Impact of Innovative Road Surface on Air Quality and Noise

Innovation in Rotterdam: The Washing Road

In Rotterdam, a special road surface has been installed on the Westzeedijk, aiming to improve air quality and reduce traffic noise. This so-called "washing road" is a unique piece of technology: rainwater, collected from surrounding buildings, is used to ‘wash’ the road. Water flows from a gutter through the modified porous asphalt top layer. The expectation is that this technology will achieve an 8% reduction in fine dust and a 3dB reduction in noise.

Research and Measurements

The pilot project will run for a year; measurements regarding air quality and noise will be conducted in autumn 2009 and spring 2010. Measurements and result interpretation are carried out by specialized consultancy firm M+P Raadgevende Ingenieurs.

Fine Dust Measurements and Technology

Fine dust measurements are performed using GRIMM EDM 365 monitors. The EDM 365 includes a stationary aerosol spectrometer that simultaneously determines PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 fractions. In cases of high relative humidity, a permeation dryer activates to remove water molecules from the incoming air. The EDM 365 is a robust and durable instrument suitable for long-term online fine dust monitoring.

Project-Based Measurement Studies

Because the entire system is compact and housed in a weatherproof casing, the instrument is ideal for project-based measurement studies, such as in this “washing road” case. One EDM 365 monitor determines the background levels, while two other monitors assess the fine dust reduction effect of the road surface.