Highway Engineering Australia V48.5 February 2017

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Editor’s Column

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Special Features

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Industry News

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Case Study: 12D Toowoomba Crossing

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Cover Feature: LBA Australia Smart Cushion

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Project Feature

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Publisher and Managing Editor Anthony T Schmidt Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0414 788 900 Email: ats@epcgroup.com Deputy Editor Rex Pannell Mobile: 0433 300 106 Email: rex@epcgroup.com National Advertising Sales Manager Yuri Mamistvalov Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0419 339 865 Email: yuri@epcgroup.com Advertising Sales - SA Jodie Chester - G Advertising Mobile: 0439 749 993 Email: jodie@gadvertising.com.au Advertising Sales - WA Licia Salomone - OKeeffe Media Mobile: 0412 080 600 Email: licia@okm.com.au Graphic Design Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412

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ISSN 0046-7391

20 Road Safety

February 2017 Volume 48 Number 5

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26 Bridges In Focus 30 Major Projects 33 ARSC 2017 Conference 34 Special Report: ARRB Group

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35 ITS World Congress Special Feature 46 Asphalt In Focus 53 TCA News 56 Product Focus: PS90 UDS Diagnostic Tool

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About the Cover Building on its success internationally and in Australia - including at some 40 locations in NSW - the first Victorian SMART CUSHION Speed Dependent Crash Attenuator has been installed by VicRoads at a busy exit on the Princes Freeway at Laverton in Melbourne’s west.

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EDITOR’S COLUMN

Time for action on Electronic Work Diaries Dear Readers, While I feel reasonably certain that this editorial will once again trigger a flow of vitriolic emails (often from anonymous sources only identifying themselves as 'having been involved in the trucking and/or transport industry for many years") I will once again pose the question...

Why is it, in 2017, with all of the easy-touse and extremely affordable technology at our disposal, that we still have long-haul truck drivers using manual log books?

This question seems to once again have particular pertinence, given the recent events on our roads, including at least one major heavy vehicle impact in which it has been alleged that driver fatigue played a critical role.

For a country with a relatively small population, Australia is highly regarded for the speed with which we accept and adapt to new technologies. Indeed, our seemingly never-ending appetite for new technology, as well our widespread willingness as 'early adopters' (particularly when it comes to high tech consumer electronics), could in some ways be compared to the theme of the 1980s classic movie Field of Dreams - with the exception that rather than 'build it and they will come' it would be paraphrased as 'build it and they will buy!'

While this eagerness to 'upgrade, adopt and adapt' may be true from a consumer perspective, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for much of the public and private sector - especially when it comes to transport related technology.

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Please don't misunderstand: that comment is in no way intended to detract from the many excellent programs and technological developments that have been introduced or are being trialled across Australia. It is simply an observation in relation to the level of uptake and acceptance of many of these technologies.

One only has to look at the apparent lack of willingness to adopt technologies such as Electronic Work Diaries (EWDs) to see what I mean.

Whether this hesitation in adopting EWD technology stems from a lack of understanding of what's available, how EWD's work, or the benefits they can deliver (including, it must be said, preventing unscrupulous operators from demanding unreasonable and illegal workloads from drivers), is largely a moot point. The point is EWD technologies are already available and capable of delivering very real and tangible benefits (safety, productivity and cost) to business, government and all road users alike.

The first thing we require, however, is a willingness to engage and invest.

Now, I wish to make it perfectly clear, that I am NOT laying the blame for all of the ills of the transport network at the feet of truck drivers simply because I believe that EWD's are an excellent and necessary replacement for manual Log Books for the heavy transport industry.

Also, I'm not suggesting that EWD's are some type of 'magic bullet' solution for anything; or that all accidents involving trucks

are the fault of the truck driver; or, perhaps most importantly, that all other vehicle drivers are blameless and/or comply with the road rules, or for that matter, display manners, common sense or common decency on the roads.

What I am suggesting, however, is that we must use the tools which are available to us to deliver the safest and most efficient road network possible - for all road users.

We have rules and regulations for ALL drivers, and while definitely not perfect, they MUST be adhered to. And those who do not comply with the rules and regulations should be penalised accordingly - regardless of whether they are driving a truck, car, motorbike, bicycle or are pedestrians.

EWD's are not about victimising truck drivers - they're about providing the safest possible workplace for truck drivers by eliminating the drivers that flaunt the mandatory rest break rules by cheating on their log books.

What's more, I also believe that they can play a major role in helping truck drivers to finally set realistic and sustainable benchmarks for remuneration. Pay that is based on ACTUAL hours driven and ACTUAL operating costs.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Data to boost Australia’s transport planning

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he National Transport Commission (NTC) has called for the release of a five-yearly report covering passenger and freight movement trends in Australia to help industry, governments and communities plan for the future.

The proposed Who moves what where report was recommended by the NTC in the release at the end of January 2017 of a discussion paper entitled Who moves what where: Better informing transport planning for Australians.

