and highlight the rate of surface clogging from all six sites in Louisville.

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