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Modern asphalt and concrete are fairly recent inventions, but older forms of asphalt were used by civilizations as far back as the ancient Greeks. Over the centuries, there have been many advancements in paving practices, techniques, and technology.
Even now, many people are working diligently to improve the ways we build, maintain, and strengthen paved roads and reuse the material available to us without causing excessive damage to the natural world. Here are some of the technological advances in asphalt and concrete repairs that we are most interested to see in the near future.
Historically, replacing old asphalt has required tearing out the original pavement and discarding it in a landfill, which is a lot of work and wastes materials that can damage the local environment. However, it is now often possible to recycle old asphalt and incorporate the materials within it into new pavement, which can significantly reduce costs for projects such as sidewalks, driveways, and even major public roads.
Technological advancements have also improved methods of identifying and repairing minor flaws in asphalt and concrete pavement surfaces. One of the most promising inventions in this area is infrared technology, which heats damaged asphalt to a temperature that allows for easy removal and replacement without the need for saw-cutting or other slower methods. In the near future, we may even see machines that can perform infrared asphalt repairs completely automatically, as well as the more widespread use of similar techniques such as warm-mix asphalt, which makes installation simpler and safer for workers.
Finally, there have been numerous advancements in monitoring existing asphalt to determine the need for and location of repairs. Smart systems can scan asphalt in real time to provide information about moisture buildup and traffic loads. Other advancements include 3D printed patches, aerial sensors attached to autonomous drones, and potentially even algorithms based on cutting-edge machine learning and artificial intelligence.
The future is exciting, but the present is when you may need area-leading paving and sealing services provided by professionals with top-quality communication, logistics, and backoffice support. Call Integrity Paving & Coatings today to learn how we can help you with your paving needs in Central Texas.
Schedule your free, on-site consultation and estimate today! Call Integrity Paving & Coatings at (512) 853-9009 or get your quote online.