A team of scientists from Swansea University, King’s College London, and Chile are working on self-healing asphalt roads designed with AI and made from biomass waste, potentially offering a solution for road repairs around the world.
This “self-healing” asphalt utilizes a technique to reverse cracks and employ methods to reassemble the material, an innovation that could lead to the creation of more durable and sustainable roadways.
AI machine learning was used to pioneer the self-healing asphalt
In asphalt pavements, cracks develop as the bitumen—the black component of the asphalt mixture—hardens because of oxidation. Researchers involved in this project have utilized AI machine learning to analyze organic molecules in chemically complex liquids.
They developed a new data-driven model to accelerate atomistic simulations, advancing research into bitumen oxidation and crack formation in asphalt. Additionally, the team has initiated collaboration with Google Cloud to simulate the chemical’s behavior on a computer.
Making the asphalt self-healing was a more complex process. The scientists incorporated tiny materials known as spores, produced by plants and smaller than a strand of hair. These spores are filled with recycled oils, which are released when the asphalt begins to crack, allowing it to rebuild itself.
A team from #SwanseaUni and @KingsCollegeLon are designing a new type of #AI-powered self-healing asphalt.
Their work, supported by @googlecloud and scientists in Chile, could offer a promising solution to the UK’s #pothole problem🕳️🚗
➡️ https://t.co/wgRIdgr48m pic.twitter.com/MtqBV7tnGC
— Swansea University (@SwanseaUni) February 3, 2025
Lab tests show that this material can self-heal a surface-deep microcrack in less than an hour. Dr. Jose Norambuena Contreras, one of the leading experts on self-healing asphalt, said, “As part of our interdisciplinary study, we have brought together experts in civil engineering, chemistry, and computer science, combining this knowledge with the state-of-the-art AI tools of Google Cloud.”
This revolutionary experiment could significantly reduce carbon emissions
Data indicate that a substantial amount of carbon emissions from roads is linked to asphalt production. Governments worldwide are prioritizing emission reduction, and advancements in these materials could help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 in countries like the UK.
Another scientist, Dr. Fancisco Martin-Martinez, said, “In our research, we want to mimic the healing properties observed in nature. For example, when a tree or animal is cut, their wounds naturally heal over time, using their own biology. Creating asphalt that can heal itself will increase the durability of roads and reduce the need for people to fill in potholes.”
Self-healing #potholes could pave the way for sustainable roads. 🛣️🕳️
Joint research by @kclchemistry @SwanseaUni and @googlecloud is tackling the UK’s £143 million pothole problem.
Read more 👉https://t.co/45M10OROI0#ScienceAtKings @KingsNMES #chemistry #sustainability pic.twitter.com/PrZoAo40tA
— King’s College London (@KingsCollegeLon) February 3, 2025
Crucially, their self-healing asphalt utilizes biomass waste for its composition, which is both inexpensive and locally available everywhere.
Potholes are a common worldwide problem. The American Automobile Association estimates that American drivers spend an average of $3 billion on pothole-related car repairs annually. Conversely, the average cost to fix individual potholes runs between $100 to $400.