Barcelona Advances In THE Permeable Pavement Pilot to Strengthen Urban Climate Resilience

8. Dezember 2025 | News

Barcelona is reinforcing its role as a pioneer in climate-resilient urban infrastructure through the permeable pavement pilot of the European project MULTICLIMACT. This innovative solution is designed to improve water management, reduce urban flooding risks, and enhance safety, supporting the city’s adaptation to climate change.

By Aurea Plumed (Departament de Coordinació i Innovació, Municipality of Barcelona)

Why Permeable Pavement Matters

Urban areas across Europe face growing challenges from extreme rainfall events and surface runoff, which can lead to flooding, water pollution, and infrastructure damage. Permeable pavements allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground instead of overwhelming drainage systems, making them a key tool for nature-based solutions and sustainable urban planning.

By integrating this technology into high-traffic areas, MULTICLIMACT aims to demonstrate how cities can combine green infrastructure with mobility safety to create resilient and sustainable cities.

Pilot Implementation in Barcelona

The pilot pavement has been installed in two demanding locations:

• A bike lane, where comfort and safety for cyclists are essential (see title picture and picture below)
• An access ramp in front of the University parking lot, a zone with high mechanical stress that tests durability under heavy use

Monitoring and Early Results

Following installation, the project entered a critical phase of monitoring and calibration. Current activities include:

• Mechanical performance: So far, the pavement has performed optimally both on the bike lane and in the access ramp area in front of the University parking lot, which is particularly demanding.

• System validation: Data is already being collected, allowing hypotheses to be formulated on the pavement’s capacity for water retention and permeability.

Next steps for 2026

The upcoming year will focus on advanced testing and user feedback:

• Pollutogram tests will be conducted to analyze contaminant filtration
• Cleaning trials with a specialized company
• Cyclist safety surveys to assess the impact on cyclist safety will be launched in a later phase

This pilot is more than a local innovation: it is part of a broader effort to implement EU climate adaptation strategies and resilient infrastructure solutions.

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About MULTICLIMACT:

MULTICLIMACT is an EU-funded project aimed at safeguarding Europe’s built environment against the increasing threats of natural and climatic hazards. By uniting 25 leading European organisations, MULTICLIMACT aims to enhance resilience, sustainability, and safety for communities across the continent. Through innovative strategies, including a toolkit of 20 reliable methods and digital solutions, the project targets the urgent need for adaptive measures against floods, earthquakes, extreme weather conditions and heatwaves. Tested across four pilot sites with diverse climatic conditions, MULTICLIMACT embodies a shared vision for a safer, more resilient future, focusing on actions to reduce the impact of climate change on the built environment. For more information, please visit www.multiclimact.eu