New way to de-ice airfields nets award

FAYETTEVILLE — A civil engineering student has won recognition from the U.S. Department of Transportation for research on de-icing airfield pavement.

Joseph Daniels III received the department’s Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering award.

“Congratulations to this year’s winner for developing new techniques to enhance safety during extreme weather events at airports, which is so important to protecting the traveling public,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement.

Daniels is a doctoral student who earned a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University.

He said he was notified in mid-December and received the honor in Washington, D.C., at a Jan. 6 awards ceremony.

“We’re trying to look at the cost advantage of using solar energy,” Daniels said.

Existing technology does the job of de-icing, but Daniels said his work aims to conserve energy and lessen environmental effects. A laboratory “proof-of-concept” has been developed with ongoing testing at UA’s Engineering Research Center, he said.

Daniels thanked his faculty adviser, Ernie Heymsfield, and research technicians Mark Kuss and David Peachee.

Daniels also will receive a community service award today from the Northwest Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Council.