As part of the “Pavement Design” course, civil engineering students from ESPOL’s Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) participated in an academic lecture with Dr. Paul Garnica, author of the book Analysis and Design of Flexible Pavements: Structural Response, Performance, and Engineering Criteria under Uncertainty. The event took place on Thursday, August 13, 2026, with the specialist participating virtually from Mexico.
During the session, Dr. Garnica shared a perspective on pavement design in which calculation serves as a tool for decision-making but must be accompanied by an understanding of the actual behavior of structures and engineering judgment. The discussion addressed the structural response of pavements, deterioration mechanisms, performance, variability in materials and traffic, and the uncertainty associated with design decisions. It also analyzed the evolution from predominantly empirical methods toward empirical-mechanistic approaches that allow for a better understanding and prediction of the behavior of road infrastructure.
One of the central themes was understanding pavement as a system in which materials, traffic, climate, drainage, construction, and maintenance interact. From this perspective, designing does not simply mean determining a thickness or completing a calculation procedure, but rather analyzing how the structure will respond throughout its service life. The discussion also provided an opportunity to reflect on engineering principles in the face of uncertainty, incorporating concepts of variability, reliability, risk, and expected performance into the decision-making process.
The activity complemented the material covered in the course and gave students a comprehensive view of pavement engineering, connecting the fundamentals learned in the classroom with the challenges they will face in their professional careers.
Key individuals who carried out the activity
Dr. Paul Garnica Anguas
Author of the book Analysis and Design of Flexible Pavements: Structural Response, Performance, and Engineering Criteria under Uncertainty.
Guest speaker.
Eng. Carola Gordillo, M.Sc.
Professor of the course “Pavement Design.”
Civil Engineering Program – FICT, ESPOL.
Related Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 4: Quality Education. For strengthening student training through exchanges with specialists and access to up-to-date knowledge.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. For contributing to training in the design and analysis of road infrastructure based on scientific and technical knowledge.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. For helping to prepare professionals capable of contributing to the development and maintenance of safe and sustainable road infrastructure.
