Recycling Post-Earthquake CDW into Sustainable Modular Green Concrete Roads Through the Digital ARBIS System
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The earthquake that occurred in Turkey on 6 February 2023 generated a very large amount of construction and demolition waste (CDW), and therefore created an irreversible impasse for our country in terms of environmental, economic, and waste management planning. Recycled aggregates from the waste obtained after the earthquake were substituted into concrete mixes, and their mechanical properties were experimentally evaluated to determine optimum mix ratios. The experimental results demonstrated that selected RCA-containing mixtures achieved compressive strengths suitable for the production of modular concrete road elements, demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing high proportions of earthquake-derived CDW in concrete road applications. Based on the most suitable concrete mixes, a new Lego-type modular road system consisting of interlocking prefabricated concrete blocks was designed and produced and implemented as a prototype application at İnönü University Main Campus. In our study, the Advanced Road-Based Information Solution (ARBIS) digitally records each Lego-type road block using a unique ID and enables real-time lifecycle monitoring. The system stores key data, including production and installation dates, material properties, maintenance history, geographical location, and design service life. The proposed pavement system offers a fast, practical, and highly sustainable alternative to traditional road construction by allowing for quick assembly, disassembly, and maintenance. The interlocking block design geometry significantly reduces construction, maintenance, and repair times, while minimizing traffic disruptions during infrastructure (water, electricity, internet, etc.) works. To further improve sustainability and infrastructure maintenance and repair management, a modular road pavement system was developed; it is an NFC-based management tracking system connected to a cloud-based monitoring system with sensors embedded in the road block. Thanks to this traceable structure, it enables the tracking of the infrastructure’s block ID number, production history, maintenance history, GPS location, and remaining service life. The results showed that this developed road system significantly improved post-earthquake waste recycling, the conversion of waste into sustainable infrastructure, and waste management, and provided an environmentally friendly, economically viable, and disaster-resilient solution.
Source: Buildings
Authors: Adem Ozkul, Muslum Murat Maras
Institution: Inonu University
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W7225820438