As the Arctic becomes more important for national security and transportation, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) must maintain critical infrastructure like roads, runways, and buildings on land with permafrost—permanently frozen ground. Warming temperatures are causing this ground to thaw, leading to damage and costly repairs. Current solutions to keep the ground cold are expensive or hard to use in remote areas.

We are testing a new, simple technology called Cooling Geotextile (CGT), a white, fabric-like material made from local plants. CGT cools the ground by reflecting sunlight and releasing heat at night, without using electricity. It is strong, biodegradable, and easy to install. In tests, CGT kept the soil up to 24°C cooler than bare ground. It also met U.S. engineering standards for strength and durability.

This fall, we began testing CGT on permafrost near Fairbanks, Alaska. We are measuring how well it protects the ground and whether it affects local plants. CGT could help extend the life of military infrastructure in the Arctic while reducing maintenance costs and environmental impact. Our results show that passive cooling technologies like CGT offer a promising solution for protecting permafrost and supporting long-term infrastructure resilience.