The discussion paper contended that the transport and logistics industry was one of the key drivers of the Australian economy, but it was often difficult to find up-to-date and comparable passenger and freight data for road and rail that could assist in transport planning and reform.

The purpose of the paper is to explore options for how information gaps may be filled by: • presenting options and opportunities to improve data collection and sharing, and • identifying the “value-add” of bringing together existing datasets.

It will address three focus areas by combining the outcomes of the report and consultation: • Encouraging a data culture: developing wider behavioural change and a stronger focus on data access and sharing, across and between government and industry.

Paul Retter, Chief executive of the National Transport Commission

• Filling the specific information gaps: prioritising the importance of filling those gaps identified and developing a suggestion for how this could be achieved, and who is best placed to take the lead.

• Identifying further information or analysis that should be included in future Who moves what where-style reporting and the proposed frequency of such reporting.

In particular, the project aims to provide: • a strategic overview of the Australian land transport industry, including an update to decades-old analyses describing the composition of the road freight sector; • an analysis of the key data gaps and discussion of improved, costeffective methods of collecting detailed network usage data; • identification of existing transport usage and transport user data, and whether this data is able to be shared; and • origin-destination information for passenger and commodity movements for network planning and strategic investment purposes.

Chief executive of the National Transport Commission, Paul Retter, said it made sense to keep building upon the data the NTC had compiled from more than 150 data sets and released in a Who moves what where information paper on 8 September 2016.

“If we are able to use the knowledge and power of even more big data sets and better analytics, we can produce detailed reports that identify national trends and the likely impact those trends will have on the transport systems and associated infrastructure routes we use every day.

“Australia needs to have the best information to make the best investments in transport infrastructure, from large-scale projects to the location of bus stops,” said Mr Retter.

Other proposed recommendations in the discussion paper are related to a transport-wide approach to identifying long-term statistical and information priorities, and introducing data collections to assist with measuring transport productivity.

“Every Australian has a stake in better, more productive transport systems, including consumers, employers and governments, and I encourage all of them to make a submission through our website.”

Stakeholders can lodge submissions via the NTC’s website until 10 March 2017. The Commission will consider the feedback to the discussion paper, after which it will finalise its recommendations.

Those recommendations will be discussed with the Transport and Infrastructure Standing Officials Committee in September 2017 and then presented to Australia’s transport ministers at their meeting scheduled for November 2017.

Mr Retter said the project was a good example of the higher-level strategic work the NTC was encouraged to focus on as part of the 2015 review into the NTC.

“Australia needs to have the best information to make the best investments in transport infrastructure, from large-scale projects to the location of bus stops."

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Infrastructure Australia analyses the impact of value capture

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he role of value capture as a way of helping to fund major infrastructure projects, including those in the transport sector, is the focus of an advisory paper released by Infrastructure Australia.

The nation's independent infrastructure advisor has launched Capturing Value: Advice on making value capture work in Australia – the first paper in its new infrastructure Reform Series.

In the advisory paper, Infrastructure Australia argues that value capture can work in Australia and should be regularly considered for all public infrastructure projects, but it is important to be realistic about the role it can play in funding the infrastructure the nation requires.

“This advisory paper provides guidance to governments and the private sector on how value capture can be applied in the Australian context,” said Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive, Philip Davies.

“Government budgets are under significant constraint. Funding for infrastructure must compete with recurrent expenses such as health and education spending, which is why the Australian

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Infrastructure Plan highlights the importance of diversifying the available sources of infrastructure funding.

“Most people value high-quality infrastructure with access to services like high-frequency public transport, which can cause an increase in property value,” said Mr Davies.

“Value capture taps into this by capturing some of the uplift around infrastructure investments, and in doing so can reduce the volume of taxpayer funds needed to pay for infrastructure.

“In the case of large-scale infrastructure projects, even a five to ten per cent contribution to project costs through value capture can represent a saving to the taxpayer in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

“It’s about making the funding split fairer between the direct beneficiaries of infrastructure investment and broader taxpayers, while also increasing available funding for infrastructure.

“Governments should be clear on the problem they seek to solve and ensure the mechanism that is applied is the most effective and appropriate approach.

Importantly, Mr Davies said, opportunities for value capture need to be identified and implemented early in planning processes, before specific options were developed, to maximise benefits to taxpayers.

“High quality, detailed and long-term strategic planning is the foundation of effective value capture.

“Governments must also be transparent in their application, engaging industry and the community about how much is being raised, from whom, and how all parties will benefit.

“There are a number of different value capture mechanisms that can provide individual solutions for specific projects; however, having a broader-based land tax system would offer the best opportunities for sustainable, longer term reform.

“A broad-based land tax would involve removing many exemptions to existing taxes on land value, streamlining charging processes and phasing out other charges such as stamp duties.

“The key thing to remember is that while value capture may bring benefits to governments, the capacity to apply a value capture mechanism cannot change the underlying economic viability of the project,” Mr Davies said.

The advisory paper stressed that quality, detailed and long-term strategic planning was the foundation of effective value capture. It said taking a long-term view of future infrastructure needs could help governments to identify and support the value a future project could create.

