Prof. S Shankar: Professor at National Instotue of Technology Warangal, India
1. Article Details
This article, titled Global research trends in full-depth reclamation for pavement engineering: a bibliometric analysis (1991–2025), was authored by P. Divya, S. Shankar, and Venkaiah Chowdary and published in Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, Volume 11, Article 511, on 19 August 2026. It is a review and bibliometric study covering 35 years of FDR research from 1991 to 2025. The study analyzes 83 peer-reviewed articles from Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and Africa. It focuses on chemical and bituminous stabilization in FDR, particularly stabilizer type, mix design, compaction, curing, performance criteria, and RAP incorporation.
2. Novelty
The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive global bibliometric assessment of FDR research over a 35-year period. Rather than examining the performance of a single FDR material or rehabilitation project, the study maps the development of the entire research field. It identifies major contributing countries, regional preferences for stabilization methods, important research parameters, and recent research growth. The finding that nearly half of the identified publications were produced between 2020 and 2025 demonstrates the rapidly increasing research interest in FDR. The study therefore provides a valuable research map for understanding the evolution and future direction of FDR technology.
3. Impact
The study has considerable academic, engineering, and practical impact because it consolidates dispersed FDR research into a single comprehensive assessment. It identifies the United States as the leading contributor, followed by India, Georgia, China, and Canada, thereby showing the global development of FDR research. The comparison of cement and bituminous stabilization practices can help researchers and pavement engineers understand regional technology preferences. The study also provides a foundation for identifying research priorities and developing future experimental investigations. Its findings are particularly relevant to countries seeking economical and sustainable alternatives to conventional pavement reconstruction.
4. Originality
The originality of the article comes from its specific focus on the global research evolution of FDR rather than treating FDR only as one component of a general pavement-recycling review. The integration of research trends, geographical distribution, stabilization techniques, mix-design practices, curing, compaction, performance evaluation, and RAP utilization provides a broad perspective of the field. By covering literature from 1991 to 2025, the study also establishes a long-term perspective that helps distinguish established research areas from emerging topics. This makes the article useful as a reference framework for future FDR research.
5. Experimental Rigor
As a bibliometric review, the article does not involve laboratory experimentation or direct field testing; therefore, its rigor depends primarily on the systematic collection, screening, classification, and analysis of published research. The analysis of 83 peer-reviewed studies across five continents provides a substantial evidence base. The consideration of important technical variables such as stabilizer type, mix design, compaction, curing, performance, and RAP incorporation strengthens the technical relevance of the review. However, the study itself does not experimentally verify the performance of the stabilization techniques. Consequently, its conclusions should be interpreted as research-trend findings rather than direct experimental evidence of FDR performance.
6. Sustainability Impact
The study has strong sustainability significance because FDR enables the existing pavement and underlying materials to be reused during rehabilitation instead of being completely removed and replaced. This approach can reduce the consumption of virgin aggregates, minimize construction waste, decrease material transportation, and potentially reduce energy use and emissions associated with conventional reconstruction. The incorporation of RAP further supports resource conservation and circular-economy principles. By identifying developments in FDR stabilization and RAP utilization, the article highlights the potential of FDR to contribute to more sustainable pavement infrastructure.
7. Applicability
The findings are applicable to highway rehabilitation, road reconstruction, pavement maintenance, recycling of existing pavement materials, and sustainable infrastructure development. The review can help pavement engineers and researchers understand where different stabilization approaches have been adopted and which technical parameters require further investigation. Its findings are particularly useful for developing FDR mix designs, selecting suitable stabilizers, optimizing RAP utilization, and designing future laboratory and field studies. The research is therefore applicable to both academic research and practical pavement rehabilitation planning.
Research Portfolio
Dr. S. Shankar is an accomplished Civil Engineering academic and transportation engineering professional at the National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana, with extensive expertise in pavement engineering, low-volume roads, pavement materials, road maintenance, and sustainable transportation infrastructure. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, M.Tech. in Transportation, and B.E. in Civil Engineering, and has developed a strong academic, research, consultancy, and professional service profile through teaching, sponsored research, technical consultancy, doctoral supervision, and engagement with government and professional organizations.
Online Profile
- Scopus Author ID: 57211683260
- ORCID: 0000-0001-6156-4625
- Documents: 37
- Citations: 204, from 173 citing documents
- h-index: 8
Dr. S. Shankar is associated with the Department of Civil Engineering, Transportation Division, National Institute of Technology Warangal, where he serves as an Associate Professor and has held leadership responsibilities including Head of the Transportation Division and Program Coordinator. His professional profile reflects substantial engagement with the Indian Roads Congress, Indian Society for Technical Education, Institution of Transportation Engineers, Indian Geotechnical Society, PMGSY technical agencies, and various academic and technical committees. His work also includes invited lectures, conference participation, peer reviewing, external examination, consultancy assignments, and technical training for road-sector professionals.
