Southwest Pavement Technology Consortium
Arizona’s Pavement Hub for Research and Training
News
The Longitudinal Joints Workshop Registration is Open
Led by renowned experts in asphalt pavement engineering with decades of specialized experience, this workshop offers participants exclusive access to advanced methodologies and high-level technical discussions.
Date: 15 October, 2026
2026 Best in Arizona Pavement Awards
The 2026 Best in Arizona Pavement Award Program is now open to all asphalt users, producers, and contractors.
Projects nominated for awards can be submitted by the owner/agency and/or the contractor. Nomination forms are available here on the consortium website and must be submitted by September 18th, 2026.
SWPT Quarterly Newsletter
Our July 2026 Quarterly Newsletter is now live 📰.
This issue features important updates on our latest activities at SWPT.
Get the details on SWPT’s pavement preservation research project and learn about the SWPT’s Binder and Gradation Task Force meetings.
Projects
Assessment of Thermal and Durability Cracks in Asphalt Pavements in the Southwest Region
🤝Sponsor: Southwest Pavement Technology
📅 2023 – Ongoing
Durability cracking in asphalt pavements is a major deterioration mechanism for asphalt concrete (AC) pavements in areas experiencing temperature and precipitation extremes. In this study, we develop a case study example of thermal and durability cracks widely observed in the Southwest of United States. Significant factors and root causes influencing occurrences of thermal durability cracks are presented using data compiled from forensic investigation of sites, field core characterization and mechanistic assessment of the conventional flexible pavement structures.
Development of Asphalt Concrete Mixture Long-Term Aging Protocol for Arizona’s Climatic Conditions
🤝Sponsor: Southwest Pavement Technology
📅 2023 – Ongoing
Field aging of asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures is a complex phenomenon resulting in significant changes in the rheological properties and chemistry of binders and impacting key performance characteristics of asphalt mixtures. Laboratory simulation of the field aging characteristics of asphalt concrete (AC) mixes is essential in characterizing its long-term performance. Hence, long-term aging protocols have become a key part of the Balanced Mix Design (BMD) framework adopted by many state and local agencies.
Construction Monitoring of Asphalt Pavement using UAV
🤝Sponsor: NCIT
📅 2022 – 2025
The in-place density of asphalt pavements is a key indicator of construction quality, durability, and long-term performance. Pavement construction requires coordination and monitoring to ensure proper compaction which in-turn achieves the targeted in-place density. Two major factors hindering targeted in-place density are uniform mat temperature and uniform rolling pattern. The objective of this study is to develop an automated monitoring protocol with use of aerial images using uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV).
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