Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CIRCOPAV (Circular and Connected Pavements for Carbon-Neutral and Digital Roads)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-10-01 do 2024-09-30
Roads are vital for economic and social development, enabling the movement of people and goods. Travel by car constitutes 82.9% of passenger-kilometers across the EU, reflecting the dependence on roads. The road infrastructure faces the following challenges:
-Increased vehicle numbers and insufficient infrastructure capacity.
-Current funding gaps: the World Bank has funded 260,000 Km of roads since 2002 but estimates $3.2 trillion in annual funding is required globally
-Climate change is exacerbating infrastructure failures, with estimated annual damage costs rising from €0.8 billion to €11.9 billion by the end of the century.
Another aspect of this situation is the demand for a broader context of transition with shifts towards decarbonization and post fossil fuel societies. To do this we have to adapt the advancements made in transportation technologies, including autonomous vehicles, alternative fuels, digitalization and IoT.
The CIRCOPAV project, part of the European Union's Horizon Europe initiative, aims to revolutionize road infrastructure by creating circular and connected pavements for carbon-neutral and digitalized roads. It is a Doctoral Training Network involving eight universities, industry partners, and road administrations across eight countries. The project focuses on two primary pillars:
1. Smart and Connected Pavements: This involves integrating digital technologies to develop resilient, automated road networks. These smart pavements will leverage sensors and data analytics for real-time monitoring and maintenance, enhancing road safety and durability.
2. Climate Neutral and Resilient Infrastructure: The project aims to design sustainable pavements with reduced carbon footprints by utilizing eco-friendly materials and recycling techniques, aligning with the European Green Deal and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
CIRCOPAV includes ten individual research projects tackling various aspects of pavement design, construction, and lifecycle management. It focuses on interdisciplinary training for doctoral candidates to prepare a new generation of experts in sustainable road engineering.
With the conclusion of CIRCOPAV we will have enhanced leadership for Europe in sustainable road innovations and in the creation of smart, circular and connected roads to meet the evolving societal demands.
-Increased vehicle numbers and insufficient infrastructure capacity.
-Current funding gaps: the World Bank has funded 260,000 Km of roads since 2002 but estimates $3.2 trillion in annual funding is required globally
-Climate change is exacerbating infrastructure failures, with estimated annual damage costs rising from €0.8 billion to €11.9 billion by the end of the century.
Another aspect of this situation is the demand for a broader context of transition with shifts towards decarbonization and post fossil fuel societies. To do this we have to adapt the advancements made in transportation technologies, including autonomous vehicles, alternative fuels, digitalization and IoT.
The CIRCOPAV project, part of the European Union's Horizon Europe initiative, aims to revolutionize road infrastructure by creating circular and connected pavements for carbon-neutral and digitalized roads. It is a Doctoral Training Network involving eight universities, industry partners, and road administrations across eight countries. The project focuses on two primary pillars:
1. Smart and Connected Pavements: This involves integrating digital technologies to develop resilient, automated road networks. These smart pavements will leverage sensors and data analytics for real-time monitoring and maintenance, enhancing road safety and durability.
2. Climate Neutral and Resilient Infrastructure: The project aims to design sustainable pavements with reduced carbon footprints by utilizing eco-friendly materials and recycling techniques, aligning with the European Green Deal and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
CIRCOPAV includes ten individual research projects tackling various aspects of pavement design, construction, and lifecycle management. It focuses on interdisciplinary training for doctoral candidates to prepare a new generation of experts in sustainable road engineering.
With the conclusion of CIRCOPAV we will have enhanced leadership for Europe in sustainable road innovations and in the creation of smart, circular and connected roads to meet the evolving societal demands.
The CIRCOPAV Network has successfully conducted two significant Training Weeks, providing valuable opportunities for learning, collaboration, and innovation in the road infrastructure and pavement sector.
First Training Week
The initial Training Week was held during the 13th Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa (CAPSA) on October 15-18, 2023. Themed *"Leading-edge Technology to Underpin Sustainable Road Provision,"* the event addressed critical focus areas, including:
1. Resilient Road Infrastructure:
- Tackling challenges of climate change and implementing a circular economy.
- Solutions for designing resilient infrastructure and reusing materials in bitumen-stabilized bases and asphalt mixes.
- Leveraging human capital amidst the impacts of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
2. Asset Preservation:
- Innovative methods and digital technologies for optimizing road lifecycle management and asset preservation.
3. Performance-Based Binder Specifications:
- Appraisal of South Africa's PG specification to guide developments for enhanced durability, climatic adaptability, and fatigue resistance.
