Urban Sustainability Through Pavement Technologies: Reducing Urban Heat Islands with Cool Pavements

Urban development driven by population growth and technological advancements has intensified urban heat islands (UHIs), contributing to environmental damage and health risks. This study explores the potential of cool pavements as a critical strategy for mitigating UHIs, focusing on reflective, evaporative, and energy-storing technologies. Over 400 reputable scientific articles were reviewed to analyze UHI causes; measurement methods, including remote sensing and laboratory techniques; and the effectiveness of various pavement solutions. Reflective pavements demonstrated a capacity to lower surface temperatures by 5–20 °C depending on reflectivity changes, while evaporative pavements reduced temperatures by 5–35 °C based on type and design. Advanced energy-storing pavements not only achieved a 3–5 °C temperature reduction but also generated renewable energy. This research provides a comprehensive classification of pavement cooling systems and evaluates their quantitative and qualitative benefits, emphasizing the transformative role of cool pavements in enhancing urban sustainability and reducing UHI effects.