Similarly, the paper contended, governments could use a combination of long-term planning and value capture to reduce the cost of strategic future investments through corridor preservation.

If a government owned land in a planned future transport corridor, this allowed it to capture up to 100 per cent of the value uplift of the land between purchase and eventual delivery of the infrastructure.

The government could avoid paying a higher cost for the land in future.

The cost difference involved could be substantial, especially in outer urban areas, where the transport corridor could be built over by future residential, commercial or industrial developments.

The paper said without corridor preservation the future cost of infrastructure provision would likely include property acquisitions, tunnelling or demolition works that could have been avoided if government had reserved the land when the corridor was first planned.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Construction starting on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel project

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wo streets in Melbourne’s Central Business District partially closed in mid-January to allow for construction of the $10.9 billion Metro Tunnel, which will create space to run more trains, more often across the capital’s suburbs.

Sections of Franklin and A’Beckett Streets closed on 16 January, less than a month after Victoria’s Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne, signed off on the Environmental Effects Statement for the landmark transport project.

The sections will be closed for many years and transformed into major construction sites to build the new CBD North Station.

Construction crews will dig 11 storeys below the ground to construct the new station below Swanston Street – one of Melbourne’s main thoroughfares.

The new station will be linked directly to Melbourne Central Station, providing a seamless interchange between the new Metro Tunnel, the City Loop and the rest of the rail network.

Franklin Street is closed to vehicle traffic between Swanston Street and Victoria Street, and A’Beckett Street is closed between Swanston Street and Stewart Street.

To improve traffic flow, parking near intersections on La Trobe Street between Exhibition and King streets is being removed to introduce a new permanent traffic lane, and a ‘no stopping’ zone is being introduced eastbound on Victoria Street between Leicester and Nicholson streets in the morning.

Work is also underway on St Kilda Road at the site of the future Domain Station.

Tram, pedestrian and bicycle access will be maintained.

Later this year, Domain Road will close from St Kilda Road to the edge of Edmund Herring Oval for construction of the new station.

As a result of the Environmental Effects Statement, 119 fewer trees will be lost under construction of Melbourne Metro, Fawkner Park will no longer be used for the project and property acquisition in Kensington has been reduced from 22 to one.

Minister Wynne has requested further action from the Melbourne Metro Rail

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Authority to minimise impacts on the community, businesses and surrounding heritage.

The authority is also required to set up new stakeholder groups along the alignment to work with communities during construction of the project.

A business disruption plan, a traffic and transport work group and new guidelines for construction noise levels have also been requested in the final EES. The draft EES was released in 2016 for consultation and 379 submissions were received.

Those submissions focused on noise and vibration from tunnelling, changes to traffic and transport, loss of trees, impacts on open space, heritage and the impact on communities and businesses around the works.

An independent committee sat for 33 days between last August and October, hearing from 115 parties, before making recommendations to the minister.

The independent EES Panel assessed proposals to build a deeper Domain Station and determined a shallow station would provide greater benefit for the 40,000 passengers who would use it each day.

Minister Wynne said the Metro Tunnel was the biggest Victorian infrastructure project since the city loop was built in the 1980s.

“It will generate decades of benefit to public transport users.

“While there will be significant impacts over the construction period, plans will be in place to minimise the disruptions and we will keep working with the community along the way.”

Three consortia featuring the world’s best construction companies were shortlisted for Melbourne Metro last year with the PPP contract expected to be awarded by the end of 2017.

The shortlisted bidders were: • Continuum Victoria – comprising ACCIONA Infrastructure, Ferrovial Agroman, Honeywell, Downer EDI and Plenary Origination • Cross Yarra Partnership – comprising Lendlease Engineering, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital • Moving Melbourne Together – comprising Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors, Ghella, Salini Impregilo, Serco and Macquarie Capital The PPP will build and fit-out the ninekilometre Metro Tunnel and the five new underground stations at Arden, Parkville, CBD North, CBD South and Domain.

Up to six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are set to be used during construction, each up to 100 metres long and weighing more than 1,000 tonnes.

INDUSTRY NEWS

AAA welcomes appointment of Australian to head world road safety body The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has welcomed the appointment of Australian, Gary Liddle, as Chairman of the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).

Mr Liddle is highly experienced, having served as CEO of VicRoads, CEO of Public Transport Victoria, Deputy Secretary of Transport and most recently, as Enterprise Professor of Transport at the University of Melbourne. iRAP was established as a global institution to support the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. It works with nations around the globe to guide the development of safer road networks and is responsible for developing the Star Rating System used to determine the safety of roads and to help prioritise investment. iRAP’s Star Rating System is part of the methodology used by the AAA in the development of its AusRAP reports, produced to provide all Australian Governments with a basis upon which to better target investments to maximise road safety.

AAA Chief Executive Michael Bradley said: “Sadly we’ve just come through a Christmas holiday period that has taken a

10 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

high toll on our roads. More worryingly, we are seeing a long-term trend of increased road deaths. As such we need a renewed focus from governments at all levels on road safety."

