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David Williams is director of Kijlstra UK, one of the leading European manufacturers and suppliers of drainage solutions. The Group has a turnover in excess of €150 million and sites in numerous locations throughout Western Europe. Ever since Sir John Egan kick-started the Rethinking Construction movement more than a decade ago, designers, contractors and suppliers have been trying to find ways of improving site safety, cutting waste and generally improving efficiency in the construction process. “There has

Dutch-style cycle safety for other European nations – Mike Woof writes A recent event held in London during October was aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users. Called Love London go Dutch, the event was intended to highlight some of the experience from Holland in reducing risk rates for vulnerable road users such as cyclists. Similar events were held in other UK cities, while other major European cities such as Paris that are seeing an increase in cycling also have a lot to learn from Dutch exp

A strategic alliance has been established by Bentley and Trimble – Mike Woof and Guy Woodford report A major move in the construction software sector has been seen following the announcement of a strategic alliance between Bentley Systems and Trimble. Both companies have been acquiring smaller firms and expanding their product portfolios and have worked together in the past but this new development will result in far closer integration.This alliance between Trimble and Bentley aims to create a new benchmark

That roads are essential for Europe’s prosperity is something no policymaker in their right mind would deny Roads have a major impact on our daily lives, as it is one of the primary means of access to employment, services, and social activities. Moreover, by linking people and other modes of transport, they are a sine qua non for achieving greater cohesion within Europe. In light of this, it is somehow hard to believe how long it has taken policymakers to wake up to an inconvenient truth. This is that chr

IRF will be joining with Moroccan Motorways (Autoroutes du Maroc) and the Moroccan Road Association to a host a major Regional Conference focusing on the North Africa & the Mediterranean region (MENA). The event, which benefits from support from the World Bank, the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Transport and ITS Arab, offers industry leaders a particularly prominent and conducive platform for stimulating business and connections in a fast developing region, rich in opportunities for the provision of su

Patrizia Bellucci from the Research and New Technologies Division of ANAS, in Rome introduces a sustainable approach to road noise abatement Traffic noise has been recognised by the World Health Organization as a major factor contributing to environmental pollution. Besides causing annoyance, it has significant negative health impacts on populations living close to road infrastructure. In 2002, to help counter this state of affairs, the European Parliament and Council adopted Directive 2002/49/EC relating t

Earlier this year, a new expressway was opened to traffic in India, adding connectivity to the country’s road network - Mike Woof reports. India’s economic growth has fuelled a massive construction boom in the country. Road building has been set as a priority by the Indian Government to help ensure continued economic development and improve connectivity between major population centres. One major new expressway has recently opened to traffic, having been designed to international standards and provides insi

Guy Woodford reports from Turkey on how Caterpillar is building machines for less regulated markets. Among Caterpillar machines for less regulated countries on show during the recent Caterpillar Construction Days (CCD) Antalya 2012 event in Turkey were the D6R, D7R and D8R track-type tractors. Steven Faucher, product and application specialist for Cat EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East), said Cat Product Link, a telematics system allowing site managers to improve productivity, boost efficiencies and enabl

Designing structures and pavements to accommodate warmer weather and more extreme temperatures. On October 22nd, IRF held a notable workshop on environmental protection and the impacts of climate change in Cordoba, Argentina, in conjunction with the XVI Argentine Congress of Road Administration and Traffic. The workshop addressed a topic of key concern to transportation planning and design professionals around the world. The discussion was animated by guest panellists Professor Ram M Pendyala and Gordon Rex