Potential Implementation of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) in Pavement Construction in the State of Qatar

Abstract

Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technology has been used in many countries around the world, in lieu of Hot Mixed Asphalt (HMA), due to its ability to allow significant reduction in the temperatures at which asphalt mixes are produced and placed, leading to performance that is comparable to HMA. The resultant is a reduction in the viscosity of the asphalt due to the incorporation of WMA technologies, which facilitates the coating of aggregates at lower temperatures (as much as 30oC less temperature) that translates to a reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn supports sustainable development. WMA technology has been successfully implemented in several countries across the globe, especially in Europe and USA, aiming at saving energy, reducing emissions throughout the production, and paving process, without compromising the in-service performance. This paper discusses how the long-term benefits and sustainability advantages of WMA technology can be harnessed to augment the Qatar roadmap and aspiration towards achieving 25% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.