“With an Australian leading iRAP, our governments have a unique opportunity to show international leadership and make the use of the Star Rating system and the AusRAP risk assessment methodology central to transport funding decision making. This would help ensure investments are most effective in saving the lives of Australians and preventing many others from suffering severe and life-changing injuries on our roads," he said.

“The work of iRAP has been central to the AAA’s work to highlight the need to make safety central to road funding decisions in Australia. I thank outgoing Chairman, John Dawson, for his leadership of iRAP and congratulate Mr Liddle on his appointment,” Mr Bradley added.

About iRAP iRAP is registered in England & Wales as Charity number 1140357. It was formally founded in 2005 and awarded charitable status in 2011.

The charity notably provides the Road Safety Toolkit and ViDA software which can be used to assess infrastructure safety on a free-to-air basis subject only to simple rules to ensure quality, comparability and public interest publication. The development of ViDA is steered by a Global Technical Committee comprising representatives from leading global research institutions in Europe, USA, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

For further information, please visit: www.irap.org

Positioning technology to benefit Australia’s transport The Australian Government will invest $12 million in a two-year program to investigate the future of positioning technology in Australia.

The funding will be used to test instant, accurate and reliable positioning technology that could provide future safety, productivity, efficiency and environmental benefits across many industries in Australia, including transport, agriculture, construction, and resources.

Research has shown that the wide-spread adoption of improved positioning technology has the potential to generate upwards of $73 billion of value to Australia by 2030.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the program could test the potential of Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) technology in the four transport sectors – road, rail aviation and maritime.

“SBAS utilises space-based and groundbased infrastructure to improve and augment the accuracy, integrity and availability of basic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, such as those currently provided by the USA Global Positioning System (GPS).

“The future use of SBAS technology was strongly supported by the aviation industry to assist in high accuracy GPS-dependent aircraft navigation.

“Positioning data can also be used in a range of other transport applications including maritime navigation, automated train management systems and in the future, driverless and connected cars.”

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Matt Canavan, said access to more accurate data about the Australian landscape would also help unlock the potential of the north.

“This technology has potential uses in a range of sectors, including agriculture and mining, which have always played an

INDUSTRY NEWS

important role in our economy, and will also be at the heart of future growth in Northern Australia,” Senator Canavan said.

“Access to this type of technology can help industry and government make informed decisions about future investments.”

The two-year project will test SBAS technology that has the potential to improve positioning accuracy in Australia to less than five centimetres. Currently, positioning in Australia is usually accurate to five to 10 metres.

The SBAS test-bed is Australia's first step towards joining countries such as the US, Russia, India, Japan and many across Europe in investing in SBAS technology and capitalising on the link between precise positioning, productivity and innovation.

Geoscience Australia with the Collaborative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) will call for organisations from industries including road, rail, aviation, maritime, agriculture, construction, mining, spatial, and utilities to participate in the testbed.

For more information about the SBAS test-bed and National Positioning Infrastructure Capability visit the Geoscience Australia website.

Significant growth forecast for road and bridge construction The road and bridge construction sector is forecast to experience significant growth in 2017, according to research by IBISWorld – the global industry research company.

The sector tops the list of five diverse industry groups which IBISWorld predicts will perform strongly during the year. Its revenue is expected to increase by a sizeable 27.2 per cent in 2016-17, climbing to reach $20.1 billion.

The other sectors forecast to perform strongly are sugar manufacturing 19.9 per cent, oil and gas extraction 16.8 per cent, data storage services 14.4 per cent and child care services 12 per cent.

The IBISWorld research said the road and bridge construction industry's performance had fluctuated widely over the past five years, moving in line with the start-up and completion of large-scale motorway, bridge and tunnel developments.

It said the industry had been influenced by capital expenditure policies of federal and state governments, along with the long-term trend towards greater private sector equity being involved in toll roads.

IBISWorld Senior Industry Analyst, Nathan Cloutman, said several giant transport infrastructure projects were currently driving accelerated expansion in the road and bridge construction industry.

“Much of the current robust growth has been due to the early construction phases of the NorthConnex M1 to M2 link and WestConnex projects in Sydney.

“These private-public funded projects are set to dominate the road construction landscape for several years.”

In contrast, Mr Cloutman said, the completion of large-scale developments such as the Hunter Expressway in New South Wales, the Peninsula Link in Victoria and Brisbane's Legacy Way previously contributed to the industry’s slump during 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Australian company at leading edge of wheel technology A Geelong-based company that makes the world’s only mass produced onepiece carbon fibre car wheel has attracted funding from Australia’s Clean Energy Innovation Fund to help expand its market opportunities.

The carbon fibre wheel is produced by Carbon Revolution – it is as much as 45 per cent lighter than the aluminium wheel, reducing vehicle weight, fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The Innovation Fund will commit $10 million to a $50 million capital raising by Carbon Revolution which will support the company as its expands its output from under 6,000 wheels a year to more than 100,000 annually by 2021.

