Author: Dahyun Jung (Yonsei University) - Urbanization and climate change have intensified water management challenges worldwide, leading to increased urban flooding and groundwater depletion. As a potential mitigation strategy, permeable pavements have been explored for their ability to restore natural water cycles and improve urban resilience. While previous studies have analyzed the life cycle costs (LCC) and environmental benefits of permeable pavements in various regions, limited research has examined their cost-effectiveness under climate change scenarios specific to South Korea. This study evaluates the LCC of three paving methods—permeable asphalt, permeable block, and conventional impervious asphalt—in off-street parking lots under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) climate scenarios over a 30-year period (2024–2053). The analysis incorporates initial construction, maintenance, repaving, and demolition costs, as well as the economic benefits of rainwater utilization. Results indicate that impervious asphalt has the lowest LCC but lacks environmental benefits. Among permeable options, permeable asphalt is the most cost-effective, with an LCC approximately 49% higher than impervious asphalt but benefiting from lower maintenance and repaving costs. Rainwater utilization significantly offsets costs in regions with high precipitation and water tariffs. Notably, variations across SSP climate scenarios were minimal, as projected rainfall differences over the 30-year period had a limited impact on economic outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating economic and climate considerations into sustainable urban infrastructure planning. This study provides a data-driven framework for policymakers and urban planners to optimize pavement strategies, offering insights applicable to other rapidly urbanizing regions facing similar water management and climate adaptation challenges.
