Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Construction group PORR has begun a research project called “SmartStreet” in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck to examine how artificial intelligence can be used to predict the performance of asphalt and concrete mixtures containing recycled materials. The initiative aims to improve the reuse of construction waste and support more efficient material selection in infrastructure projects.
Using recycled aggregates in asphalt and concrete can reduce emissions and limit the extraction of natural resources, but higher recycling content can also alter mechanical properties such as strength and durability. Until now, these effects have largely been assessed through laboratory testing, requiring multiple sample mixtures and time-consuming evaluations.
The SmartStreet project seeks to address this by training a neural network to estimate the mechanical characteristics of asphalt and concrete based on the type and proportion of recycled components used. The research runs from October 2025 to October 2028 and is supported by Austria’s Research Promotion Agency (FFG). According to PORR, the system is designed to incorporate additional datasets over time, allowing the model to improve as more test results become available.
“To our knowledge, this is the first research project of its kind,” said PORR CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss, noting that the objective is to increase the circular use of construction materials and make recycled products more suitable for practical applications.
Strauss added: “Virtually every construction project, especially in civil engineering, requires different concrete mixes. The situation is similar with asphalt. Of course, we strive to achieve both the optimal mix for the application and the best possible recycling content. We see great potential in AI to make the process more efficient and generate insights for future construction projects. At the same time, we have the opportunity to incorporate future results and contributions from other partners.”
PORR states that it currently produces around 1.5 million tonnes of recycled construction material across its operations and operates an asphalt plant in Vienna capable of high recycling rates. The SmartStreet initiative forms part of the company’s broader sustainability and innovation programme, which focuses on reducing emissions and promoting circular use of building materials.
The environmental impact of construction materials remains a significant issue globally. Cement production, a key component of concrete, accounts for a notable share of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions due to its energy-intensive manufacturing process. In Austria alone, more than 12 million cubic metres of concrete were produced in 2024, underlining the scale of the sector and the potential effect of improved recycling practices.
