Smart Surfaces Coalition

Research and Reports

The Coalition has researched and published, with national partners and cities, rigorous and extensive cost benefit analyses of smart surfaces. This includes quantifying for the first time a dozen specific benefits of smart surfaces, many related to health, including reduction of temperature and pollution, reducing flood risk, and protecting city credit rating.

Smart Sidewalks Guidebook

guidebook summary

A research team at the Carnegie Mellon University Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics has developed a Smart Sidewalks Guidebook to support city policymakers in making informed decisions about sidewalk investments. While many cities face aging and deteriorating sidewalks that hinder walkability, sidewalk upgrades present a broader opportunity to address urban heat, flooding, and evolving mobility needs. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, sidewalks are increasingly being considered as critical sites for EV charging infrastructure within public space planning. Building on the Smart Surfaces Guide, this guidebook focuses specifically on sidewalk zones and introduces a Smart Sidewalk Taxonomy that integrates green infrastructure, grey infrastructure, electric utilities, and underground systems. By aligning sidewalk improvements with EV charging installation and climate-resilient design strategies, the guidebook helps cities maximize co-benefits for resilience, sustainability, and public realm quality. The Smart Sidewalks Guidebook serves as a practical reference for policymakers navigating the intersection of mobility, sustainability, and urban design.

 
 
 

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full guide book
 

smart surfaces guidebook

 

This document is based on the Smart Surfaces Guidebook, a decision-making resource for city policymakers. It introduces a Smart Surfaces Taxonomy that categorizes roofs, streets and sidewalks, and parking lots based on their reflectivity and permeability, helping cities address challenges related to urban heat, stormwater management, and climate resilience through informed surface design choices.

 
Smart Surfaces