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Biography
I have been involved in the maintenance of pavement structures in urban areas since 2011. In 2018, I received my Master of Science degree in Transportation Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Nottingham. My modules covered both Sustainable Highways and Railways. My first major laboratory research work was in 2018 when I investigated the mechanism of clogging in porous asphalt mixtures using transparent virtual 3D printed asphalt specimens.
My vision for the future is to see roads that can live in a healthy symbiosis with the urban environment. I wish someday, roads can fully contribute towards ongoing efforts of making our cities SMARTer. To this end, I joined the SaferUP! Project in 2020 as an Early Stage Researcher at the University of Nottingham. SeferUP! is a project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action. It aims towards providing. more liveable cities by applying solutions developed through cutting-edge research.
My current research work involves investigating the use of robots to repair defects in asphalt road surfaces. The purpose of this project is to develop a robot that is able to circulate autonomously through a road, detecting and repairing cracks and potholes, and demonstrate it in the laboratory and onsite. This has become necessary as current defect repair methods are largely manual and expose work gangs to road accidents. Moreover, manual repairs generate wastes and their quality could be inconsistent. I see the application of advanced technologies such are 3D printing and physics engines as an excellent opportunity to automate these repair works and make road maintenance, in general, more sustainable. Ultimately, the results of this research will have a tremendous impact on the future of road maintenance.
Expertise Summary
Pavement performance prediction and defect remediation.
Research Summary
Automation in road maintenance.
The development and optimization of new and existing pavement materials and maintenance techniques to enhance pavement mechanical performance and environmental… read more
Selected Publications
GARCIA, A, ABOUFOUL, M, ASAMOAH, F and JING, D, 2019. Study the influence of the air void topology on porous asphalt clogging Construction & building materials. 227, 116791
Current Research
- Automation in road maintenance.
- The development and optimization of new and existing pavement materials and maintenance techniques to enhance pavement mechanical performance and environmental friendliness.
Past Research
My previous research works have mainly been around:
1. Investigating the mechanism of clogging in porous asphalt mixtures.
2. On-street parking studies
Future Research
1. Self-healing of cracks in asphalt mixtures.
2. Full automation of defects in asphalt concretes.