Is 'self-healing' asphalt developed by scientists and AI prediction software the answer to pothole-free roads?

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Self-healing asphalt roads could offer a solution to Britain's billion pound pothole crisis, scientists claim. 

Made from biomass, it's been developed by teams from Kings College London and Swansea University alongside Chilean researchers.

Designed using AI from Google Cloud, the asphalt can mend its own cracks and 'stitch' itself back together, which does away with the need for human intervention and maintenance, making roads more durable long term.

With the UK's pothole repair bill currently estimated at £16billion, the £1.6billion the Government has pledged to spend fixing the roads this year has still been described as 'a drop in the ocean'.

Controlled lab tests have already shown the innovative material can fully heal microcrack road surface damage within a single hour. 

Scientists have engineered self-healing asphalt that will allow roads to fix themselves and remove the need for human intervention 

Working with Chilean scientists, UK researchers have engineered the sustainable solution by incorporating plant-derived tiny porous materials called spores in the asphalt. 

These recycled oil filled spores are then released into the asphalt when it begins to crack.

The oil release triggers a natural healing process mimicking the healing properties observed in nature.

Dr Francisco Martin-Martinez, an expert in computational chemistry at Kings College London, explained the nature-inspired approach: '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.'

Machine learning AI has been fundamental in studying organic molecules in complex fluids like bitumen, with the team developing a new data-driven-model that has advanced the research into bitumen oxidation and crack formation.

Collaborating with Google Cloud, the scientists simulated the behaviour of the bitumen on a computer.

Dr Jose Norambuena-Contreras (pictured) holds the self-healing bitumen

As well aiming to fix the UK's pothole crisis, the breakthrough research would help build more sustainable roads and lower the dependence on natural resources.

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The use of biomass and recycled materials in asphalt production would reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Dr Jose Norambuena-Contreras, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Swansea University and an expert in self-healing asphalt, said: 'We are proud to be advancing the development of self-healing asphalt using biomass waste and artificial intelligence. 

'This approach positions our research at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure innovation, contributing to the development of net-zero roads with enhanced durability.'

But this isn't the first use of AI in recent months to try and find a long term solution to our crumbling roads.

In January the Government revealed artificial intelligence will be deployed in a bid to help improve Britain's persistent and rising pothole problem.

Keir Starmer's UK Government AI Opportunities Action Plan contained ambitious plans to use AI to 'spot potholes quicker.'

As part of the £7million funding of AI projects across the country in order to 'turbocharge' growth by using technology, AI will be used to 'predict potholes before they form'. 

By doing this the Government predicts potholes will be repaired more quickly and cheaply.

A Government spokesman told This is Money: 'We are investing a small amount of money to trial innovative ways to maintain our roads and save taxpayer money in the process, which will support smoother roads in the long term.'

26% of drivers told Auto Express they actively oppose the use of AI go fix pothole problems

Yet a poll has found that AI is so far failing to win over road users so far in the fight to fix British roads.

An Auto Express survey found only 46 per cent of drivers are in favour of the Government's plans to use AI to detect potholes before they form.

Despite the Government's forward-thinking plan, 26 per cent of drivers told Auto Express they actively oppose the use of AI and just want policyholders to invest more in fixing the potholes we already have. 

While the use of AI detection might not have won over British motorists yet, biomass asphalt enabled with AI research might be a self-healing step into the artificial intelligence future drivers are willing to get onboard with.

One local council is already using AI to improve roads    

Surrey County Council is using dash-mounted AI to spot and photograph potholes in need of repair

Highway inspectors will no longer have to manually inspect roads, saving time and improving safety

Surrey County Council announced mid-January that it is starting to use AI to detect potholes to speed up road repairs.

Highway vehicles in the county will use dashcam computer cameras to spot and photograph potholes which will then be automatically recorded for repair. 

Potholes that don't require immediate attention will be tracked to make sure they are dealt with in the future.