The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies awarded Chuanxin Fang, Ph.D. 2003, and Assistant Professor Samuel Labi the Concrete Materials Section Bryant Mather Award for their research paper titled "Evaluating the Static Segregation Resistance of Hardened Self-Consolidating Concrete Using Image Processing Technology."

The study involved the use of an imaging device (camera) and a set of algorithms to assess aggregate and binder distributions by viewing a cut concrete surface thereby evaluating the quality of self-consolidating concrete material from the perspective of aggregate stability in the binder. Also, this technology can easily be adapted to carry out particle size distribution of aggregates in finished asphalt and portland-cement concrete of all kinds, and to determine the percentage of the binder or air voids in concrete. This would greatly reduce the resources and time used (and would also decrease inherent uncertainties) in post-construction quality assurance.