The growth will see a three-fold increase in the company’s highly-skilled employee base, providing a significant boost to Geelong’s high-tech advanced vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

Carbon Revolution has a state-of-theart factory purpose-built to manufacture carbon fibre wheels, located in the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct at the Deakin University campus.

Company Chairman, James Douglas, said: “We are delighted with the support

that we have received from existing as well as new shareholders, particularly the Clean Energy Innovation Fund. It demonstrates the increasing support for innovation and advanced manufacturing in Australia.”

And CEO, Jake Dingle, said Carbon Revolution was now well positioned to deliver on its plan to grow production in line with the increasing demand from around the world for its technology.

“We now have the means to drive our product and process technologies to the next level of performance, efficiency and scale, as our wheels are fitted to much higher volume vehicle platforms.

“It will also allow us to appropriately resource our entry into the market for aircraft wheels. This is a very exciting phase for the company and one that will see us cement our global leadership position.”

Light vehicles account for an estimated 10 per cent of Australia’s total carbon emissions, according to the Climate Change Authority.

Carbon Revolution’s carbon fibre wheels offer an alternative to the heavier aluminium wheels, which are used in about 50 per cent of cars globally. The carbon fibre wheels are up to 13 times stronger than aluminium ones and can deliver a six per cent improvement in fuel efficiency when they are fully integrated into vehicle design.

The carbon fibre wheels are already being used in growing volumes in high performance vehicles manufactured by Ford in the US – the Ford Mustang and Ford GT. Carbon Revolution is looking to capitalise on manufacturer interest to extend this reach to more affordable models. The global automotive market produces an estimated 420 million wheels a year, with an annual growth rate of some four percent.

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

APEA calls for SA to adopt mandatory registration of all engineers The Association of Professional Engineers Australia (APEA) has called on the South Australian Government to adopt mandatory registration of all engineers, following revelations that almost half the State’s 1,500 bridges are in disrepair.

The professional body which represents degree-qualified engineers said unlike other states including Queensland, and soon in Victoria and the ACT there is no current requirement in SA for engineers to be registered and this was contributing to the poor quality of maintenance and management of the state’s bridges.

“Unlike most other professions which have an impact on public safety, anyone can call themselves an engineer in South Australia. It doesn’t make sense. You wouldn’t let an unlicensed builder build your dream home, yet Government allows unregistered engineers to administer our state’s most critical infrastructure,” said Sarah Andrews, South Australian Director of APEA. “We’ve been trying to meet with the Government to express these concerns but they have so far declined to meet.”

She said South Australian Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Stephen Mullighan was putting South Australian lives at risk by sitting idle while the state’s bridges crumble.

“Minister Mullighan would rather sit on his hands and watch the state crumble around him, instead of taking one minute to look at what can be done to fix the current mess, and prevent it from happening in the future,” said Ms Andrews.

“Failing to invest in engineers costs the state money and puts lives at risk.

“Twenty of the worst ranked bridges carry thousands of commuters into the CBD each day and if just one of those bridges collapses under the weight of a train, the loss of life and damage to the state would be catastrophic.”

A recent report produced by APEA shows that Governments across Australia are wasting up to 21.2% of taxpayer funded infrastructure. The findings from the Better Infrastructure report have prompted other States to act, while South Australia stays quiet.

The key policy recommendation in APEA’s report is mandatory registration for professional engineers.

12 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

“There is no current requirement for engineers to be registered in the state, meaning anyone can call themselves an engineer,” said Ms Andrews.

“It’s time for Minister Mullighan and the Opposition to take action to ensure the safety, long-term security and cost-effective delivery of South Australia’s infrastructure.

“The first step is to produce and publish a dedicated policy supporting the growth and development of South Australia’s engineering work-force, with the first item being mandatory engineer registration,” said Ms Andrews.

About APEA The Association of Professional Engineers Australia (APEA) is a division of Professionals Australia, and represents degree-qualified professional engineers.

Deakin welcomes centre for supply chain and logistics Deakin University’s strong commitment to research and development that makes a difference to the communities it serves will receive a boost, through the Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics (CSCL).

The Centre, which will sit within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, will strengthen the faculty’s research focus in the supply chain arena throughout Australia and overseas, through its profound national and international relationships with industry and government.

The Faculty’s Executive Dean, Professor Trevor Day, said Deakin’s research and development capability in freight logistics, supply chain strategy, international supply chains and agribusiness value chains, achieved through industry engagement and contracts, made for a perfect marriage between the University and CSCL. “We are delighted to announce this news, which aligns perfectly with our research

and industry partnership focus, especially in regional Australia,” Professor Day said.

“This exciting new initiative will be led by Director Dr Hermione Parsons and Deputy Director Michael Smith. Dr Parsons and Mr Smith, along with 10 staff, will begin with Deakin on Monday, 6 February.”

The CSCL team brings with it a highly esteemed Industry Advisory Committee led

by Maurice James, Managing Director at Qube Logistics.

