Permeable Pavement Systems for Effective Management of Stormwater Quantity and Quality: A Bibliometric Analysis and Highlights of Recent Advancements

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the field of permeable pavement systems (PPS), especially in the scope of stormwater management as a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS). In this study, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis followed by a systematic review were conducted to capture the nature and evolution of literature, intellectual structure networks, emerging themes, and knowledge gaps in the field of PPS. Relevant publications over 22 years (2000–2021) were retrieved from the Web of Science database for analysis. Results revealed that slight modifications within the PPS layers or incorporation of innovative filters could result in improved contaminant removal efficiency. Impermeable soils and PPS pore size were the main limiting factors affecting the permeability and infiltration rates. A combination of maintenance procedures was presented and proven effective in mitigating clogging effects, mostly occurring at the upper 1.5–2.5 cm of the PPS. Although partial replacement of the PPS mix design with recycled aggregates improved the overall permeability, the compressive strength was slightly compromised. The present study also discusses several evolving aspects for water quality improvements, innovative investigations that include recycled aggregates, and other lessons learned and future research directions in the area of PPS. Findings from the conducted analysis provide researchers, designers, urban planners, and even municipalities with research gaps and technical deficiencies in implementing and investigating PPS.