Use of Patent Information for Technological Prospecting on the Application of Construction and Demolition Waste on Permeable Pavement

Abstract

The growing concern regarding environmental issues is mainly related to the fact that natural resources are limited, and the environment is unable to absorb the current amount of generated waste. The construction industry is recognized as one of the sectors that consume the most natural resources and generates waste. A problem resulting from urbanization is the alteration of the natural hydrological cycle, due to an increase in the rate of soil waterproofing, resulting in an increase in the volume and constancy of the floods. The production and publication of knowledge are essential for the development of research, however, studies directed at the feasibility of applying and commercializing this knowledge are insufficient. The patent information serves as a source to map the technological prospecting, presenting relevant information to the application of the invention with the purpose of commercialization. This study applied a survey of patent information about permeable pavement using construction and demolition waste (CDW) as an alternative raw material. The authors conducted an exploratory study based on a survey of existing patents in international databases, through Google Patents, EPO (Espacenet), and WIPO (Patentscope), verifying the degree of technological development, holders of inventions, and potential markets. We used the terms “construction and demolition waste”, “pavement” and “paving” to obtain the patent results. As a result, 65 patents were filed, highlighting as depositing countries, the dominance of the United States, Brazil, Japan, and China. The knowledge contained in patents can collaborate to make decisions related to sustainability in the civil construction sector.