Learn how our Materials Research Laboratory in Nottingham is advancing research-led approaches to tackle today’s infrastructure challenges sustainably.
One of AECOM’s best kept secrets is our UK-based Materials Research Laboratory in Nottingham.
Run by our asset management team, this UKAS-accredited laboratory boasts more than 35 years of field and laboratory research, offering a complete range of services spanning the full lifecycle of transportation infrastructure.
Specialising in pavements, rail tracks and construction materials, our lab has been instrumental in shaping national policy, evolving design standards, and advancing sustainability within the sector.
The laboratory offers both in-house and on-site testing capabilities, the latter of which includes visual surveys, intrusive and non-intrusive testing with material sampling, and the creation of asset inventory and condition databases.
A first-of-its-kind trial for sustainable materials development in the UK
At the Materials Research Laboratory, we carry out a range of tests and experiments to advance sustainable material development. A key example is the Low Rolling Resistance Asphalt Mixtures (LRRAM) trial for National Highways, the first of its kind in the UK. In this trial, we assessed the performance of LRRAM and its potential to help National Highways improve air quality across its network.
Our team’s work in this area covers the full project lifecycle, from assessment and design to optimisation, modification and final specification.
Materials engineering via real-world testing
From our on-site pavement investigation operations, our team investigates and examines material samples from roads, airfields and rail track beds to better understand performance and failure mechanisms. This helps to inform necessary maintenance strategies and/or rehabilitation and strengthening requirements.
We recover thousands of material samples each year, from all over the world. Our team then explores how different types of pavement surfaces and foundations fare in extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves or snow. We have assessed, designed and produced specifications for climate-resilient asphalt surfacing for clients such as Airport Authority Hong Kong, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Transport for London.
Informing National Highways’ guidelines
We have collaborated on several research projects for both industry and asset owners, where our laboratory testing has played a large role. A standout achievement is our contribution to the National Highways’ Concrete Pavement Maintenance Manual, the first of its kind in over two decades.
By testing various road surfaces and studying the ways in which concrete material deteriorates, our research has directly shaped maintenance practices, and informed National Highways’ pavement maintenance guidance.
Applying innovative methods for road surface testing
We also have the unique capability to test road surfaces and materials using our Mobile Load Simulator, which replicates tens of thousands of thousands of hours of vehicle journeys on road surfaces in just one day.
This technology enables us to predict long-term infrastructure performance, providing invaluable data for lifecycle planning and deterioration models. The simulator has been critical in testing innovative materials on major routes, including the M25, helping ensure the resilience and sustainability of the UK’s transportation network.