Knowledge Transfer Partnership (2015-2019)

Technical Surfaces has joined forces with the Sports Surface Research Group at Loughborough University to deliver a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), to further enhance industry understanding and awareness of the efficacy of current sports pitch maintenance techniques.

// Technical Surfaces & Loughborough University

The KTP continues the work of the Engineering Doctorate (2011-2015)

Scientific testing to measure the efficacy of maintenance techniques

Factors affecting player performance & ball interaction are examined

Testing & analysis is also completed in laboratory conditions


Much of what is currently known about artificial surface maintenance is wholly subjective. It is our intention through this collaborative work to convert the years of experience and observations gathered by Technical Surfaces into objective measurements.
There are still gaps in knowledge within the industry, and as the technology behind artificial turf manufacture and construction continues to develop it is important to collect good scientific data on how these surfaces degrade and how their playing performance-related properties change, and the extent to which maintenance can achieve a reduction in this inevitable degradation process.
Instigated by the vision of Technical Surfaces combined with the academic support from the Sports Surface Research Group at Loughborough University, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership project (2015-2019) is an excellent vehicle to continue and extend much of the good work carried out during the 2011-2015 Engineering Doctorate project, with a focus on implementing the findings to enhance the business practice.

Dr Paul Fleming
Senior Lecturer in Geotechnics
Loughborough University

// Joint Papers between Loughborough University & Technical Surfaces Ltd

Sharma P., Fleming P., Forrester S., Gunn J. Maintenance of Artificial Turf – Putting Research into Practice. In International Sports Engineering Association – The Engineering of Sport 11, Procedia Engineering Volume 147, 2016, Pages 830–835.

McLaren, N. J., Fleming, P. R., & Forrester, S. (2014). Artificial grass: A longitudinal study on ball roll and free pile height. In D. James, S. Choppin, T. Allen, J. Wheat, & P. Fleming (Eds.), ENGINEERING OF SPORT 10 Vol. 72 (pp.871-876). Sheffield Hallam Univ, Sheffield, ENGLAND: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV.

McLaren, N.J., Fleming, P.R. and Forrester, S.E., 2012. Artificial grass: A conceptual model for degradation in performance, 9th International Sports Engineering Conference, Boston, MA , 9-13 July 2012, Elsevier, Procedia Engineering, Volume 34, Pages 831-836, ISSN 1877-7058