Permeable Pavements: An Integrative Review of Technical and Environmental Contributions to Sustainable Cities

Rapid urban growth and the expansion of impervious surfaces have intensified environmental issues such as flooding, water pollution, and urban heat islands. Permeable pavements have emerged as a green infrastructure solution to mitigate these impacts and support the sustainable development of cities. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrative review on the state of the art of permeable pavements, with a focus on their technical and environmental contributions. The methodology followed the PRISMA guidelines, using the Scopus database to select the most cited articles across four thematic areas: Life Cycle Assessment; infiltration capacity and pollutant retention; mitigation of heat islands and flooding; and the impacts of climate and clogging. The results show that, despite the initial cost and production-related impacts, permeable pavements offer long-lasting benefits, including reduced surface runoff, pollutant filtration, and evaporative cooling. The main economic limitations identified were clogging, which decreases system efficiency, and the high implementation cost, highlighting the need for regular maintenance and innovations in materials. In summary, permeable pavements are an effective strategy for sustainable urban development, but their longevity depends on proper design and maintenance.