“The CSCL team will aggregate, coordinate and focus diverse skills and resources to develop and apply knowledge for the benefit of industry, government and community organisations and to operate with a mix of commercial and grant funded activities,” Professor Day said.

“The team will work closely with the Centre for Regional and Rural Futures (CeRRF) and other disciplines inside and external to the Faculty to drive the University’s research and development agenda to make a difference to the communities we serve.”

Safeguarding the future of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road The Victorian Government is investing another $53 million in the Great Ocean Road, described as the state’s most iconic and scenic stretch of road.

The funding was announced by Premier, Daniel Andrews, and Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, on 20 December 2016, almost a year to the day after the devastating Christmas fires.

Mr Andrews and Mr Donnellan toured the Wye River region and met with local residents.

They said that over the past 12 months, the Great Ocean Road had been under threat from bushfires and floods, causing hundreds of landslides and forcing road closures.

The $53 million will be used to improve the surface of the road, and reduce the risk it will be closed in the future due to landslips.

INDUSTRY NEWS

The 240-kilometre tourist route will receive urgent repairs, including new rock fall netting, retaining walls and armour stone to prevent erosion by waves.

New traffic management technology – including electronic traveller information signs, CCTV monitoring devices, real time traffic counters and more signage – will also be installed to help tourists and residents in an emergency.

The funding will safeguard the national heritage listed road, which will benefit residents, business owners and tourism operators who depend on it for their livelihoods.

It will also ensure communities remain connected during an emergency such as a bushfire or flood.

Premier Andrews said the investment was on top of the $50 million the government was joint funding with the Commonwealth for capital works and maintenance on the Great Ocean Road between Apollo Bay and Allansford.

“The Great Ocean Road is one of the nation’s most iconic destinations and Victoria’s top tourism drawcard – we’ll do everything we can to support local communities and attract visitors from all over the world.

“It’s just not good enough to lock out tourists and locals every time there’s an extreme weather event – we’re doing the work to make sure this beautiful part of our state is always open for business,” Premier Andrews added.

Renewable energy tram fleet for Melbourne

Melbourne’s world-leading tram network will be powered by a new large scale solar plant to be built in regional Victoria.

The Victorian Government will run a tender to help build 75 megawatts of new large scale solar farms, delivering $150 million in new capital investment and 300 new jobs.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, and Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said around 35 megawatts of the new solar farms would be linked to Melbourne’s tram network.

The Ministers said the government would voluntarily surrender renewable energy certificates matching the amount of electricity used by all of Melbourne’s trams.

This would result in a reduction of more than 80,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

An open tender will be run in the first half of 2017 to build the state’s first large scale solar farm by the end of 2018.

The initiative keeps Victoria on track to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Minister D’Ambrosio said the government would use its purchasing power as a large energy consumer to boost investment in renewables and create new jobs for Victorians.

“We’re positioning Victoria as a leader in climate change, by reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts.”

Minister Allan said: “We’ve got the biggest tram network in the world and we’re powering it with renewables and creating local jobs.”

Image courtesy of Victorian Government

Western Sydney transport links being improved All seven projects from the first round of the $200 million Local Roads Package for Western Sydney have been completed and are open to traffic.

The first round comprised upgrades to roads valued at more than $34 million.

The Australian and New South Wales Governments are improving transport connections for communities in Western Sydney ahead of the airport at Badgerys Creek opening in the mid-2020s.

“The final piece of the puzzle is now complete, with Eagle Vale Drive at Campbelltown now open to motorists, delivering a better connection to the Campbelltown city centre and major transport routes for locals,” Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, said.

“We've widened the road to four lanes, installed traffic lights at the intersection of Epping Forest Drive and Eagle Vale Drive, built roundabouts at Malachite Street and Emerald Drive and added central medians.

“Our investment in the local road network will ensure the proposed Western Sydney airport is serviced by strong transport links, reducing local congestion and creating thousands of jobs in the process.”

New South Wales Parliamentary Secretary

for Transport and Roads, John Sidoti, said Western Sydney was one of Australia's fastest growing regions, with an extra one million people expected to call the area home by 2031.

“Investing in the region's road network will ensure residents have strong transport links for years to come, whether that's travelling within Western Sydney or heading to Sydney's CBD and beyond,” Mr Sidoti said.

“The focus now turns to delivering projects under the second round of the Package, with planning on these projects already underway.

“These projects will benefit growth areas around the proposed Western Sydney Airport, including Erskine Park, Smithfield, Penrith, Blacktown and Kingswood.”

The Local Roads Package is a key component of the jointly funded $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan to build better roads for Western Sydney.

Arcadis powers up team with global electrical expert

Global rail power supply systems expert Craig Anderton, has joined Arcadis Australia Pacific’s Industry and Power team as Associate Technical Director – Traction Power.

Anderton has worked on major projects across Australia, the UK, Canada and throughout Asia in his 24-year career. He joins to support Arcadis’ continued growth in the Industry and Power market.

Luke Keys, Business Leader, Industry and Power said: “I am very pleased to welcome Craig Anderton to Arcadis and our growing Industry and Power team.

