My main role is that of a researcher and coordinator in the Asphalt Paving Research and innovation unit (ASPARi). Our research is focused on professionalizing the asphalt construction process using an action research methodology. We work closely with ten of the largest contractors in the Netherlands and their asphalt construction teams, to reduce process variability and to improve the quality of compacted asphalt layers using an in-house developed Process Quality improvement (PQi) method. We use high-end off-the-shelf sensors (GPS, fibre optics, RFID, Infrared, and others) to monitor operational behaviour and at the same time get the construction teams to implement and adopt new technologies using more method-based operational strategies. I am responsible for the daily running of the research unit, the liaison with the ASPARi contractors network who support the research initiatives and the coordination all research activities. I supervise PhD, EngD, MSc and BSc student projects.
I also have a thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable teaching load within the Civil Engineering Department on the bachelor and master programmes. I teach freshman students in Civil Engineering's Module 1 programme and am involved in the coordination and supervision of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) developed Design Project. "Technology and Innovation in Road Construction" and "Digital Technologies for Civil Engineering" are two Master courses that I am directly involved in from a curriculum design and teaching perspective.
As of 1 September 2020, I took on the role of Programme Director for Civil Engineering's Engineering Doctorate (EngD) programme. It is a 2-year post-master design programme focusing on the direct needs of the industry.
I am a former Programme Director for the Civil Engineering Department where I was responsible for the strategy and structure of the BSc- and MSc-programme Civil Engineering & Management and the 4TU MSc-programme in Construction Management & Engineering. I worked closely with a team of education coordinators, study advisers, staff mobility, internationalization and quality assurance staff of the Office of Educational Support to set up and implement educational programmes that are in line with the Education vision of the University of Twente.
Selected invitations:
• Invited workshop facilitator – International Society for Intelligent Construction (ISIC) Conference Trends on Construction in the Post-Digital Era; (Guimarães, Portugal, 2022)
• Invited workshop facilitator and lecturer – Problem-based learning experiences in the Netherlands, Asphalt Process Control and the use of digital technologies in Construction, Erasmus+ Programme, Mobility Grant (Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia, 2019)
• Invited speaker – Aachener Straßenbau-und Verkehrstage – Towards Digitalization in Road Construction (Aachen, 2019)
• Invited speaker – VDI International Conference - Digital Technologies addressing Variability in Road Construction (Amsterdam, 2019)
• Invited workshop facilitator – 12th Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa - Asphalt Process Control: using Digital Technologies to improve construction performance (Sun City, 2019)
• Invited speaker – E & E (Eurasphalt & Eurobitume) Symposium – What technology can offer the Road Construction Industry (Berlin, 2018)
• Invited speaker, workshop facilitator, lecturer and field lab demonstrator – Asphalt Process Control and the use of digital technologies in Asphalt Construction, Sharing Problem-based learning (PBL) experiences in the Netherlands, (Universidad Concepcion, Chile, 2018)
• Invited speaker – European Asphalt Paving Association Symposium - Applied new techniques and outlooks in asphalt production and paving (Paris, 2017)
• Keynote speaker – 10th I-Roads Conference in Israel – The ASPARi case – bringing the industry to a higher level (Tel Aviv, 2016)
• Invited speaker – Belgium Roads IT User group symposium (Antwerp, 2016)
• Invited presenter – A case-study of using Sensors in Asphalt, Chinese European Congress, (TU Delft, the Netherlands, 2016)
• Lecture – The benefits of using new technologies and sensors in road building (Concordia University Montreal, 2016)
• Invited speaker – 3rd International Symposium on Asphalt Pavements & Environment – The Asphalt Construction Site of the Future – A Dutch perspective (Sun City, 2015)
• Invited speaker – Aachener Straßenbau-und Verkehrstage – The Road Construction Process – opportunities for process improvement (Aachen, 2015)
Expertise
Engineering
- Compaction
Social Sciences
- Process
- Construction
Computer Science
- Construction Process
- Contexts
- Virtual Reality
- Construction Site
- Construction Equipment
Organisations
I am a researcher in the Asphalt Paving Research And innovation unit (ASPARi). Our research is focused on professionalizing the asphalt construction process using an action research methodology. We work closely with ten of the largest contractors in the Netherlands and their asphalt construction teams, to reduce process variability and to improve the quality of compacted asphalt layers using an in-house developed Process Quality improvement (PQi) method. We use high-end off the shelf sensors (GPS, fibre optics, RFID, Infrared, and others to monitor operational behaviour and at the same time get the construction teams to implement and adopt new technologies using more method-based operational strategies. I am responsible for the daily running of the research unit, the liaison with the ASPARi contractors network who support the research initiatives and the coordination all research activities. I supervise PhD, EngD (Engineering Doctorate), MSc and BSc student projects.
