Theme I: Energy

Energy saving in asphalt pavement construction and rehabilitation can be achieved through the use of recycled asphalt materials (RAP), warm mix asphalt, self-healing properties of asphalt, rubber (tire), polymer, nano-clays, anti-stripping chemicals, and reduced construction emission. Currently, the U.S. government is implementing a number of efforts to improve energy efficiency and conservation in the transportation sector. This workshop is well aligned with the government’s efforts to reduce energy consumption in the paving industry. For example, warm-mix asphalt and emulsion allow asphalt to be mixed at temperatures much lower than regular mixing temperatures; recycling of old asphalt pavements can save time, costs , and aggregate resources; recycling on site not only conserves the diminishing resources of aggregates and petroleum products but also helps reduce disposal. In addition to saving energy, there exists the potential to extract heat from pavement during the summer as useable thermal energy; and the potential for generating electricity by utilizing traffic loading. The workshop will identify these new potentials and the required research.

Theme II: Environment

The use of extracted thermal energy from pavements for heating commercial buildings will reduce the use of fossil fuel, which reduces CO2 emissions. Porous pavement, warm mix asphalt, and recycling technologies are healthy technologies that can directly lower energy costs, green house gas emissions, and environmental pollutions. These emerging technologies need further research, assessment, and favoring policy for deployment. The workshop will identify these technologies, assessment methods, and brainstorm policies for deployment.

Theme III: Sustainability

A sustainable asphalt pavement can be defined as an HMA pavement designed and built to last more than 50 years without requiring major structural rehabilitation or reconstruction. Increased healing and decreased aging can be incorporated in characterizing and fabricating smart paving materials for building sustainable pavements. Innovative use of smart materials and new adaptive pavement structure can realistically lead to sustainable pavements. The workshop will identify research and education opportunities in renewable materials, innovative mix, structure design methods, and efficient construction process for sustainable and environmentally friendly pavements.

Technological innovations and the new philosophy for energy saving, minimizing environmental impacts, and sustainability present both opportunities and challenges for researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs from both countries in research and education collaborations and the development of joint ventures. The workshop will present a forum to identify and meet these challenges.