Qatar painted roads blue to fight extreme heat in sunlight-reflecting trial
Qatar is conducting an 18-month pilot study using blue, sunlight-reflecting asphalt to combat extreme heat in urban areas. The project aims to determine if this material can significantly lower road temperatures compared to traditional black asphalt.
Why it matters
It represents an innovative urban planning strategy to mitigate the 'urban heat island' effect in desert climates.
Public Works Authority Ashghal has completed a pilot of cool pavement on roads in Qatar. The authority announced the work on 19 August 2019. An asphalt-cooling material was applied to up to 200 metres of vehicle lanes on Abdullah bin Jassim Street, beside Souq Waqif, and to 200 metres of pedestrian and bicycle paths in front of Katara, the Cultural Village. According to an official from the Public Works Authority ('Ashghal') in Qatar, conventional asphalt absorbs up to 80 to 95% of sunlight, while the new coating reflects about 50%. Sensors will compare its temperature with conventional asphalt over an 18-month study, carried out with the Japanese company Oriental.Why is Qatar painting some roads blue instead of blackThe pilot used an asphalt-cooling material on parts of Abdullah bin Jassim Street, next to Souq Waqif.
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