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Features

Sandvik’s Turkish delight at groundbreaking tunnel vision
May 20, 2014
Turkey’s longest, and what will be the world’s fourth longest, highway tunnel is being built under Mount Ovit in the northeast of the country. Sandvik Construction is playing a vital role in the construction of the giant new structure, which will enable all-year-round access to what is a relatively remote and often snow-blocked part of Anatolia Having had their freedom of movement blighted for many years by wintertime snow blocking the D925 highway, along with narrower roads and passes, at Mount Ovit, resi
Trio of manufacturers release cutting-edge hybrid excavators
May 19, 2014
A trio of leading global construction equipment manufacturers have released innovative hybrid excavators. Guy Woodford reports on the new models Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has launched the first of a new generation of excavators, the ZH210LC-5 hybrid. The latest innovative Zaxis-5 model has been designed to deliver reliable performance with fewer emissions and less fuel than the ZX210-3 model.
ERF sets out plans for 2014 symposium
May 19, 2014
The road infrastructure sector, in its strive to deliver better products for its customers, such as road authorities, has worked hard to develop innovative solutions. These are intended to be more durable, making them more cost-effective in the long-run, and also more environmentally friendly. In its efforts, however, it has often been frustrated by a rigid legal framework that leaves little room for manoeuvre to its customers. Until last year, existing rules for public procurement at EU level gave almost u
Green solutions for safety road markings
May 19, 2014
Investigating the options for green roadmarkings solutions - *Dr Alexander Klein reports Global challenges such as climate change, urbanisation and aging societies are increasingly becoming more important in managing any industry today. Road markings must ensure traffic safety. But there are differences among them—in terms of functionality and performance and eco-friendliness. A certified life cycle assessment for major road marking materials and application technologies has found that cold plastic agglome
GRAA focuses on winning project profile: Brisbane Airport Link, Northern Busway & Airport
May 19, 2014
The revolutionary AUD$4.8 billion Airport Link has delivered a landmark infrastructure project for Australia, tackling traffic congestion, enhancing the busway network and removing an infamous traffic bottleneck through an innovative and inspired design. The Airport Link in Brisbane, Australia included three separate projects – the Northern Busway (a 3km two-way dedicated busway), the Airport Roundabout Upgrade and the AirportlinkM7 (a 6.7km toll road including 5.2km of tunnel). Together, they represent the
IRF Examiner launched as industry resource to boost efficiency
May 19, 2014
Volume 1 highlights life-saving role of new methods and proven technologies around the world Since the IRF’s establishment in 1948, knowledge transfer has been the core of what the IRF does best. As industry tools and procedures evolve to meet societies’ needs, the availability of global knowledge resources is now more important than ever.
Swept path software house Simtra bought by Transoft
May 16, 2014
Further changes in the vehicle swept path software seem to have been triggered by last year's purchase of the UK's Savoy Computing by Autodesk and subsequent incorporation of its swept path and roundabout design tools into Autodesk's own portfolio. They are now sold as the standalone program Vehicle Tracking 2014. Transoft Solutions, the Canadian-based company has now purchased the Swedish swept path software producer Simtra which only just released a new version of its PathPlanner program. Transoft itse
California traffic management system using simulation has successful trial
May 16, 2014
A complex online modelling system for integrating traffic management on the southern Californian road system has successfully completed a major operational trial this spring The "decision support system" uses the collection of data about the local interstate I-15 and many of the roads which feed into it or lead away from it, to build a comprehensive picture of traffic flows, working with a variety of city agencies, federal highway administration and services such as police and crash data. Data from e
Innovative low temperature asphalt and aggregate options and advances
May 16, 2014
Studies show the asphalt sector has options for materials use that can lower costs and emissions, as well as increasing the use of recycling One study in the UK led by the Carbon Trust and Lafarge Tarmac has found that low temperature asphalt (LTA) could be used as an alternative to conventional asphalt on roads. Conventional asphalt is made when aggregates and bitumen are bound together at temperatures of between 180ºC-190ºC. However, the trial found that the alternative is able to bond road materia
Construction software giant Autodesk continues to acquire new capabilities and products
May 16, 2014
Even before its annual spring upgrade announcements, covering all the major software from AutoCAD to Civil 3D, the giant Autodesk has been releasing a stream of changes. Some of these cover recent acquisitions such as the French Graitec software for detailing and design of concrete and steel structures, now through its legal processes, and the Bestech acquisition. In both cases the software is re-released under an Autodesk brand to ensure continuity for users "and with a price reduction," said Autodesk c
Milling accurately for construction efficiency
May 16, 2014
The two-way flow of machine data is a crucial issue for machine optimisation and new telematics systems are becoming increasingly important in construction Telematics systems can be tapped into by machine control technologies to allow greater integration of the machine as a data provider within an operation. And for certain production machines that feature wear-intensive operation, telematics systems are becoming a vital tool for minimising maintenance costs by scheduling service intervals, maximising u
Aceh Road Rehabilitation project wins key IRF GRAA award
May 15, 2014
The 9.1 magnitude earthquake and resulting series of tsunamis that struck Sumatra, Indonesia, in 2004 destroyed communities in 11 countries. Hardest hit was the Indonesian province of Aceh; an estimated 174,000 people were killed and 500,000 displaced. Basic infrastructure was left in ruin while the primary road along the west coast was destroyed. Vehicles making the trip had to navigate unpaved gravel roads, one-lane temporary bridges, and improvised ferries. Given the cataclysmic events that devastated th
IRF and the Ministry of Public Works, Indonesia to Co-host 1st IRF Asia Regional Congress
May 15, 2014
IRF and the Ministry of Public Works, Indonesia to co-host 1st IRF Asia Regional Congress The International Road Federation is proud to announce that the 1st IRF Regional Congress & Exhibition will be held in Bali, Indonesia, from October 27–29, 2014, in close partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works. Under the theme “Building the Trans-Asia Highway,” this event will provide a unique setting for sharing proven and innovative solutions for the region’s mobility needs, latest industry te
IRF Geneva highlights making roads safe: a priority for all
May 15, 2014
IRF Geneva’s Susanna Zammataro highlights the importance of the Federation’s ongoing commitment to the work of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, with which she serves as co-chair of the project group dedicated to Safer Roads and Mobility On 10th April, the United Nations General Assembly was due to discuss a new global road safety resolution. For those who might dismiss this as just another piece of paper condemned to sit on government shelves and gather dust, this a reminder of a few facts
Evonik’s top marks for Colombian tourist highway solution
May 15, 2014
Leading German road marking product manufacturer Evonik Industries has played a key role in improving safety on a popular Colombian tourist highway, as Guy Woodford reports Bearing the name of the memorable peacemaker governor of Antioquia, the Guillermo Gaviria Correa road, located between the Colombian municipalities of Medellin and San Jerónimo, connects Medellin to the Uraba Gulf part of the Caribbean Sea. In operation since 2007, the road, in combination with the Fernando Gómez Martínez tunnel –