“Craig has a depth of experience that only comes from working on leading projects in diverse countries. As our Industry and Power team continues to grow, it’s great to have global experts like Craig join as it brings unique experience to our projects and worldleading advice to clients.”

For more information, please visit: www.arcadis.com/au

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 13

Synergising Toowoomba Second Range Crossing with 12d The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) project was awarded to Nexus Infrastructure in August 2015 to design, construct, operate and maintain the 41km road bypass. Engineering firms, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and Aurecon formed the APB TSRC Joint Venture (APB) to deliver the detailed design for Nexus Delivery and implemented the 12d Synergy collaboration platform to manage model data files created with geospatial platform 12d Model.

When finished, the TSRC will connect the Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa in the east to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west via Charlton. The Australian and Queensland Governments are jointly funding the delivery of the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) on an 80:20 funding split arrangement. Construction will take approximately three years to complete and is expected to open to traffic in late 2018. The TSRC will help to reduce congestion in the Toowoomba Central Business District (CBD), diverting heavy vehicles from local streets, improving efficiency and driver safety.

Client WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and Aurecon (APB TSRC Joint Venture) Industry Transport Project Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Need Manage 12d Model data files and track emails Benefits • Manage 12d Model data files • Share data with permissions-based access control • Only the latest data is shared • Email management and tracking using existing infrastructure • Wider access to model data including regional offices and access from home 12d Synergy enables WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and Aurecon to better manage 12d Model, SWMM and GIS data files, plus track email correspondence to maximize productivity throughout the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing infrastructure project.

12d Synergy’s accessibility and visibility control allows APB to manage and restrict access to project data — restrictions may include ability to view but not edit documents, as well as the ability to hide commercially sensitive folders. This means APB can share and track data and documents while ensuring a high degree of traceability for quality assurance to keep content secure.

In addition to managing 12d Model data, 12d Synergy is also used to handle SWMM data, GIS data and project tasks, enhancing collaboration and communication between APB’s design teams.

With a need to coordinate and track email communication, APB evaluated various solutions and selected 12d Synergy to support correspondence for more than 80 users.

12d Synergy integrates seamlessly with two existing exchange email servers and allows all emails to be filed and searchable by content and email attributes.

12d Synergy stores the project data and emails in a central repository. These can be selectively exported to external storage; this is a requirement as information needs to be shared with project partners that may not have 12d Synergy, as well as for backup and/or archiving.

The implementation of 12d Synergy – including installation, user and administrator training, and configuration of the system – happened in just two weeks and took place on the live project. Because 12d Synergy is designed to be simple, setup of the system was performed by an existing 12d Model user who had no previous 12d Synergy experience. This quick and easy implementation resulted in zero interruptions to the busy schedules of APB staff.

About WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff WSP and Parsons Brinckerhoff have combined and are now one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consulting firms. Bringing together approximately 34,500 staff, based in more than 500 offices, across 40 counties to provide engineering and multidisciplinary services in a vast array of industry sectors, with a focus on technical excellence and client service.

About Aurecon Aurecon is a global consulting, engineering, management and specialist technical services firm. With an office network extending across 27 countries, Aurecon is involved in projects in over 80 countries worldwide.

COVER STORY

GAME CHANGER

VicRoads installs Victoria's first SMART CUSHION at busy Princes Freeway exit

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uilding on its success in locations internationally and in Australia - including some 40 locations in metropolitan Sydney - the remarkable SMART CUSHION Speed Dependent Crash Attenuator continues to go from strength-to-strength, following the installation of the first SMART CUSHION unit in Victoria by VicRoads.

Renown not only for its remarkable performance in the field - both in terms of its impact energy absorbing capabilities and the speed and ease with which the unit can be reset following an impact - SMART CUSHION is also being lauded by governments, road authorities, contractors and infrastructure owners alike for the significant reduction in post-impact repair and reinstatement costs that it offers when compared to other traditional impact barrier systems.

VICROADS TRIAL SITE Victoria's first SMART CUSHION was included as part of a trial of two innovative safety barrier products for VicRoads' Metro North West (MNW) Region.

The Region had approached VicRoads' Network Design Services Division for an alternative solution to the existing guard fence end terminal for the busy Princes Freeway inbound exit ramp at High Street, Laverton in Melbourne's west. The existing guard fence on the inbound off ramp had been struck numerous times in the past, and the end terminal was not functioning as intended at the location due to the fact that was often struck side-on rather than headon. Impacts at the site generally resulted in the end terminal and a large portion of the

16 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

“The unit was craned from the back of the delivery truck directly into position on the prepared concrete slab, the holes were drilled, epoxy anchors put in place and the unit bolted into position. It was installed and operational within a couple of hours.�

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COVER STORY

guard fence having to be replaced, which was proving to be both costly and timeconsuming.

With that in mind, Daniel Cassar and Richard Bortko from VicRoads Safe System Design, Network Design Services (NDS) suggested to MNW Region that the location would be ideal to trial two new VicRoads approved products, namely: the KSI Safety Roller Barrier and the SMART CUSHION Speed Dependent Crash Attenuator.

