Latest news & events

Reflections on progress two years in from the North Lanarkshire Live Labs 2 project 

This month our Live Labs 2 blog comes from Scott Walker, project lead for the North Lanarkshire Live Lab. Scott brings us the latest updates on efforts to decarbonise Scotland’s Roads. 

Decarbonising Scotland's Roads: two years of progress and future ambitions 

Two years ago, the project set out to find the best ways to make road construction and maintenance more environmentally friendly. Part of the ADEPT Live Labs 2 programme, it is at the cutting edge of reducing the carbon footprint of roads. 

Also known as the North Campus of the ‘Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads’, the North Lanarkshire Live Lab continues testing and trialling innovative low-carbon solutions, helping to ensure that Scotland leads the way in making transport infrastructure more sustainable.   

Our Live Lab remains committed to achieving our collective climate goals in how roads are constructed and maintained; and since the last update, we’ve been working on four core elements of the project:  

• The ‘Innovation Funnel’ 
• Carbon evaluation 
• Technical evaluation 
• Cross-sector collaboration 

Meanwhile, we are busy preparing for the final year of the Live Lab, developing the knowledge bank for local authorities and planning for our most challenging trials to date. 

Why is this project specifically important to Scotland?  

As a nation with diverse landscapes and weather conditions, Scotland faces unique challenges in road construction and maintenance. The Scottish Government’s goal of reaching net zero by 2045 means that there is a critical need to find solutions that not only reduce carbon emissions, but also stand the test of time in the country’s variable climate. This project aims to find solutions that are both practical and impactful. 

The ‘Innovation Funnel’: identifying and trialling new solutions 

One of the key approaches of the Centre is its Innovation Funnel, which in layman’s terms is a framework focused on identifying, trialling and implementing new technologies and materials. Over the last two years, the team has worked hard to move ideas from concept to live trial, partnering with academics, contractors, local authorities, and other experts. 

Successes: 

• Market scanning: through extensive international and domestic market scanning, the Centre has gained confidence in a range of low carbon options for road maintenance and construction. This includes options that could potentially reduce emissions across the entire lifecycle of road projects. 
• Collaborative trials: coordinating live trials has been a real success. The team has worked alongside a range of stakeholders, including contractors, the innovation team, and the carbon team. This collaboration has been essential in turning theoretical ideas into practical, real world solutions. Creative problem solving and coordination have allowed these trials to take shape. 

Challenges: 

• Operational realities: the operational challenges have been significant. Weather conditions have often delayed or complicated trials and coordinating multiple suppliers for comparative trials has proven difficult. Technical issues, such as equipment failure or misalignment of objectives, have also presented challenges. 
• On-site data collection: collecting reliable carbon data onsite has been particularly challenging, especially as multiple processes are happening simultaneously. Ensuring accuracy while balancing different tasks has been a complex but essential undertaking. 

Carbon evaluation: assessing the environmental impact of the solutions 

Evaluating the carbon impact of different solutions has been a crucial component of the Centre’s work. Baseline carbon measurements have been established to understand where emissions are occurring, and how they can be reduced. 

Successes: 

• Carbon baselining: Despite the challenges, the Centre has worked with the Future Highways Research Group (FHRG) to achieve the most accurate baselines possible with valuable insights into the key sources of emissions across road maintenance and construction activities. 

Challenges: 

• Variability of emissions factors: The variability in carbon emissions factors has posed a challenge. Different materials and processes can have vastly different impacts, making it difficult to pinpoint exact emissions reductions. 
• Unit of analysis: Another hurdle has been determining the best unit of analysis—whether emissions should be measured by material type, square meter of road, or by work shift. This decision is critical for consistent and useful data collection. 

Technical evaluation: ensuring long term effective solutions 

The technical evaluation of materials and solutions is another core aspect of the project’s work. This is where the real potential for change lies: identifying materials and techniques that are not just low-carbon, but also durable and effective over time. 

Successes: 

• Pothole slabs project: A key success in this area has been the progress of the pothole slabs project, which is exploring innovative ways to repair and maintain roads more sustainably. 
• Rejuvenator analysis: Another ongoing success is the analysis of rejuvenator materials, with ongoing core samples being tested to offer insights on how they can be used in different road surfacing systems like SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt) and HRA (Hot Rolled Asphalt). 

Challenges: 

• Longevity of materials: A major challenge is determining how long these new materials will last. Longevity testing is essential but difficult to predict, especially for innovative materials that haven’t been in use long-term. 
• Conflicting methodologies: Agreeing on testing methodologies has proven challenging, especially when working with a variety of partners, including suppliers, research organisations, and academic institutions. Different organisations sometimes have varying approaches, making consensus harder to achieve. 

Cross-sector collaboration: bringing together key stakeholders 

A central part of the Centre’s work has been bringing together various sectors to ensure the success of this project. By collaborating with academia, the private sector, and local authorities, the project has been able to pool expertise and resources to address the complexities of decarbonising roads. 

Successes: 

• Multi-sector engagement: There has been considerable success in engaging stakeholders. Through events, meetings, and social media, interest from various sectors has been strong. This has created a robust network of professionals committed to decarbonising road infrastructure. 

Challenges: 

• Engaging Local Authorities: A significant challenge has been bringing local authorities on board. With time constraints and competing priorities, it can be difficult to ensure that those responsible for carbon-critical decisions have the time and space to engage with the Centre’s findings and consider alternative, low-carbon materials. 

Looking ahead: what’s next for the second half of the project? 

As the Centre continues its work, there are several exciting next steps on the horizon: 

1. Knowledge bank launch: The Centre will be launching a comprehensive knowledge bank by the end of May. This resource will collate insights, research, and best practices, making the learnings accessible to all and providing a foundation for future projects. 
2. Surfacing supersite trial: A major trial will focus on innovative binders and lower carbon in-situ recycling. This will offer valuable data on the suitability of these materials for sustainable asset management. 
3. Other trials: Additional trials are focusing on anti-icing footways, low carbon road markings and signage, further expanding the scope of the Centre’s work. 

As we look ahead, the project remains committed to finding solutions that not only help Scotland meet its carbon reduction targets but also provide practical, long lasting benefits for road users and the environment.