To promote the Baili Fanghua Rural Revitalization Demonstration Belt, the Foshan Municipal Transportation Department utilized the innovative road surface technology developed by Prof Hu Chichun's team at CSIJRI. This initiative has received high praise from the Guangdong Transportation Bureau, Foshan News Media Centre, Foshan Public Channel, Foshan Daily, Pearl River Times, and other prominent media outlets.
The renovation project encompassed six routes connecting Lingnan Agricultural Garden, Mengli Shuixiang Scenic Spot, and Yanbu Laolong Cultural Centre, totalling approximately 21 kilometres. All of them were revamped using NovaPave® technology.
At the starting point in Lishui, Nanhai District, researchers sprayed water on the ground to simulate rainy conditions and measured the slip resistance with a pendulum skid resistance tester. This innovative maintenance technology employs copolymer- a nano-modified asphalt as the binding material, which can be applied directly to the road surface. Compared to traditional maintenance methods, the technology developed by Prof Hu's team boasts low viscosity at high temperatures and high viscosity at low temperatures. A 2 cm layer of this new asphalt achieves the same effect as a 4 cm layer of conventional asphalt. Additionally, the surface is wear-resistant and silent, and it possesses excellent properties such as anti-skid, anti-wear, and resistance to precipitation and fog, which can dramatically improve the driving experience.
According to Prof Hu, NovaPave® technology reduces material and investment costs while meeting environmental protection requirements. Its excellent durability can significantly reduce maintenance expenses. For instance, this project reduced the consumption of asphalt and stone by approximately 12,300 tons and extended the road service life to 8-10 years, helping to reduce carbon emissions by 386 tons. It aligns with the national policies on carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
Against the backdrop of New Infrastructure and in response to the demand for fast, low-carbon, economical, and intelligent road preventive maintenance, Prof Hu's team has collaborated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Macau. Utilizing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Transportation Infrastructure Innovation Joint Laboratory, they developed products such as NovaPave surface covering, NovaPave® anti-wear layer, NovaPave® gravel sealant, and NovaPave® epoxy anti-slip coating based on NovaPave® technology.
Pavement Doctor, founded by Prof Hu's team, is a company affiliated with CSIJRI. Leveraging the Institute's platform, it promotes advanced pavement maintenance solutions. At present, NovaPave® technology is utilized across Guangdong, Guangxi, and Shaanxi provinces, covering a road surface area of over 3 million square meters.
