Student Innovative Asphalt Competition
Student Innovative Asphalt Competition at NCAT: Bridging Industry and Education
In late February, the Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida (ACAF) joined forces with the AAPT Student Chapter at Auburn University to host a Student Innovative Asphalt Competition at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT). Originally invited to speak at a Lunch & Learn, ACAF members leveraged their planned NCAT visit to organize an evening event bringing students and industry professionals together for dinner, brainstorming, and fun.
Competition Format
Students were challenged to deliver a “Shark Tank–style” pitch related to asphalt or pavement construction. Each pitch had a strict 2-minute time limit, followed by 2 minutes of questions from the judges. Ideas could include:
- Innovative paving construction techniques
- New mix designs or materials
- Asphalt performance testing methods
- Asphalt equipment concepts
- Process improvements or creative solutions
Creativity was encouraged. Students were invited to think outside the box—even if ideas weren’t technically feasible today—and convince judges to “invest” in their concept.
Judges and Presentations
The panel of judges included:
- Steve McReynolds – Director of Operations, Duval Asphalt Products, Inc.
- Tim Carter – Director of Quality Control, CWR Contracting
- Patrick Pienkos – Quality Control Manager, Ranger Construction Industries
- David Allain – Technical Director, Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida
The event lasted over two hours, featuring a mix of fun, creative, and thought-provoking ideas from students. Additionally, guest presentations by Travis Walbeck, Assistant Director for Training and Outreach at NCAT, and David Allain provided insights and inspiration for the students.
The following presentations were delivered as part of the Innovative Asphalt Competition. Each includes the title, student presenter(s), and a brief overview of the concept.
Kevin Ambrose — The Great Wall of Florida
A visionary concept proposing an elevated promenade structure designed to protect Florida’s roadways from repeated destruction during natural disasters. The idea imagines a continuous paved corridor—similar in spirit to the Great Wall of China—stretching from Key West to Pensacola.
Alistair Bebbington — PCI Rollout
A presentation on implementing a pavement condition index (PCI) mapping system that identifies various pavement distresses and displays them on a color-coded map. The system would help agencies visually prioritize maintenance funding where it is most needed.
Hilda Boateng & Pascal Obeng — CureFlex Asphalt
A hybrid precast asphalt system enabling modular pavement installation through controlled hydration and radio-frequency-activated bonding. The concept aims to accelerate construction while maintaining strong structural performance.
Logan Close — The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
A laboratory efficiency innovation that uses multiple diamond-tipped saw blades to cut several asphalt samples simultaneously (similar to a bread slicer) for performance testing. The system also introduces a new method for trimming samples (similar to a deli meat slicer) that fall outside size tolerances.
Morgan Drazic — Rutting Reimagined
A concept involving a red-dyed asphalt layer placed beneath the surface course. Using hydrophilic properties, the layer would help identify water infiltration through cracks and highlight early pavement failures such as rutting.
Jose Jimenez — Meet Pave
An AI-powered “Asphalt Industry Engineer” designed to integrate and analyze data related to mix designs, production, and construction practices. The tool aims to assist engineers and contractors with decision-making and troubleshooting in real time.
Matt Kmetz — Crack Growth Mitigation & Self-Healing Asphalt Additive Technology
A three-part solution to reduce fatigue cracking in asphalt pavements: EVA-coated aramid fiber bundles, stress-activated encapsulated rejuvenators, and conductive steel pellets that promote self-healing properties.
Mohammed Sadeghi — A Method to Characterize Aggregate Properties of Compacted Asphalt Mixtures
A photo-based analytical method that determines aggregate gradation directly from compacted asphalt samples. This approach could significantly reduce the need for time-consuming sieve analysis in laboratory testing.
Liz Valenca — Night Glow Pavements
A concept for pavements that illuminate themselves using strontium aluminate (SrAl₂O₄), a chemical compound that stores solar energy and glows at night. The technology could enhance nighttime visibility when applied to polymer-modified surfaces.
Madhav Verma — PiezoElectric Thermal Roads: A Triple-Treat Pavement
A full-depth pavement concept incorporating piezoelectric materials to collect traffic and weight data while generating heat to prevent ice and snow from forming dangerous black ice conditions.
Winners and Recognition
Students competed for cash prizes, and the top three winners were:
- 1st Place – Madhav Verma
- 2nd Place – Kevin Ambrose
- 3rd Place – Logan Close
Congratulations to the winners! ACAF thanks all students, judges, Auburn faculty, and members for making this a successful and enjoyable evening celebrating creativity and innovation in the asphalt industry.