Features

The second ERF LAB event* in Brussels examined the ‘Impact of new mobility on road infrastructure and equipment’, writes Christophe Nicodème, director-general of the ERF

Advanced technology is enabling asphalt road surfaces to be laid with greater efficiency

This past month of July America and much of the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of man setting foot on the moon. There were speeches, replays of the Saturn V launch and lunar landing videos, interviews with astronauts, and much more as we relived the excitement, danger, and suspense of sending human beings 384,000km into space to land on an uninhabited moon and return. Most Americans over the age of five in 1969 can tell you where they were when the Eagle landed on July 20, 1969, and the world watch

Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is capitalising on its well-established equipment and componentry manufacturing base as China’s global Belt and Road Initiative gathers momentum.

For the last seven years the University of Birmingham has been organising – together with IRF (Geneva) the Rural Roads for Development course in Birmingham. The week-long course is very much a hands-on course delivered by experts from around the world on a topic of relevance to the sustainable provision of rural roads. Ahead of this year course edition which will be hosted on 9-13 September, Dr Michael Burrow from Birmingham University answered key questions about rural transport. Q: How can improved rur

A 20km long elevated expressway in Dhaka will be one of Bangladesh’s first Public Private Partnership transport projects – words and pictures by Ruby Kitching, on behalf of Mott MacDonald.

Cross-linking agents can vastly improve the stability and performance of polymer-modified bitumen (PMB), according to additive specialist Iterchimica. Modified bitumen can become unstable when it is stored inside a tank because the polymer rises to the top, meaning that the rheological behaviour of the bitumen varies through the tank. Cross-linking agents modify bitumen through a chemical action that stabilises the bitumen inside the tank to create a homogenous PMB and hence, a homogeneous asphalt concr

Asphalt plant producer Ciber discusses asphalt mix properties The basic quality criterion of an asphalt mix is its adhesiveness; the adhesion capacity among materials. This adhesive capacity of the asphalt mix can be measured in the laboratory through qualitative or quantitative tests. The result of this analysis should be used as a reference for the improvement of the mix. In the laboratory this can be achieved using additives while at the plant it can be achieved using differing mixer technology an

The UK’s Mersey Gateway Bridge has picked up the Outstanding Structure Award 2019 from IABSE, the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering* Judges described the bridge, designed by Cowi, as "an elegantly integrated solution for a multi-span concrete cable stay bridge in which form follows function". "Everyone involved with the design and construction the Mersey Gateway Bridge over the past six years knows that this is an incredibly special structure,” said Paul Sanders, Cowi’s p

Major innovations in power systems and drivelines are offering increased efficiency and reduced emissions for the future of construction machines - Mike Woof writes

A huge surplus of waste tyres and a strengthening commitment towards sustainability from local authorities has prompted asphalt supplier Tarmac to invest in technology to add crumb rubber to its mixes "Local authorities want to be green, sustainable and environmentally friendly,” said Tarmac’s technical director Brian Kent. “I get the sense that these issues are more important to them now. I do think we are going to get some traction.” Around 40 million tyres are worn out every year in the UK. Though

An airport redevelopment and expansion project in the Maldives has been assisted by the use of technology from Trimble. In 2016 the Chinese firm Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) was awarded the contract for the expansion of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on Hulhule island in the Maldives, which is part of the Indian Ocean island group. The massive US$440 million expansion and land reclamation work is intended to boost capacity at the Maldives Airport. BUCG has utilised Trimble field solu

With the release of an update catalogue of training and credential programmes available to road professionals worldwide, IRF has affirmed its role at the road industry’s most trusted brand in continuing education. For 70 years, an essential part of IRF’s mission has been the organisation and delivery of continuing education services that help strengthen human skills and contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and field expertise. Today, IRF’s curriculum of 40 certified courses provides technica

IRF (Geneva) was pleased to partner and lead some of the sessions of the 2019 edition of the Movin’On Summit, the world summit on sustainable mobility. The successful third edition hosted about 5,000 visionaries from 44 countries between June 4th and 6th, 2019, in Montreal, Canada and discussed new and actionable solutions to move from ambition to action. Created and inspired by Michelin, the event was produced by the Movin’On Sustainable Mobility Fund, with C2 International as the organising partner. U