The worldwide struggle for the rescue of the planet is everyone's task. However, there are extraordinary people who implement inventions that revolutionize the field of ecology. Among these people is Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan who developed a very simple but effective technology. He transforms plastic waste into a material that replaces the bitumen used in road construction. Garbage dumps are the inexhaustible source of material for the development of this innovation.
Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan or "Plastic Man" as he is known in the field of chemistry and engineering, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. Immediately thereafter he obtained a Master of Science degree in 1967. Later, in 1974, he received the title of Dr. in Sciences. All his degrees were awarded by the University of Madras where he finished his higher studies.
The Thiagarajar College Of Engineering welcomed the young investigator Vasudevan in 1975 and in 1998 as part of its teaching structure. From then on, Dr. Vasudevan dedicated his research to the management of waste. For more than 40 years he has researched processes for the reuse of plastic waste. The focus of his research led him to propose methods of recovery and reuse of plastic waste found in landfills. This is how the idea of plastic roads was born.
Dr. Vasudevan dedicated his life to seek practical solutions to complex problems by applying the principle of “jugaad”. With this in mind he articulated two complex problems in one simple solution: He directed plastic waste from landfills to road pavements. The plus of this initiative is that it considerably reduces CO2 emissions and provides communities with much-needed asphalt roads.
There are millions of kilometers of unpaved roads in India. It is well known that the high cost of bitumen stops the advance of paved roads. This situation particularly affects rural regions. Accordingly, Dr. Vasudevan succeeded in presenting an efficient, economical and environmentally friendly solution: "Waste plastic can be used as an excellent binder material to develop good roads and thus ensure better transport. The plastic coating will improve the service life of the road and this can be done by slightly modifying the existing technology. This method is cost effective and cheaper compared to 100% bituminous asphalt roads. I am willing to share the technology with Goa and help its citizens if there is government cooperation," he said during the TEDxGIM conference in Goa.
Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan or "Plastic Man" as he is known in the field of chemistry and engineering, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1965. Immediately thereafter he obtained a Master of Science degree in 1967. Later, in 1974, he received the title of Dr. in Sciences. All his degrees were awarded by the University of Madras where he finished his higher studies.
The Thiagarajar College Of Engineering welcomed the young investigator Vasudevan in 1975 and in 1998 as part of its teaching structure. From then on, Dr. Vasudevan dedicated his research to the management of waste. For more than 40 years he has researched processes for the reuse of plastic waste. The focus of his research led him to propose methods of recovery and reuse of plastic waste found in landfills. This is how the idea of plastic roads was born.
Dr. Vasudevan dedicated his life to seek practical solutions to complex problems by applying the principle of “jugaad”. With this in mind he articulated two complex problems in one simple solution: He directed plastic waste from landfills to road pavements. The plus of this initiative is that it considerably reduces CO2 emissions and provides communities with much-needed asphalt roads.
There are millions of kilometers of unpaved roads in India. It is well known that the high cost of bitumen stops the advance of paved roads. This situation particularly affects rural regions. Accordingly, Dr. Vasudevan succeeded in presenting an efficient, economical and environmentally friendly solution: "Waste plastic can be used as an excellent binder material to develop good roads and thus ensure better transport. The plastic coating will improve the service life of the road and this can be done by slightly modifying the existing technology. This method is cost effective and cheaper compared to 100% bituminous asphalt roads. I am willing to share the technology with Goa and help its citizens if there is government cooperation," he said during the TEDxGIM conference in Goa.