Publications
Research profiles
I love teaching several classes in the Civil Engineering Programme. My contact with Bachelor students is limited to teaching in the Module 1 course, Fundamentals of Civil Engineering and supervising the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Design Project.
I am involved in teaching two Master courses and am fully responsible for teaching "Technology and Innovation in Road Construction" and part of a group teaching "Digital Technologies in Construction".
Students apparently enjoy my classes (they do call me a little crazy). I've been nominated for Civil Engineering's Teacher of the Year award on five occasions and have been fortunate to win the award once.
In addition to my teaching duties, I also mentor young academic staff wanting to improve their teaching methods. I’ve given several workshops locally and internationally on the benefits of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) teaching approaches. These have been well received and, in some instances, PBL techniques have been implemented at our international partners.
Affiliated study programs
Courses academic year 2023/2024
Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
Courses academic year 2022/2023
Most of my time is spent on the ongoing field lab, ASPARi project. ASPARi is a collaborative network of ten of the largest contractors in the Netherlands, Rijkswaterstaat and researchers of the University of Twente. The project is currently in a fifth 4-year phase, the so-called ASPARi 5.0 phase that runs between 2023 and 2026. Numerous PhD, EngD, Master and Bachelor projects have jointly been carried out with industry partners and public clients in the previous four phases. Projects have also been carried out with machine manufacturers given our expertise in asphalt process control.
Current projects
Finished projects
ASPARi 1.0
Professionalising the asphalt construction process - making operational behaviour explicit
ASPARi researchers were tasked with making operational behaviour explicit on asphalt construction projects. Using high-end sensors (GPS, laser linescanners and infrared thermography), we developed the Process Quality improvement methodology that aims to reduce process variability and in so doing, improve the quality of constructed asphalt layers.
ASPARi 2.0
Aligning information technologies, operators knowledge and laboratory practices
Two PhD projects were undertaken during this phase. The first focused on aligning information technologies, operators knowledge and laboratory practices. To do this, research activities included implementing new technologies on more than 30 actual construction projects, implementing a method-based learning model, determining and evaluating relationships between the monitored compaction strategies and the quality of the asphalt construction. This is realised through laboratory experiments that simulates the monitored on-site field compaction process. Lastly, Align laboratory compaction procedures with field processes. This is realised by adjusting laboratory compaction procedures based on the explicitly monitored on-site construction data. A second PhD project focused on important information technology elements viz. acquiring, processing and representing sensor readings. In short, visualising asphalt roller compaction in their unique contexts.
ASPARi 3.0
Towards real time process control for asphalt paving and compaction
Following the success of the first two phases of this ongoing project, this phase focused on three themes viz. the development of real time process control for paving and compaction, designing guided compaction strategies and developing innovative educational materials for the vocational sector in the Netherlands. Two PDEng projects were completed and new asphalt educational materials were implemented at two vocational training institutes.
SMART sensors in asphalt (Lighthouse Project 2016)
Monitoring key process parameters during and post construction using FBG sensors
This project focuses on the integration of Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG) sensors into the asphalt construction process so that the technology’s benefits can be realised for constructed asphalt layers. Accurately monitoring key process parameters during and after construction using the appropriate sensor technology should contribute to extending the service life (durability) of asphalt pavements.
Using RFID sensors to measure the energy consumption of Warm Mix and Recycled Asphalt (Lighthouse Project 2015)
This research project focused on the innovative use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) sensors to monitor: (1) compaction temperature and pressure during the laboratory testing process, (2) compaction temperature and pressure during the on-site asphalt construction process and (3) vehicle load pressure and road surface temperature on the constructed asphalt layer over the long-term. RFID uses wireless electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. By placing them into the asphalt mixture, temperatures and pressures can be measured during laboratory testing and on-site construction, and also during usage and maintenance where the RFID sensors can be used to display actual road condition data.
Address
University of Twente
Horst Complex (building no. 20), room Z214
De Horst 2
7522 LW Enschede
Netherlands
University of Twente
Horst Complex Z214
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
Netherlands
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