Samuel Schaefer

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Samuel Schaefer is a researcher at the forefront of intelligent infrastructure and automated pavement maintenance, bridging robotics, digital twins, and fluid simulation. His key research areas include autonomous construction systems, robotic crack sealing, and highway digital twin technologies. Schaefer’s major contributions lie in developing predictive models for material deposition in pavement repair, notably through his work on position-based fluid simulation for robotic injection sealing—a method that addresses the critical challenge of accurately filling hidden crack spaces. His 2024 paper on this topic, with 8 citations, provides a foundational framework for automating sealant volume control. Additionally, Schaefer’s perspective on highway digital twin-enabled Autonomous Maintenance Plants (7 citations) outlines a visionary roadmap for integrating real-time sensing, simulation, and robotic intervention into road maintenance. This work has helped shift the field from semi-automated inspection toward fully autonomous repair systems. With a growing citation impact and a clear focus on practical, deployable solutions, Schaefer is shaping the next generation of resilient, self-maintaining highway infrastructure—a critical achievement for reducing costs and improving road safety worldwide.