Traditional cement and asphalt road surfaces do not retain rainwater, but this will be completely changed with the use of some eco-porous materials.”Permeable concrete; during rainy days, rainwater passes through pavement cracks and infiltrates into the underlying strata, where it can be stored for a period of time.“Summer temperatures rise, and standing on it, one can distinctly feel the difference in humidity and temperature compared to other surfaces—this is the sponge effect.”。

Permeable concrete construction measurement

1. Set up weighing scales on-site. Adhere strictly to the design specifications for mixing ratios; each cement measurement is designed per bag, stones are weighed using small carts, and various additives are precisely measured in barrel-type containers; for quick measurement, mark clear lines on the vehicles or barrels after the first weighing, but still weigh each time.

2. Stirring:

Place aggregates, cement, and additives in the mixer and blend for about 1 minute. Then, add water as needed based on the workability of the mixture, until it reaches the required consistency.

3. Shipping:

The mixture is transported to the construction site by engineering vehicles or hand.

4. Permeable concrete flooring installation

a. Subgrade Treatment: Clean the subgrade surface, ensuring it is free of dust, twigs, paper屑, and other debris. Wet the subgrade surface before laying.

b. Fabric: When laying permeable paving, consider the vibration compacted reserved height. When using manual fabric for permeable paving, use a shovel to turn over, and strictly prohibit throwing. If the laying time of permeable paving exceeds 30 minutes or there is strong wind, cover the concrete on site with plastic sheeting to prevent rapid evaporation of the permeable paving moisture.

c. Vibrating Compaction: After the plain color permeable floor fabric is completed, it is leveled with a trowel and then compacted using a flat vibratory compactor. Once compacted, lay the surface layer of colored permeable floor or colored aggregate permeable concrete, level it, promptly add missing materials to areas with shortages, and use specialized permeable floor equipment for surface vibration and leveling until it is flush with the formwork.

d. Surface Refinement: Promptly finish the edges of the permeable concrete after rolling, fill and refine the areas with missing materials, and for drier sections, spray a uniform layer of water first, then add materials for refinement.

e. After the permeable concrete reveals aggregate, once the surface is smooth and compactness meets the requirements, spray and brush a cleaning agent evenly over the surface, then cover it with plastic film. After 6-8 hours (depending on weather conditions) post-spraying, use a high-pressure water jet to rinse the surface. When rinsing, ensure the cleaning agent is thoroughly cleaned, but avoid any phenomena such as falling aggregates.

f. Maintenance: After the surface of the permeable pavement is finished, it should be watered lightly and covered with plastic film for maintenance. The maintenance period is the same as that of ordinary concrete. During the maintenance period, barriers should be set around the road surface, and it is strictly prohibited for people and vehicles to enter.

A sponge city refers to a city development approach that, through enhancing urban planning and construction management, fully utilizes the ecosystem of buildings, roads, green spaces, and water systems to absorb, infiltrate, and slowly release rainwater, effectively controlling stormwater runoff. It achieves natural storage, infiltration, and purification of rainwater. Measures such as rooftop greening and rainwater collection and utilization facilities enable the city to absorb and release rainwater like a "sponge," flexibly adapting to environmental changes, coping with natural disasters, and ensuring that "light rain does not cause flooding, heavy rain does not lead to internal waterlogging, water bodies remain clear and odor-free, and the heat island effect is mitigated."