Effect of parked cars on grass-soils

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Digimap Case Study:
Planted parking surfaces for optimal oil retention/degradation

Author

Michelle Barrett

Title

Planted parking surfaces for optimal oil retention/degradation

Date

Summer 2007

Application Area

Sustainable drainage; Environmental Science

Application to other subject areas

GIS

Project type

Ph.D Research

Summary

This study forms part of the research of a Ph.D within the Sustainable Drainage Applied Research Group at Coventry University. Sustainable drainage is identified as being successful method of managing surface and storm water (CIRIA Report C522, 2001), imitating natural drainage and treating runoff pollutants simultaneously (Coombs, 2004).

Previous research on sustainable drainage at Coventry University, spanning over a decade of work (Coupe et al. 2005), has concentrated on ‘hard’ permeable surfaces, such as porous paving blocks. This Ph.D research took on a different angle, concentrating on a ‘green’ and more natural surface. With planted surfaces already in existence as driveways, car parks and access roads, little is known of how they tolerate vehicles driving on, and potentially polluting, their surface. Thus this research will provide greater knowledge of an alternative to impermeable surfaces.

In 2006, a planted parking surface was installed by Warwickshire County Council at Clinton Primary School in Kenilworth, in addition to the existing tarmac parking spaces. Reinforced plastic grids were installed, filled with topsoil, and seeded with grass. In collaboration with the school and the university, the planted surfaces were monitored as outlined below. The results will be analysed spatially by means of GIS.

Datasets Used

Name: Map Series: Classic; Edition: Current; Scale: 1:1250
Source: Digimap

Aims and Objectives

The aims of this research were to discover the opinions of those using the planted surface spaces and determine how the vehicles parking on the planted surface spaces affected the surface, with particular reference to grass growth and wear, soil compaction and identification of contaminants from soil samples.

Methodology

Collaboration between Clinton Primary School and Coventry University was established, enabling regular access to the site. To establish the thoughts, opinions and knowledge of parking behaviour on the grass surface parking spaces, a questionnaire was designed and completed by the staff at the school.

Each grass reinforcement cell was monitored to assess the impact of car parking on grass growth by visual examination and soil compaction using a penetrometer. From these data, it will be possible to observe if there is a distinction between bays that are more regularly used compared to those with less use, and if there is a difference spatially across each parking bay.

The spatial distribution of contaminants on the planted surface due to the passage and parking of vehicles was investigated by heavy metal geochemistry of the surface soil by wet digestion followed by analysis using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry. Further properties to be measured include mineral magnetism and loss on ignition.

The data will be input into ArcGIS 9.1 to provide a spatial map of each parking bay by property, enabling the determination of any relationship between the variables.

Work is still in progress, with magnetism and ICP analyses of the soil samples to be completed in Autumn 2007. In terms of outcome, this study will provide the first information of its kind on the efficiency and potential of planted surfaces as an alternative to impervious surfaces, aiding the prevention of flooding and groundwater contamination.

Additional Information

	Fig 1. The planted parking surface at Clinton Primary School, Kenilworth (view from the car park entrance).
	Fig 2. A view of the planted parking surface car park from the tarmac surface parking area.
	Fig 3. A car parked on the planted parking surface.
	Fig 4. A close-up of the plastic reinforcement blocks that stabilise the car park and prevent the vehicle tyres from digging up the grass.
	Fig 5. A detailed map of the school site in Kenilworth (Digimap) & planted surface car park, the five bays are circled in blue.

References

CIRIA (2000). Sustainable urban drainage systems: design manual for England and Wales. CIRIA: C522. ISBN: 0880175227.

Coombs (2004). Surrounding buildings with SUDS – for a cleaner environment. Student Study Section, Micro Drainage Ltd. [Link no longer available]

Coupe S J, Lowe T, Smith H G and Eastwood I W (2005). The effects of nutrients on the biodegradation of used and unused oil in permeable pavement systems. Proc. Third National Conference on Sustainable Drainage. Coventry University, 20-21 June 2005.

Acknowledgements

Dr Sue Charlesworth (Director of Studies), SUDs Applied Research Group, Coventry University

The staff at Clinton Primary School, Kenilworth.

John Reading, Warwickshire County Council.

Tony Wiseman, SOL Construction.

Publishing Institution

Faculty of Business Environment and Society-University of Coventry

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