Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for November.
RoadWatch: Roundup
November 2021
Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for November. Discover our latest news, published reports, Guide updates, webinars and events.
2020-21 Annual Report
Austroads has published its 2020-21 annual report. The report provides a detailed review of Austroads’ progress against its strategic plan.
At a glance, in 2020-21 Austroads:
- invested $11.2 million in research and projects
- managed 101 projects, completing 39 during the year
- delivered webinars to more than 30,000 practitioners
- produced 77 publications and facilitated 394,000 downloads
- enabled 286 million driver licence and vehicle registration database transactions.
New signage proposed to divert over-height vehicles approaching tunnels
A recently completed project has recommended changes to the Austroads Guide to Road Tunnels Part 2: Planning, Design and Commissioning to rationalise road signs on the approaches to tunnels, to divert over-height and dangerous goods vehicles approaching tunnel entrances.
Diverting these vehicles away from tunnels wherever possible is crucial to avoiding potentially serious and negative impacts.
The signage guidance is designed to better inform drivers of the risks and limitations of the clearance heights of their vehicles, and to enable the driver to clearly identify routes that avoid tunnels and their approaches.
Thursday, 2 December 2021, 1-2 pm AEDT
Join a webinar presented by the project manager Bob Allen and report authors Marcus van der Velden, Lindsay Edmonds and Charmaine Joe.
Help shape Austroads’ new digital engineering guide
Transport professionals across Australia and New Zealand are invited to share their experiences around the adoption of digital processes for the delivery of capital projects and maintenance of assets, to help inform a comprehensive new digital engineering guide.
In response to government and industry needs, Austroads has commenced planning the delivery of a new Guide to Digital Engineering. The consistent application of digital engineering will help Australasian transport agencies to deliver, maintain and operate their assets more effectively.
The consultation process is seeking frank advice about all levels of digital engineering challenges. The feedback will be used to clarify problems, identify solutions and help shape and inform the document, to ensure it addresses the needs, gaps and common barriers to the consistent adoption of digital engineering.
To submit your feedback or for further information, please contact Maria Chiozzi at maria.chiozzi@pcsg-australia.com.au.
Consultation closes on 10 December 2021.
New Work Tip provides practical steps to producing and using EME2
A new Work Tip has been added to the collection of practical guidance produced by Austroads Asphalt Research Reference Group and the Australian Flexible Pavement Association.
The Work Tip provides advice on the production and paving of EME2 – a high modulus asphalt used in structural layers for new construction and rehabilitation.
Three existing Work Tips on asphalt joints, bituminous surfacing characteristics and air voids in dense graded asphalt have also been updated to reflect current best practice.
Read more | Download the linked index of the Pavement Work Tips
Austroads will lead the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP)
Leadership of the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP) is transitioning from the Australian Automobile Association to Austroads.
Recognising the extensive use of the AusRAP protocols and systems at an institutional level by road agencies across Australia, the Austroads-led AusRAP Program will build on an extensive platform of local experience and application by state and local government agencies, motoring clubs, Austroads and ARRB.
The partnership will continue to benefit from, and contribute to, the global iRAP partnerships that are in place in over 100 countries worldwide.
Tuesday, 23 November 2021, 4-5 pm AEDT
Join Austroads' Geoff Allan and Michael Nieuwesteeg, iRAP's Rob McInerney and James Bradford and John Hardwick from Transport for NSW to hear about new leadership, governance and future steps for AusRAP as well as global directions and learnings.
Thursday, 25 November 2021, 4.30-6 pm AEDT
Following on from the Austroads webinar, ITE-ANZ will host a practitioner seminar focused on practical aspects of AusRAP star ratings in policy, road investment and safety auditing. Register here.
PIARC international seminar: Climate change adaptation and resilience on road networks
PIARC will hold a virtual international seminar on climate change adaptation and resilience of road networks in low- and middle-income countries on 6 and 8 of December 2021 from 2 to 5 pm EAT.
The goal of the seminar is to exchange information between countries. It will include discussions of key learnings and best-practice climate change and resilience examples already in place, and future considerations.
The seminar will be beneficial to government agencies officials, private operators and
managers responsible for the adaptation and resilience of roads as well as to practitioners involved in designing, executing and overseeing road works, researchers, students and wider supply chain stakeholders.
The event is co-organised by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and PIARC Technical Committee 1.4 Climate Change and Resilience of Road Networks, Chaired by Caroline Evans, Australia.
PIARC Road Tunnels committee meeting
Road Tunnels Technical Committee 4.4 held its fourth meeting in the 2020-2023 cycle of the World Road Association (PIARC) in November 2021.
