Call John on 0407 733 513 for pavement engineering consulting services
About Us
As a pavement expert with over 30 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of undertaking eight international study tours focused on the latest advancements in pavement technology. Each tour has underscored a fundamental truth: staying abreast of global industry trends is essential to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions.
Participating in international knowledge transfer activities allows us to:
- Gain insights from global best practices
- Leverage new technologies for local challenges
- Foster a collaborative network of like-minded professionals
In an ever-evolving field, these experiences have equipped me with the knowledge to provide innovative, resilient, and sustainable pavement solutions. I believe that we can’t design for tomorrow using yesterday’s solutions.
International Study Tours undertaken by John Figueroa
1. California, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC & Maryland (USA) – focusing on full-scale and accelerated asphalt pavement testing facilities, stone mastic asphalt and warm mix asphalt technology (2006)
2. London, Bedford & Nottingham (UK), Delft (The Netherlands), Paris & Nantes (France), Munich, Nürnberg, Hamburg & Berlin (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Johannesburg, Durban & Capetown (South Africa) – focusing on warm mix asphalt technology and thin asphalt surfacings (2007)
3. Flanders Region (Belgium) – focusing on continuously reinforced concrete roundabout pavements (2014)
4. Texas (USA) – focusing on continuously reinforced concrete pavements (2016)
5. Georgia (USA) – focusing on the use of geosynthetics in flexible pavements (2018)
6. Oahu, Hawaii (USA) – focusing on dowel bar retrofit in jointed concrete pavements (2018)
7. Oslo, Nesøya, Kragerø & Bergen (Norway) – focusing on the use of construction and demolition waste in pavements (2024)
8. Vicksburg, Atlantic City & Minnesota (USA) – focusing on full-scale and accelerated pavement testing facilities and concrete pavement technology (2024)
My colleagues tell me that I am well known for my passion for pavements. Over the years I have been a key player in the flexible pavement industry towards the implementation of the following technologies:
- Asphalt additives for winter paving and for long haul projects
- Stone mastic asphalt in New South Wales
- Crushed granulated glass in asphalt
- Process control in asphalt production vis the use of control charts
- Use of Traffic Speed Deflectometer for pavement structural condition assessment
- Use of Glass Fibre Polymer Bars in continuously reinforced concrete pavements
- Mechanistic-empirical pavement design model incorporating geogrids
All the above technologies were implemented with zero failure rate. This was achieved through partnering with the pavements industry.
In 2014, I led a study tour to Belgium concentrating on continuously reinforced concrete roundabouts. Belgium is a leader in CRCP in roundabouts. Based on my strong relationships with professionals in Belgium, I contributed to the introduction of this technology to Australian conditions.
In 2016, I visited the Texas Department of Transportation to capture the latest design and construction practice on continuously reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP). During this visit in Texas, I arranged technology transfer sessions with international experts on world’s best practice on CRCP technology. Also, during this visit, I arranged a technology transfer session with Tencate on the use of geosynthetics with enhanced lateral drainage capabilities in roadway systems. Since then, I have expanded my knowledge and experience in the use of geogrids for the mechanical stabilisation of soft subgrades.
In 2018 I visited Oahu, Hawaii where dowel bar retrofit was applied to the plain concrete pavement of the Queen Liliuokalani Freeway (I-H-1). I was quite impressed with the smoothness of finished concrete surface. The combination of dowel bar retrofit, and diamond grinding has not only extended the structural life of this plain concrete pavement but has provided a significant improvement in ride quality. Dowel bar retrofit is yet to be undertaken in Australia. Nevertheless, I have now hands-on experience and ready to assist in the implementation of this technology in Australia.
Also in 2018, I visited the Georgia Department of Transportation to discuss asphalt technology topics including stone mastic asphalt, porous asphalt mixes and microsurfacing. During this visit, I attended the 1st International Conference on Stone Matrix Asphalt in Atlanta. Also, during this visit, I arranged a technology transfer session with Tensar International Corporation where I was introduced to the latest technology on mechanical stabilisation incorporating stiff geogrids into unbound road base layers to improve the mechanical properties of the layer with a resulting improvement in pavement performance.
Since 2019 I have been assisting a major international geosynthetics supplier with technical support and in the development of pavement notes on mechanical stabilisation. I have delivered may training webinars through Tensar Australia & NZ promoting the performance benefits of mechanical stabilisation.
This year in 2024 I visited Norway aiming to capture the state-of-art recycling technologies that are available for the making of high quality asphalt and concrete mixes. I particularly focused on the use of construction and demolition waste in pavements. I also used this visit to do a full visual assessment of the track slab of the Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen) from Bergen airport to its last stop (Bergen City). Note that in 2011, Bybanen won the international ‘Worldwide Project of the Year’ against other nominated light-rail projects such as the tram network of Dallas, USA, the Angers tram in France and the Gold Coast light rail in Australia.
Also in 2024, I visited the US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center located in Vicksburg, Mississippi focusing on full-scale accelerated pavement testing. I also visited the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. These two facilities house world's largest heavy vehicle simulators having the unique capacity to simulate ground vehicles, aircraft and rail traffic up to 120,000 pounds. After the FAA visit, I attended the 13th International Conference on Concrete Pavements in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Finally I visited Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnROAD), the largest of its kind in the world, located just 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The visit ended with two separate discussion sessions on both concrete pavement technology and the use of MnPave, MnDOT’s pavement design software.
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