待翻譯：Could geothermal roads help prevent potholes before they form?

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press release Published: 13 August 2026 Could geothermal roads help prevent potholes before they form? Surrey trial aims to find out The UK's pothole problem could one day be tackled from beneath the road surface, as researchers at the University of Surrey launch a pioneering trial that uses heat stored underground to keep roads cooler in summer, warmer in winter and less prone to damage. The Thermo-active Roads for Heat Harvesting and Pavement Temperature Regulation project will test whether a ground-source heating and cooling system can regulate road temperatures throughout the year – helping roads better withstand increasingly extreme weather while reducing the carbon footprint of highway maintenance, improving safety and reducing the inconvenience of roadworks. The system works by embedding a network of heat exchange pipes beneath the road surface, running through both the asphalt and the layers below. During summer, water circulating through the pipes absorbs heat from the asphalt and transfers it to a 100-metre-deep borehole, where it is stored underground. In winter, that heat is circulated back through the pipes to warm the road surface, helping to prevent ice from forming and reducing the freeze-thaw cycles that contribute to potholes. Installation has already begun in the Senate House car park on the University's Stag Hill campus, with the first phase of the trial underway and the second phase starting in mid-August 2026. Once operational, researchers will monitor the system over a number of years using underground sensors to assess how effectively it regulates road temperatures. Rather than reacting to potholes after they've formed, we're asking how we can prevent them in the first place. Potholes are more than an inconvenience – they are a safety hazard; they disrupt journeys and are costly to repair. Our project will explore whether geothermal technology can help prevent that damage from happening at scale. Dr Benyi Cao, Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering; Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow Unlike many emerging infrastructure technologies, Surrey’s project uses mature, readily available materials, including standard plastic pipework and water circulation pumps, making future deployment both practical and affordable. Previous studies in Europe and the United States have explored similar concepts, but Surrey's project will provide detailed real-world evidence of how the technology performs in UK conditions. As well as monitoring the road itself, the team will measure air temperatures above the test section to investigate whether cooler pavements could also reduce surrounding air temperatures during periods of extreme heat. This trial will give us real-world evidence of how geothermal road systems perform outside the laboratory. If the results are promising, road authorities will have the evidence they need to deploy this technology to create longer-lasting roads, reduce maintenance costs and make transport infrastructure more resilient to a changing climate. Dr Nikolas Makasis, Lecturer in Civil Engineering The project is funded through Dr Benyi Cao's Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship, with additional support from Surrey County Council's Lane Rental Scheme. ### Notes to editors Filming opportunities: Journalists are invited to visit the trial site on 25–26 August 2026, while the ground is open and the heat-exchange pipes are installed. This will provide an opportunity to film the system before it is covered over. Please enquire if you would like to arrange a site visit. A time-lapse video showing the construction and installation process will be available in early September. Dr Benyi Cao is available for interview; please contact [email protected] to arrange. Images are available upon request Related sustainable development goals Share what you've read? Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Featured Academics Dr Benyi Cao Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering; Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow Dr Nikolas Makasis Lecturer in Civil Engineering Media Contacts External Communications and PR team Phone: +44 (0)1483 684380 / 688914 / 684378 Email: [email protected] Out of hours: +44 (0)7773 479911