Innovation Log

Road maintenance has long depended on carbon-intensive materials, making sustainability a pressing challenge. At the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, part of ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads, a three year, UK-wide, £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) that aims to decarbonise the local highway network, we’re driving change by identifying and championing low-carbon alternatives. One of our key tools in this mission is the Innovation Log – a curated, market-sourced database that empowers local authorities to identify, trial, and adopt low-carbon materials easily. We are excited to share this part of our innovation process, giving local authorities direct access to a resource that supports the selection of the most promising materials for trial and evaluation. Take a look behind the scenes at the tool that is shaping the future of sustainable roads.

What is the Innovation Log?

The Innovation Log serves as a dynamic record of materials identified throughout our Live Labs 2 journey. It documents:

·       Overview information about each material,

·       Alignment with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)

·       Categorisation by material type.

Although the log is currently stored as a Microsoft List, we have exported a simplified Excel version for quick and easy access, until the full launch of the knowledge bank.

Download the Innovation Log: CEDR Innovations Register

How are Materials Sourced?

The materials in the Log have been identified through a comprehensive market scanning process spanning 18 months. The Centre’s market scanning team worked through each material category, engaging:

·       Industry partners

·       Academic institutions

·       Our Expert Advisory Panel

·       Procurement and operational teams

We conducted rigorous desktop research, industry meetings, and offered a submission portal on our website for innovators to share their materials.

Additionally, our partners at Connected Places Catapult recently conducted an international market scan, focusing on SMEs, early-stage research, and global low-carbon material innovations. Read more about this initiative here:

https://decarbonisingroads.co.uk/news/the-centre-and-connected-places-catapult-complete-international-market-scan/

Important Note: While the Log captures all identified materials, any carbon savings claims by suppliers are yet to be fully verified. Local authorities should consider this ahead of trials or supplier discussions.

Challenges & Future Improvements

The implementation of the Innovation Log has not been without its challenges. One of the key difficulties has been ensuring comprehensive coverage of innovation pathways for decarbonisation.

While we strive for a thorough and up-to-date list, we acknowledge that as a static document, the Log cannot capture all material innovations in real-time. We continue working with suppliers to fill any gaps and encourage ongoing contributions.

Don’t see your material in the Log? Add it to our live document for future publication:

Submit your material here:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=4Y3Dh3d26Eq1Qxf_ecUIkIM8WFhZW9dHioqPI7ITYelUOTkxVE1DQ0dOMU5HMlNZMDZTRFVXVEc0Vi4u&route=shorturl

What’s Next? A Smart Version of the Innovation Log

As part of ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads, a three year, UK-wide, £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) that aims to decarbonise the local highway network, we’re excited to announce that later this year, the Innovation Log will evolve into a smart, interactive digital tool as part of our knowledge bank. This upgraded version will provide:

·       Advanced search capabilities

·       Real-time updates

·       User-friendly interfaces

By digitising the Innovation Log, we aim to revolutionise collaboration between local authorities and industry partners, accelerating the transition to low-carbon, resilient roads.

Together, we can make a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and creating a greener, more resilient infrastructure.

Stay tuned for more updates on our journey!