4. Advancing Flexible Pavement Design:
- Novel, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for structural road design from South African and global perspectives.
5. Balanced Asphalt Mix Design:
- Transitioning from volumetric methods to performance-targeted mix designs.
- Exploring new testing methods, benefits, and risks of recycled materials, and adaptation for climate change.
6. Chip Seal Design:
- Refining methods to address evolving environmental demands in chip seal surfacing.
7. Construction and Design Objectives:
- Emphasizing the need for quality in construction processes to meet design objectives.
Second Training Week
The second week included the CIRCOPAV Workshop on Sponge Cities and Digitalization of Roads and the 8th Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress in Budapest, Hungary, from June 19-21, 2024.
The workshop focused on:
1. Digitalization and Sensor Technologies:
- Advancing road infrastructure with smart technologies.
2. Sponge Cities:
- Urban design for rainwater absorption and flood prevention.
3. Sustainable Asphalt Materials:
- Development of innovative materials for resilient infrastructure.
At the E&E 2024 Congress, the theme “Resilience – Sustainability – Innovation” resonated with discussions on:
- Resilience: Ensuring bitumen and asphalt meet evolving demands and extended life cycles.
- Sustainability: Highlighting sustainability attributes of materials in response to future requirements.
- Innovation: Showcasing advancements in digitalization, performance, and mobility solutions.
Key objectives of the Congress included:
- Providing a platform to share innovations and network effectively.
- Encouraging debate to address future challenges.
- Engaging future leaders to foster industry involvement.
Doctoral Candidates’ Experience
Throughout these Training Weeks, Doctoral Candidates strengthened connections with academia and industry. Participation in prestigious events enriched their expertise and provided a comprehensive understanding of global developments in road infrastructure and sustainability.
First Training Week
The initial Training Week was held during the 13th Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa (CAPSA) on October 15-18, 2023. Themed *"Leading-edge Technology to Underpin Sustainable Road Provision,"* the event addressed critical focus areas, including:
1. Resilient Road Infrastructure:
- Tackling challenges of climate change and implementing a circular economy.
- Solutions for designing resilient infrastructure and reusing materials in bitumen-stabilized bases and asphalt mixes.
- Leveraging human capital amidst the impacts of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
2. Asset Preservation:
- Innovative methods and digital technologies for optimizing road lifecycle management and asset preservation.
3. Performance-Based Binder Specifications:
- Appraisal of South Africa's PG specification to guide developments for enhanced durability, climatic adaptability, and fatigue resistance.
4. Advancing Flexible Pavement Design:
- Novel, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for structural road design from South African and global perspectives.
5. Balanced Asphalt Mix Design:
- Transitioning from volumetric methods to performance-targeted mix designs.
- Exploring new testing methods, benefits, and risks of recycled materials, and adaptation for climate change.
6. Chip Seal Design:
- Refining methods to address evolving environmental demands in chip seal surfacing.
7. Construction and Design Objectives:
- Emphasizing the need for quality in construction processes to meet design objectives.
Second Training Week
The second week included the CIRCOPAV Workshop on Sponge Cities and Digitalization of Roads and the 8th Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress in Budapest, Hungary, from June 19-21, 2024.
The workshop focused on:
1. Digitalization and Sensor Technologies:
- Advancing road infrastructure with smart technologies.
2. Sponge Cities:
- Urban design for rainwater absorption and flood prevention.
3. Sustainable Asphalt Materials:
- Development of innovative materials for resilient infrastructure.
At the E&E 2024 Congress, the theme “Resilience – Sustainability – Innovation” resonated with discussions on:
- Resilience: Ensuring bitumen and asphalt meet evolving demands and extended life cycles.
- Sustainability: Highlighting sustainability attributes of materials in response to future requirements.
- Innovation: Showcasing advancements in digitalization, performance, and mobility solutions.
Key objectives of the Congress included:
- Providing a platform to share innovations and network effectively.
- Encouraging debate to address future challenges.
- Engaging future leaders to foster industry involvement.
Doctoral Candidates’ Experience
Throughout these Training Weeks, Doctoral Candidates strengthened connections with academia and industry. Participation in prestigious events enriched their expertise and provided a comprehensive understanding of global developments in road infrastructure and sustainability.
Despite the absence of tangible results at this stage, the nature of the research projects within the CIRCOPAV Network necessitates significant initial groundwork before yielding measurable outcomes. The Steering Committee has reviewed the progress and considers all research initiatives to be advancing at a suitable and satisfactory pace. This foundational phase is critical to ensuring robust and impactful results in the long term, aligning with the project's overarching goals of innovation, sustainability, and resilience in road infrastructure.