~IIT Gandhinagar researchers have developed an AI-based framework using machine learning to design smarter, climate-resilient concrete roads with improved durability and lower maintenance costs.
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, July 21 (VNI): Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) have developed an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework that could transform the way rigid concrete roads are designed, making them more climate-resilient, durable and cost-effective.
Published in the ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part B: Pavements, the study uses machine learning to identify region-specific thermal patterns that affect the lifespan of concrete pavements. The researchers found that temperature variations caused by sunlight, seasonal changes and local weather create internal thermal stresses that gradually weaken roads, even before monsoon rains begin.
The research team analysed hourly weather data from 126 locations across Gujarat covering two climatic periods—1961-1991 and 1992-2022. Using thermal modelling and machine learning, they identified five distinct thermal microzones across the state, demonstrating that Gujarat does not follow a “one-size-fits-all” thermal behaviour for rigid pavements. The findings suggest that roads designed using uniform standards may not perform equally well in different climatic regions.
Lead author Dr. Sumit Nandi, formerly a postdoctoral fellow at IITGN and currently a Scientist at CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and Assistant Professor at AcSIR, said the team aimed to develop region-specific pavement designs by capturing Gujarat’s diverse climatic conditions. Dr. Sushobhan Sen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at IITGN, said the framework could eventually be expanded across India to create zone-specific thermal design charts that improve road durability, safety and efficient use of construction materials.
The researchers noted that the study supports India’s infrastructure initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti and Bharatmala Pariyojana by enabling smarter, climate-responsive road construction. They added that future research will also examine the impact of construction material quality on pavement life, further strengthening sustainable road infrastructure across the country. VNI NEWS, IIT Gandhinagar, AI roads, Climate resilient roads, Machine learning, Concrete pavements, Gujarat, Road infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Climate Resilience, Road Engineering, Infrastructure, Civil Engineering, VNINews, VNINews.com