Theme and Focus Area
Theme: Circularity and Resilience in African Roads - Engineering Practical Pathways to Sustainability
The optimisation of future benefits of asphalt pavements will lie in maximising circularity in the road sector – where material reuse and recycling, innovation, and digital solutions converge to cut emissions, close material loops, and help in the transition to a climate neutral, circular and more resilient road network and economy. Each kilometre laid becomes a step towards a sustainable, net-zero transport system.
The conference will present up-to-date global approaches and technology to demonstrate commitment and support to sustainable practice supportive of developing clear environmental, asset management and governance strategies.
Focus Area
The conference theme has been subdivided into the following Focus Areas (subthemes) within the context of flexible road pavements. Please click on any Focus Area below to expand the content further.
- Designing to increase re-used and recycled asphalt content in pavements, while ensuring their performance and safety.
- Working towards CO₂ savings by designing for smooth road pavements, net-zero pathways, using life cycle assessment tools, product category roads (PCR), environmental product declarations (EPDs), and carbon credits.
- Promoting circularity by closing the loop through end-of-life asphalt strategies, deconstruction planning, and materials passports.
- Design for uncertainty in design inputs (e.g. evolving climate scenarios, variable materials, etc.) through adaptive standards, increased pavement life and durability, as well as using stochastic flexible pavement design methods.
- Designing asphalt pavements to be more resilient to weather variability and climate change through the introduction of innovative drainage, permeable/asphalt mixes, geo-composite barrier systems, etc.
2A Asphalt mix technology
- Balanced asphalt mix design in practice.
- Developments in asphalt mix technology to achieve energy efficiency, high RA content, binder substitution, rejuvenators, secondary and ecofriendly aggregates.
- Use of industrial by-products, reflective asphalt surfacing, warm mix asphalt, bitumen rubber asphalt and improved specifications.
2B Stabilised materials
- Advancing circularity and resource efficiency through stabilisation, including the use of cold recycling technologies and reclaimed materials.
- Advancing stabilisation technologies for pavement material improvement, including bituminous, cementitious, chemical, bio-based, and other innovative approaches.
- Optimising stabilised materials for improved performance and long-term pavement outcomes.
- Enhancing the durability and resilience of stabilised pavement layers under changing traffic, material, and environmental conditions.
- Strengthening confidence in stabilised materials through quality assurance, testing, implementation, and performance monitoring.
2C Surface treatments
- Selection of appropriate seal types and binders, ensuring good performance and safety with climatic, environmental and traffic challenges.
- Promoting circularity and longevity by timeously identifying suitable remedial measures e.g. reseal, rejuvenation.
- Design for uncertainty and variability in design inputs (e.g. evolving climate scenarios, variable materials, substrates etc.) through adaptive standards, increased pavement life and durability, and sensitivity analyses.
- Mitigating risks through correct construction processes.
2D New generation binders
- Performance-graded binder specifications – Chemical and rheological characterisation linked to performance.
- Bio-based binders (decarbonisation).
- Synthetic binders (non-refinery based binders).
- Non conventional additives in bituminous binders (Organosilanes/Polymers/Lignin).
- Highly modified binders (HiMA) for fatigue and rut resistance binders; SAMI (semi absorbing membrane on concrete & asphalt interface).
- Impact of warm mix additives and crumb rubber modification technologies on binder rheology.
- Developments in emulsions.
- Asset management and Building Information Modelling (BIM): The use of digital twins for asphalt production and road digital models including predictive modelling and real-time asset monitoring.
- The use of AI in investigations, design and construction, including for example road surface inspections, AI-optimised designs of road networks (generative design), AI-powered and autonomous construction equipment and scenario planning, Large Language Models (LLM) for knowledge management.
- Automation and robotics in construction including the use of smart construction equipment, intelligent paving, autonomous equipment, precision compaction.
- Using Smart Data Systems including blockchain for material traceability and integrated carbon reporting platforms.
- Carbon-Optimised Asphalt Production & Construction.
- High-Recycling & Circular Mix Design.
- Climate-Resilient Pavement Engineering.
- Advanced Construction Technologies.
- Asset Management & Predictive Maintenance Engineering.
- Supply Chain Engineering & Binder Security.
- Policy Alignment – harmonising standards (e.g. design, material, procurement, etc.), carbon credits and net-zero roadmaps.
- Innovative Financing – green bonds, PPPs, municipal finance mechanisms and carbon pricing incentives.
- Economic Resilience – adapting to cost volatility, trade disruptions, energy transitions and constrained public budgets.
- Strengthening the workforce for the Future – digital upskilling, sustainability competencies, empowering young professionals, and creating new voices in the industry.
- Climate Mitigation, Adaptation and Disaster Management Policy — embedding climate risk into South African road planning, standards and emergency response frameworks.
- Governance, Institutional Reform and Intergovernmental Cooperation — SANRAL, provincial road departments, COGTA/SALGA, and district/local municipality road functions.