Innovations in Sustainable Pavement Design: Advancing Recycled Materials for Low-Carbon Infrastructure

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing demand for resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective pavement infrastructure necessitates innovative approaches to material selection, surface engineering, and design methodologies. This Special Issue focuses on advancing the use of recycled and alternative materials in pavement engineering to promote low-carbon infrastructure development. In addition to structural performance, emphasis is placed on surface treatments, protective coatings, and interface properties that enhance durability, adhesion, and long-term functionality. Sustainable pavement design plays a crucial role in reducing environmental impact, conserving natural resources, and improving the performance and longevity of transportation networks. Contributions addressing surface-layer interactions, functional coatings, and applied surface science within the context of sustainable and circular pavement materials are particularly encouraged.

Scope and Purpose

This Special Issue will explore cutting-edge research, novel technologies, and engineering solutions that integrate recycled and alternative materials into pavement systems. Focus areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Geopolymer-based and alternative binders to reduce carbon emissions;
• Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and modified asphalt materials;
• Recycled aggregates, industrial by-products, and waste materials in base and subbase layers;
• The durability, mechanical performance, and long-term sustainability of recycled-material pavements;
• Life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint analysis in sustainable pavement solutions;
• Smart and digital technologies for sustainable pavement monitoring and optimization;
• Policy and regulatory perspectives on circular economy approaches in pavement design.

Contribution to Sustainability

This Special Issue will contribute to sustainability by addressing the environmental, economic, and engineering challenges faced when using conventional pavement materials. By integrating recycled and eco-friendly alternatives, the research published in this collection will help in advancing the following areas:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in pavement production;
• Promoting circular economy principles through resource-efficient material utilization;
• Enhancing the durability and resilience of road infrastructure;
• Supporting the development of standards and policies for sustainable pavement engineering.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles, case studies, and review papers that can advance our knowledge of sustainable pavement design. We look forward to receiving contributions that push the boundaries of innovation in road infrastructure and transportation sustainability.

Dr. Menglim Hoy
Dr. Chamroeun Se
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sustainable pavement design
• recycled materials
• low-carbon infrastructure
• geopolymer stabilization
• reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)
• alternative binders
• circular economy in construction
• life cycle assessment (LCA)
• durability and performance evaluation
• green road infrastructure
• surface treatments and modification
• protective and functional coatings
• interface performance