A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Pave Less
Abstract The United States paves more area every two years than the Roman Empire did in its entire existence.1 Since 1980, an average of 25,500 miles has been added yearly. The US Department of Transportation counts a total of 8,766,049 “lane miles” of public highway, as of 2014.2 Assuming an average 12-foot lane width, plus 4 feet for shoulder and other auxiliary areas, one lane-mile equals 84,480 square feet, or nearly two acres. The total—17 million acres—is enough paved area to cover New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware. Add to this an estimated 4.7 million acres (1,921,582 hectares) devoted to parking in the United States.3 The US road network is “perhaps the biggest object ever built.”4 By one estimate, the US Interstate Highway System alone excavated enough soil to cover Connecticut knee-deep, and used concrete enough for 80 Hoover Dams, steel for 170 Empire State Buildings, and drain pipe to match water and sewer for Chicago six times over.5 It is easy to see that paving is an environmental issue of colossal proportions.6
Pave Less
Abstract The United States paves more area every two years than the Roman Empire did in its entire existence.1 Since 1980, an average of 25,500 miles has been added yearly. The US Department of Transportation counts a total of 8,766,049 “lane miles” of public highway, as of 2014.2 Assuming an average 12-foot lane width, plus 4 feet for shoulder and other auxiliary areas, one lane-mile equals 84,480 square feet, or nearly two acres. The total—17 million acres—is enough paved area to cover New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware. Add to this an estimated 4.7 million acres (1,921,582 hectares) devoted to parking in the United States.3 The US road network is “perhaps the biggest object ever built.”4 By one estimate, the US Interstate Highway System alone excavated enough soil to cover Connecticut knee-deep, and used concrete enough for 80 Hoover Dams, steel for 170 Empire State Buildings, and drain pipe to match water and sewer for Chicago six times over.5 It is easy to see that paving is an environmental issue of colossal proportions.6
Pave Less
Sorvig, Kim (author) / Thompson, J. William (author)
Sustainable Landscape Construction ; 235-262
Third Edition
2018-01-01
28 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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