Roger Walker, a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), is working with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) at Texas A&M to assess whether scanning lasers can accurately measure the microtexture of aggregates used in asphalt and concrete mixtures, according to a news release from UTA.
The two-year, $671,011 project is funded through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which currently uses camera-based systems to assess aggregate characteristics.
“These lasers will enable TxDOT to more accurately measure the microtexture of the aggregates,” Walker said in a statement. “The laser system also will measure aggregate shape and angularity, offering important insights into which materials and mixes work best on Texas roads. This could ultimately affect sustainability, cost, and safety.”
Walker’s project will determine the viability of replacing the current camera system with lasers. The data generated in the study will help with the development of new adhesive systems that make binding asphalt and concrete better and longer lasting.
Hong Jiang, chair and Nedderman professor of the Computer Science and Engineering Department, says Walker’s work is representative of how UTA is advancing sustainable urban communities and data-driven discovery under the Strategic Plan.
“Dr. Walker’s collaboration with TxDOT uses reliable data to make long-term decisions on our roads,” Jiang said in a statement. “This research could lead to a much more efficient and less costly way in which to test pavement.”
UTA has been awarded more than $19 million in TxDOT contracts research grants during the last two-plus decades, including the following:
