David Hernando TT. asst. research professor

Research David Hernando

Research team

Expertise

Sustainable pavements, asphalt recycling, LCCA and LCA

Use of Artificial Intelligence to Unravel Asphalt Mixture Service Life (AIMLife). 01/01/2025 - 31/12/2028

Abstract

The large scale of the construction industry (50% of raw material consumption and 35% of CO2 emissions in the EU) coupled with the benefits of longer service lives have prompted a new impulse to investigate the factors that drive the service life of construction materials. In the road sector, any changes in the composition of asphalt mixtures–either intentionally to find a better design or unintentionally due to variations in production or construction—affect their performance and thus, their service life. Therefore, it is critical to understand asphalt mixture composition to achieve longer service lives. AIMLife's main objective is to develop a physics-based AI framework that enables an in-depth understanding of how the composition of asphalt mixtures governs the expected service life. AIMLife combines the expertise of the University of Antwerp and North Carolina State University into a multiphase research approach to address the posed research question. The understanding generated through this project will enable (1) optimizing the design of asphalt mixtures to achieve longer service lives, thereby producing materials with a lower environmental impact; (2) supporting decision-making in green public procurement by providing information about the expected service life of the asphalt mixture designs offered by different tenderers; and (3) quantifying the impact of deviations in mixture production or deficient construction on the expected service life.

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  • Research Project

Circular use of road construction materials 01/12/2023 - 30/11/2028

Abstract

The traditional linear economy approach has led to tremendous amounts of waste being disposed of in landfills and incinerators with a subsequent loss in potential secondary raw materials. It is estimated that the construction sector consumes about 50% of all extracted material and is responsible for over 35% of the total waste generated in the European Union. Therefore, promoting recycling in the construction sector, including road construction, is paramount to achieve the European goals of waste reduction and the principles of circularity. Road construction has proven to be a viable option to recycle waste sources from the road and from external industries. However, recycling in road construction still faces three major challenges: (1) Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), the waste material obtained from removing asphalt layers during road rehabilitation, is not allowed to be recycled in surface layers due to performance concerns. (2) In a mature road network, RAP recycling faces an upper limit of 70%-80%; thus, alternative applications are needed. And (3), the abundance of waste sources with recycling potential demands a framework to optimize recycling in road construction. Based on the overarching goal of promoting sustainability in road construction, the research plan has the following main objectives: a) To achieve the goal of circularity by: • providing scientific evidence that RAP can be successfully recycled in road surface layers, • finding a sustainable application for the 20-30% excess of fine RAP generated as a result of road rehabilitation. b) To reduce the overall carbon footprint of asphalt pavements. c) To develop a framework to optimize recycling in road construction according to principles of minimal cost and environmental impact. To meet these objectives, the central focus is on developing a framework to optimize recycling in road construction and is supported by three satellite areas of research: materials, design, and construction. This framework will provide a powerful tool for stakeholders to manage resources and optimize recycling at a large scale or geographical context based on principles of economic and environmental impact. Additionally, the framework could be used as an evaluation tool to assess the potential impact of investments, changes in production methods, or technological advances on circularity and recycling.

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  • Research Project

Fate of Polymers in Recycled Asphalt: a Multiscale Approach. 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2026

Abstract

Surface asphalt mixtures contain polymer-modified bitumen (PMB), a performance-enhancing additive. Currently being downcycled, recycling this material would make use of its enhanced response. The main concerns are if the aged polymer can still provide the required performance when combined with virgin PMB and the formation of clusters of aggregate particles and aged bitumen that do not blend properly when recycled into new mixtures. This non-uniform distribution of components leads to localized areas of embrittled bitumen and deficient adhesion around clusters, which may result in a failure-prone material. The methodology proposed includes an in-depth investigation of the effect of aging on the long-term response of PMB blends. Furthermore, an innovative multiscale study on engineered mixtures will provide a fundamental understanding of the effect of particle clusters. The generated knowledge will then be used for mixture validation. The data generated will be used for establishing relationships between the different researched scales using theory-based machine learning. This project combines expertise from three top European institutions: University of Antwerp, EMPA, and Vienna University of Technology, with unique synergies to address the research questions posed. Such knowledge will enable developing means for reusing PMB asphalt layers for new high-performance pavements. Ultimately, the know-how will contribute to eliminate downcycling of this high-quality material.

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  • Research Project

First assessment of risks related to climate change and biodiversity loss in Belgium. 27/01/2025 - 26/09/2025

Abstract

The First Risk Assessment (FRA) is a major milestone in CERAC's programme. Led by a consortium of experts (ICEDD, VITO, Mobius, Ramboll, ULiège) in close collaboration with the CERAC team and under the supervision of a multidisciplinary steering committee, the FRA seeks to identify, evaluate, and prioritise the main risks that Belgium faces as a result of climate change and biodiversity loss. The steering committee includes representatives from federal and regional levels, across domains such as climate adaptation, biodiversity, public health, and national security. The project developed a methodological framework aligning with European and international standards. This framework defines how risks are identified, assessed, and prioritized. The second phase—the core of the FRA—focused on applying this methodology to a selection of 28 key risks. These include 23 risks related to climate change and 5 associated with biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. These risks were grouped across five interdependent systems: ecosystems, food production, infrastructure, health and social cohesion, and the economy. Biodiversity risks were primarily explored through their impact on these systems, with the FRA serving as a pilot to test how climate risk methodologies could be applied to biodiversity-related issues. Each risk was analysed in terms of its potential severity and the current state of policy readiness. This involved a thorough review of scientific and institutional literature, as well as a multi-step consultation process with stakeholders from each system. This process included interviews, Delphi surveys, and five dedicated workshops—one for each system—held between April and June 2025. These collaborative sessions provided a space for experts and practitioners to validate the findings, share insights from the ground, and identify opportunities for future action. To finalise the risk prioritisation and formulate robust recommendations, a final cross-cutting workshop was organised in September 2025 with national security actors and members of the FRA steering committee.

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  • Research Project

Hybrid AI for Predictive Road Maintenance (HAIRoad). 01/10/2023 - 30/09/2025

Abstract

The current approach to monitoring road quality is based on manual inspections and is labor intensive and relatively expensive. Hybrid AI for Predictive Road Maintenance (HAIRoad) aims to use (hybrid) AI to map the condition of the road network and make recommendations for road maintenance. An efficient and robust data pipeline will be developed using MLOps tools, which allow easy switching between model development and implementation/production. Three demonstrators will illustrate the feasibility of the approach: one with the Port of Antwerp Bruges and two at the municipal level. The demonstrators will allow to validate both the more technical aspects and the market potential. HAIRoad will deliver several innovations such as automated detection of the road conditions, new indicators for road management, sensor fusion by combining information from multiple sensors, and the application of hybrid-AI where we will incorporate physical models of road degradation into data-driven machine learning models.

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  • Research Project

In-depth study "Heat from Asphalt". 12/07/2022 - 31/12/2022

Abstract

The province of Utrecht (the Netherlands) is considering the large-scale application of asphalt collectors in the reconstruction of the N233 Rondweg-Oost in Veenendaal. The sustainable heat to be generated by the asphalt could be used to heat homes in adjacent residential areas. An exploratory study has already been carried out into the technical-economic feasibility of the concept. Based on the results of this study, the Province sees opportunities, but now also needs to go deeper. TNO (the Netherlands) and the University of Antwerp have been asked to carry out this in-depth study.

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    • Research Project

    Prospecting and Mining Resources in Pavements. 01/01/2021 - 31/12/2024

    Abstract

    Built environment stocks—building and transport infrastructure—provide essential services to fulfill basic human needs, such as shelter, workplace, mobility, and communication. Road infrastructure constitutes an integral part of built environment stocks. It connects and shapes human settlements, ensuring daily mobility of people, access to jobs, and distribution of goods. Materials accumulated in road infrastructure and other built environment stocks over their long-life span could potentially serve as future resource providers, which have been termed as anthropogenic material stocks. Material stocks and flows in pavements, however, are hitherto less characterized and poorly understood, therefore hindering comprehensive monitoring and improved utilization of resources accumulated in pavements. More importantly, operational mining of resources in pavements depends on a thorough assessment of the occurrence and configuration of resources, as well as the technical and socioeconomic drivers and barriers involved. Therefore, this project will be organized into three synergistic research thrusts: (A) Creating a resource cadaster for pavements; (B) Mapping the availability and mineability of secondary resources in pavements; and (C) Computational design optimization for circular and sustainable pavements.

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    Project type(s)

    • Research Project