Scientists Develop AI-Assisted Self-Healing Asphalt to Combat Potholes

Innovative road material uses plant spores and recycled oils to repair cracks, aiming to reduce maintenance costs and promote sustainability.

Researchers from Swansea University, King's College London, and Chile have created a self-healing asphalt that repairs cracks using plant-based spores filled with recycled oils.
The asphalt's healing process, inspired by natural regeneration in plants and animals, can mend microcracks in under an hour during lab tests, potentially extending road lifespan by 30%.
Artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning, was used to model the behavior of bitumen, the key asphalt component, to understand and reverse oxidation-driven cracking.
This innovation aligns with the UK government's net-zero emissions goals by using biomass waste and reducing reliance on petroleum-based asphalt production.
While not yet tested on real roads, the technology could significantly lower the UK's annual £143.5 million pothole repair costs and improve road durability worldwide.