Education
Dr. S. Shankar completed his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Warangal in 2012, following an M.Tech. in Transportation from NIT Warangal in 2006 and a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Vasavi College of Engineering, Hyderabad, in 2003. He also completed a Diploma in Civil Engineering from Government Polytechnic, Masab Tank, Hyderabad, in 2000 and his secondary education at St. Xavier’s High School, Suryapet, in 1996. His academic progression demonstrates a continuous specialization in civil and transportation engineering, particularly in pavement and rural-road systems.
Research Focus
His research focuses primarily on forensic investigation of pavement failures, low-volume road engineering, pavement analysis and design, pavement management and asset management, innovative and marginal materials, waste-material utilization, geosynthetics, soil stabilization, and emerging technologies for rural roads. His recent research particularly emphasizes sustainable pavement materials and recycled aggregates, including reclaimed asphalt pavement, recycled concrete aggregate, emulsified asphalt-treated bases, coir geotextiles, biomedical-waste-derived materials, bottom ash, flood-resilient pavements, full-depth reclamation, and environmentally responsible pavement maintenance strategies.
Experience
Dr. S. Shankar has built a long-standing academic and professional career at NIT Warangal, progressing through research, teaching, and faculty positions in Civil Engineering and Transportation Engineering. His responsibilities have included teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses, supervising Ph.D., M.Tech., and B.Tech. research, managing laboratories and transportation facilities, coordinating consultancy activities, serving on institutional committees, organizing technical programmes, reviewing research papers, evaluating dissertations, and providing expert technical guidance to government agencies and engineering institutions. He has also contributed to PMGSY-related technical activities and consultancy projects involving pavement evaluation, road materials, traffic studies, pavement design, quality control, road signage, and infrastructure assessment.
Research Timeline & Activities
His research trajectory began with investigations into pavement performance, rural roads, subgrade strength, pavement evaluation, rutting, and pavement maintenance, and subsequently expanded toward sustainable and recycled pavement materials. From the 2010s onward, his work increasingly addressed coir geotextiles, reclaimed asphalt pavement, recycled concrete aggregates, cement- and emulsified-asphalt-treated bases, pavement deterioration modelling, pavement management, porous asphalt, and low-volume rural-road sustainability. More recent activities include research on biomedical waste incinerated ash, bottom ash, flood-resilient pavements, roller-compacted concrete, full-depth reclamation, rejuvenated asphalt binders, and sustainable pavement maintenance. He has also conducted numerous government-sponsored training programmes, workshops, webinars, and executive development programmes on rural-road design, construction, quality control, pavement management, and innovative materials.
Awards & Honors
Dr. S. Shankar has received recognition for his academic and professional contributions, including the Outstanding Faculty in Engineering Award from Venus International Foundation, Chennai, as well as Best Paper Awards in 2024 and 2025. His professional standing is further reflected through his membership in national and international technical organizations, participation in expert and advisory committees, service as a reviewer and scientific committee member for conferences and journals, invited lectures at academic and government programmes, and technical contributions to rural-road and pavement engineering initiatives.
Strengths for the Innovative Researcher Award
Innovative and Sustainable Pavement Research
Dr. S. Shankar demonstrates a strong and sustained research focus on innovative, sustainable, and resource-efficient pavement technologies. His work spans reclaimed asphalt pavement, recycled concrete aggregate, waste-derived materials, geosynthetics, soil stabilization, emulsified-asphalt-treated bases, full-depth reclamation, and flood-resilient pavements. This breadth reflects a clear commitment to developing alternatives to conventional pavement construction and rehabilitation.
Strong Research Continuity and Emerging-Technology Orientation
His research trajectory shows a progressive movement from conventional pavement performance and rural-road investigations toward advanced recycling, waste utilization, pavement management, and climate-resilient infrastructure. His recent involvement in full-depth reclamation and recycled pavement technologies demonstrates his ability to identify emerging research areas and contribute to evolving transportation-engineering practices.
Global Research Contribution in Full-Depth Reclamation
His co-authorship of the 2026 study Global research trends in full-depth reclamation for pavement engineering: a bibliometric analysis (1991–2025) represents a distinctive contribution to the FDR research community. The study systematically maps 35 years of international research, identifying geographical trends, stabilization practices, RAP utilization, and emerging research priorities. Its broad evidence base and global perspective provide a useful research framework for future investigators.
Research with Direct Engineering and Societal Relevance
A major strength of Dr. Shankar’s research is its strong connection between academic investigation and practical road engineering. His work addresses pavement failures, low-volume roads, pavement maintenance, asset management, rural-road development, material characterization, and rehabilitation. His consultancy, government engagement, technical training, and PMGSY-related activities further demonstrate the translation of research knowledge into practical engineering applications.
Leadership, Collaboration, and Capacity Building
Beyond individual research outputs, Dr. Shankar has contributed through doctoral and postgraduate supervision, technical consultancy, professional organizations, peer review, expert committees, invited lectures, workshops, and government-sponsored training programmes. His leadership in transportation engineering at NIT Warangal and engagement with professional and government institutions demonstrate his ability to build research capacity and disseminate innovative engineering practices. Collectively, these achievements establish him as a researcher whose work combines innovation, sustainability, practical impact, interdisciplinary relevance, and long-term contribution to transportation infrastructure.