The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) awarded The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) a nearly $670,000 grant on October 13 to advance the statewide evaluation and repair of roadways affected by flooding. The funding supports a three-year collaborative project between UT Tyler and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, aimed at improving infrastructure resilience across Texas, including East Texas.
Dr. Mayzan Isied, a professor of civil engineering from the Michael and Elizabeth McNally Endowment and graduate programs coordinator at UT Tyler, serves as the university’s principal investigator. Dr. Mena Souliman, professor of civil engineering from the Ronald D. Brazzel Endowment and chair of the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering and Management, is the co-principal investigator. Both professors bring nearly 35 years of combined expertise in pavement engineering to guide UT Tyler’s contributions to the project.
Dr. Amir Mirmiran, chief research officer at UT Tyler, acknowledged the significance of the initiative, stating that the research team's combination of "pavement engineering, advanced sensing technologies and practical repair guidance" will equip agencies to make safer decisions after flooding.
Dr. Isied highlighted a key challenge for transportation agencies: identifying hidden structural damage beneath roadway surfaces that appear intact. She explained that serious moisture-related damage, erosion, or voids can remain unseen, posing risks. This research aims to help TxDOT personnel make faster, data-informed decisions about road safety and the most effective long-term repairs. The goal is to enhance safety, reduce unnecessary road closures, and strengthen the resilience of Texas's transportation infrastructure.
The project’s principal deliverable will be a guide offering practical recommendations, best practices, and case studies. This guide is intended to assist transportation personnel in rapidly assessing pavement conditions, determining when a roadway is safe to reopen, setting appropriate repair limits, and selecting materials that restore structural capacity, safety, and long-term durability.
Researchers will also evaluate various repair methods and materials for flood-affected pavements and embankments. Additionally, the project will explore autonomous systems to gather critical information in hazardous or inaccessible areas, thereby limiting the need for personnel or vehicles to traverse potentially unstable pavement. The project will collectively support the development of training materials, workshops, and outreach activities to help TxDOT personnel apply the findings during emergency response operations throughout Texas.
