Reflective Pavement Application for Heat Island Mitigation in Rural Hill Settlements: A Hypothetical Analytical Case Study of Villages along the Kiratpur-Mandi Highway (Himachal Pradesh, India)

Abstract

Rural hill settlements across India are increasingly experiencing extreme heat stress due to expanding asphalt infrastructure and limited vegetation cover. This study presents a hypothetical yet data-driven simulation of reflective pavement application as a passive strategy to mitigate localized heat islands in selected villages along the Kiratpur–Mandi Highway, Himachal Pradesh. Targeted sites include Dadaur, Auhar, Jakatkhana, Sundernagar, and Nagchala—regions vulnerable to radiative heat buildup due to steep slopes and dark bituminous surfaces. By increasing pavement albedo from 0.10 (asphalt) to 0.45 (reflective materials), surface temperature simulations indicate potential reductions ranging from 3.1°C to 5.7°C. The model uses MODIS and Sentinel-2 satellite data, coupled with slope orientation and vegetation indices, to assess localized land surface temperature variations. A Terrain Vulnerability Index (TVI) was developed to identify high-risk segments based on exposure, shading, and NDVI thresholds. The findings reveal strong correlations between albedo improvement and thermal comfort, road durability, and public health protection—particularly for schoolchildren and elderly pedestrians. While experimental trials were not conducted, the simulation framework aligns with validated surface energy balance models and existing international precedents. This research offers a scalable, low-cost mitigation approach for rural road development, and aligns with government schemes such as PMGSY and Smart Village programs. It recommends pilot implementation supported by satellite monitoring and Panchayat-level planning. By bridging remote sensing, material science, and rural policy, the study provides a novel reference model for climate-resilient infrastructure in underserved hilly geographies.

Introduction

This research explores how reflective pavements can reduce elevated land surface temperatures (LST) caused by expanding asphalt roads in rural mountainous areas, focusing on the Kiratpur–Mandi Highway corridor in Himachal Pradesh, India. Unlike the well-studied urban heat island effect, the impact of dark asphalt roads on rural hill microclimates is under-researched.

The study uses satellite data (MODIS, Sentinel-2) and terrain analysis to simulate how increasing pavement albedo from typical blacktop (~0.10) to reflective surfaces (~0.45) could lower surface temperatures by up to 5.7°C. This temperature reduction can improve thermal comfort for rural residents, extend pavement lifespan, and enhance climate resilience in vulnerable hill communities.

The research fills gaps in existing literature by adapting urban-focused reflective pavement strategies to rural, mountainous contexts and proposes a Terrain-Based Thermal Vulnerability Index (TVI) to prioritize intervention zones. The study also outlines practical policy recommendations for incorporating reflective coatings into India’s rural road programs, such as PMGSY and Panchayat planning, emphasizing low-cost, scalable solutions.

A hypothetical pilot simulation in the village of Dadaur demonstrated potential benefits including significant surface cooling and infrastructure durability gains. The work advocates for further field validation and integration of reflective pavement technologies in rural hill infrastructure as a climate-adaptive strategy.

Conclusion

This study delivers a transformative vision for rural infrastructure design by integrating thermal performance metrics into road surface planning — an aspect critically underrepresented in conventional engineering approaches. By optimizing surface albedo and simulating its effects through credible, location-specific datasets, the work introduces a climate-adaptive strategy that is both technically viable and financially accessible. The analysis revealed that reflective pavement systems, when deployed in heat-prone rural corridors like the Kiratpur–Mandi belt, can consistently lower peak surface temperatures by 4°C to 6°C. Such reductions are not only beneficial for pedestrian safety and comfort, but also directly contribute to extended pavement lifespan, reduced maintenance cycles, and lower lifecycle costs — particularly important for resource-constrained rural bodies. What sets this work apart is its replicability and policy-readiness. By aligning with existing schemes such as PMGSY, MGNREGA, and Smart Village Missions, the research creates a framework that can be scaled nationally with minimal resource restructuring. It directly supports India’s climate resilience goals, especially in semi-urban and hilly regions vulnerable to intensifying heatwaves. The findings also establish a precedent for incorporating thermal analytics and remote-sensing data into the core of infrastructure decision-making — an area often overlooked in traditional design standards. Civil engineering education, policy drafting, and field-level planning must evolve to accommodate these environmental imperatives. Ultimately, this research serves as a scientifically-grounded, technically sound, and socially urgent roadmap for reimagining rural road systems in the era of climate uncertainty. It calls upon engineers, planners, and policymakers to transition from reactive repairs to proactive, data-informed design interventions that safeguard both infrastructure and human health.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mr. Rahul Verma. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.