SmarTech Pavement Limited

After extended use, asphalt roads often suffer from cracks and rutting, requiring maintenance by conventional methods like milling and repaving, which typically require 4 to 10 cm of resurfacing. These methods are time-consuming, resource-intensive, and labour-heavy. During this process, asphalt needs to be heated to around 150°C, consuming much energy and emitting toxic gases. To address these issues, SmarTech Pavement developed Cold Thin Overlay (CTO) Technique, which offers a maintenance option with thin-layer surfacing, balancing economic, environmental, and operational benefits. Unlike traditional methods, CTO Technique eliminates milling, avoiding solid waste generation and reducing traffic disruptions by more than 50%. Furthermore, it cuts energy consumption during maintenance by 50 by 70% and reduces carbon emissions by over 40%, all the while operating at ambient temperatures. More eco-friendly and cost-effective than conventional methods, CTO only needs 1-cm-thick surfacing, significantly reducing the use of new materials by over 80% and construction costs by approximately 20%.


Key Team Member(s)  
Dr Gary HAO (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Ms Sylvia CHEN