Cool Road Adelaide

Data-based insights

to inform planning

Testing and trialling

climate solutions for resilient cities

Promoting use of outdoor public space

for healthy, engaged and connected communities

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Project objectives

Understand the impact of the cool road surface on urban heat island effects;
Provide verification of the local benefirs of road sealants in mitigating surface temperature;
Work with the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities’ land surface temperature scenario modelling tool to develop an estimate of the day and night time heat island mitigation benefits at a whole of CBD scale.

Why is this project needed?

Urban heat islands are areas of land that retain more heat than other parts of the landscape. They can be caused where land surfaces like asphalt roads, dark colored pavements and roofs, and artificial turf result in higher surface temperatures.

In Adelaide, roads are one of the hottest land surface types during the day and also retain this heat into the evening. Reducing the build-up of heat on roads can help to encourage their use for cycling, reduce heat loads on cars and properties and contribute to cooler neighbourhoods. While trees offer shade and are often an option for cooling the road surface, they are not always practical in verges and along road sides where there is a narrow carriage way, low hanging powerlines or where there are water, gas, electricity and telecommunications services in the footpath.

How does Cool Road Adelaide address this issue?

A different approach to reducing road surface temperatures is to change the road surface. Climate-KIC Australia, is working to provide evidence to the City of Adelaide and other councils about the efficacy of applying a cool road surface treatment. This involves:

Treating of a section of road with cool road surface paint
Engaging the community to inform about the planned use and purpose of the road surface treatment
Evaluating of the performance of the road surface across a number of aspects
Reporting and sharing of results

The City of Adelaide alongside the South Australian Department of Environment and Water have identified Bowen Street in the Adelaide Central Market District the best location for the trial. This is due to its exposure to the sun, high overnight temperatures, and location as a busy area. Climate-KIC will support coordination between the City of Adelaide and researchers to measure the before state of temperature along the road, prior to installation and conditions that would trigger the installation.

Community members are invited to provide their feedback via the Your Say Adelaide page.