Abstract
A special material for pavement, “Katsuren Travertine” is produced from limestone (foraminifera rich) mined enough around Katsuren Town in the Okinawa Island. One advantage of “Katsuren Travertine” as a paving material comparing with others like concrete is saving the increase of surface temperature by solar radiation. To apply this “Katsuren Travertine” on pavement in urban area for thermal environmental mitigation, the saving mechanism has to be quantitatively evaluated. The authors have settled “Katsuren Travertine” with the size of 5m × 5m and comparative normal concrete blocks on a flat grassland with no sunshade, and monitored surface temperature, conductive heat flux, radiation balance, and other meteorological factors from July to November in 2003. As another comparative study, the high-albedo painting which fitted the reflection rate to “Katsuren Travertine” was applied on the surface of the concrete. Due to not only its high reflectance but also its thermal physical factors like specific heat capacity, the authors concluded “Katsuren Travertine” has a potential to mitigate urban thermal environment. But more examination is necessary about the physiological impact for pedestrians of the application.