Technical Committee 4.4 has been formed to focus on road tunnels within PIARC's Strategic Theme 4. The goal of Strategic Theme 4 is to improve the quality and efficiency of road infrastructure through the effective management of assets in accordance with user expectations and government requirements.
The committee addresses the construction and maintenance of tunnels as well as future use of data-driven approaches for preventive and/or predictive maintenance.
Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 released
The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Regional Commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action.
The Global Plan is a guiding document to support the implementation of the Decade of Action 2021–2030 and its objectives. It aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety, and calling on continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles; enhancement of laws and law enforcement; and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured.
The Global Plan also reflects the Stockholm Declaration’s promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport.
Supply Chain Benchmarking Dashboard released
The Supply Chain Benchmarking Dashboard developed by CSIRO and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has been released for public.
The dashboard provides a comprehensive set of benchmarks to assist performance evaluation and international comparison. This project uses the TraNSIT facility to better inform transport infrastructure decision making.
The interactive dashboard currently covers 130 commodities, and around 65 per cent of road and 95 per cent of rail freight trips. The dashboard is also complemented by new international benchmarking reports covering 10 different sectors and 6 commodities in detail: fuel, seafood, paper, milk, vehicles, and general containerised imports. The benchmarks provide insights on:
- Freight task costs and value, including cost per payload tonne or kilometre;
- Travel distances and durations; and
- Supply chain movements between businesses.
Austroads tenders
Closing Monday, 29 November 2021 - 05:00 PM AEDT
ART6334 Design, Delivery and Testing of Road Tunnel Aesthetic Features – Best Practice Approaches
SRD6319 Update to Guide to Road Design: Detailed Review of Jurisdiction Supplements
Closing Wednesday 1 December 2021 - 05:00 PM AEDT
ART6335 Road Tunnel Wall Panels and Finishes – Best practice approaches
Closing Friday 3 December 2021 - 05:00 PM AEDT
SRD6321 Safe System Median Treatments
SAG6318 Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) Review
There is no charge for our webinars, but registration is essential. If you can’t make the live session, register and we will send you a link to the recording.
New Direction for AusRAP – Austroads leadership of Australian Road Assessment Program | Register
Tuesday, 23 November 2021, 4 pm AEDT
Join this webinar to hear about new leadership, governance and collaboration for the Australian Road Assessment Program. Global directions and learnings from the UK and exciting developments in Australia will also be covered.
Guide to Road Tunnels Part 2 Update: Rationalising Network Signage for Over-height Vehicles | Register
Thursday, 2 December 2021, 1 pm AEDT
Learn about the guidance in the revised Part 2 of the Guide on rationalising road signs to divert over-height and dangerous goods vehicles away from tunnels.
Road Authority Data for Connected and Automated Vehicles | Register
Thursday, 9 December 2021, 1 pm AEDT
In this session we will present a data provision framework that can be used by road agencies to build capability in providing data to connected and automated vehicles.
Road-grade Recycled Plastics for Sustainable Asphalt Pavements Part 1 | Register
Tuesday, 14 December 2021, 1 pm AEDT
Tune in to learn about the outcomes of the potential use of road-grade recycled plastics in asphalt pavements and selection of the most suitable types of recycled plastics for incorporation into asphalt.
Road-grade Recycled Plastics for Sustainable Asphalt Pavements Part 2 | Register
Thursday, 16 December 2021, 1 pm AEDT
Register for an overview of techniques to assess emissions and microplastic release associated with the manufacture, placement and use of asphalt containing recycled plastic.
BITRE research
BITRE's monthly bulletin contains current counts and summaries of road crash deaths and fatal road crashes in Australia. Data are sourced from the road traffic or police authorities in each jurisdiction.
You can also view monthly updated road safety statistics and an Australian Road Deaths Database.
Upcoming industry events
Event organisers are carefully reviewing their arrangements to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Please be aware that details may change at short notice.
AfPA TechTalk – High RAP asphalt mixes and the role of rejuvenators, online, 23 November 2021
Zero Emission Buses (ZEB’s) Forum, online, 1 December 2021
Transport Knowledge Conference 2021, Wellington NZ, 1 December 2021
PIARC international seminar: Climate change adaptation and resilience on road networks, online, 6-8 December 2021
ARRB Symposium "Integrated Mobility Impacts 2022", Melbourne, first half of 2022
Engineering, Innovation, and Technology Forum, Brisbane, 1-3 February 2022
IPWEA International Public Works Conference, Adelaide, 1-5 May 2022
MEGATRANS: Reimagining the supply chain, Melbourne, 24-26 August 2022