Daniel Cassar, Manager – Safe System Design with VicRoads Network Design Services, explained: "Having decided to trial the Safety Roller Barrier at this location, which curves around the off ramp and terminates in between the through lanes of the Princes Freeway and the straight section of the off ramp, a suitable end

PICTURED BELOW: 1. The SMART CUSHION is delivered to the site as a complete assembled unit ready to be craned into position.

2. Once positioned on the prepared concrete slab, holes are drilled for the anchoring bolts.

3. Applying epoxy for the anchoring system.

4. The anchoring bolts are inserted into the epoxy filled holes, where they will become permanently embedded when the epoxy cures.

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treatment was still required for the front end of the Safety Roller Barrier. As this location was identified as a trial site, we felt that it also provided us with the ideal opportunity to use the SMART CUSHION." This collaborative initiative was well supported by management at both MNW and NDS, with funding to undertake the trial works being quickly arranged. The installation works were carried out by VicRoads' Road Services Division in time for Christmas.

Another area in which the SMART CUSHION excels is the speed and ease with which the units can be installed.

Delivered to the site as a complete assembled unit, once the unit is craned into position onto a prepared concrete base, it is bolted down into position using an epoxy anchoring system.

"We're extremely pleased with the results at the Laverton Site," Daniel Cassar said. "The SMART CUSHION installation was extremely fast and went very smoothly thanks to VicRoads Road Services Division and Dane from LB Australia."

"The unit was craned from the back of the delivery truck directly into position on the prepared concrete slab, the holes were drilled, epoxy anchors put in place and the unit bolted into position. It was installed and operational within a couple of hours," he said.

"In fact, the Laverton trial site installation went so well, that MNW Region have already installed another unit at the busy Tullamarine

Fwy/Calder Fwy Diverge near Essendon Airport and we're looking at other potential sites for SMART CUSHION installations," Daniel Cassar added.

OUTSTANDING 'WHOLE OF LIFE' COST BENEFITS The Smart Cushion unit was tested to US test standard NCHRP350 TL3 in 2003 and in the ensuing 14 years more than 5,000 units have been produced, the vast majority still in service. The outstanding performance of the Smart Cushion has been documented in several FHWA funded surveys and webinars.

The Smart Cushion is loosely classified a ‘severe duty’ crash cushion suited for critical areas like the gore where resets and repairs must be effected with minimal disruption to the travelling public and with maximum safety to repair crew and the TM crew.

SMART CUSHION has set a new benchmark for crash attenuator performance and has redefined what road safety experts regard as 'good value' in crash cushion selection. This sense of value was further enhanced in 2016 when the unchanged SMART CUSHION attenuator was successfully tested and approved to the new US MASH TL3 standard.

Not surprisingly, SMART CUSHION's value is also clearly apparent in the Australian installations. Indeed, to 31 December 2016, after only 18 months of use in Australia, there had been a total of 40 resets at various sites

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February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 17

COVER STORY

across metropolitan Sydney. The total cost for the replacement parts required following these impacts was $4,360.00 - an average of $109 per impact.

What's more, the average reset time for the 40 impacts was only 56 minutes, generally with a one man crew.

Together with the significant reduction in labour and traffic management costs offered

by SMART CUSHION following an impact, the speed and ease with which the units can be reset also ensures that they are able to be reinstated into active service in the shortest possible timeframe, thereby delivering maximum protection for all road users and minimising exposure for repair crews.

Not surprisingly, with post-impact repair costs such as these, an ever-increasing number of road engineers and safety experts are now looking at 'Whole of Life' cost rather than just the purchase price when assessing the true 'value' of impact attenuating barriers.

Paul Hansen, Managing Director of road safety systems and engineering specialists LB Australia Pty Ltd, SMART CUSHION’s exclusive Australian distributor, commented: "While in these days of tight budgetary constraints and ever-increasing demands to ‘do more with less’ it may be tempting to opt for a product or solution with a lower initial cost, when it comes to road safety barriers, ‘whole-of-life’ cost benefit analysis is a critical consideration."

"Low initial cost does not always equate to getting a good return on the investment," he said. "This is particularly true for impact protection systems, which, by their very nature, are extremely likely to require repairs and/or replacement parts following a vehicular impact."

"Put simply, what may appear at the outset to be a ‘better value’ solution can, in fact, end up being an extremely expensive selection, with repair costs quickly adding up to multiples of the initial purchase price," Paul Hansen added. "If every impact results in a

majority or even total replacement of the unit, perceived savings can soon disappear – and the costs will continue to escalate… year after year!"

PROVEN PERFORMANCE SMART DESIGN The key to SMART CUSHION’s remarkable performance lies within its unique design, which incorporates methodologies to dissipate energy both by mechanical and by hydraulic means.

Paul Hansen, explained: “The impacting vehicle’s momentum is safely reduced by three interacting processes simultaneously dissipating energy. It’s an innovative product which is well founded on good engineering design and is considered to the leader in what may be a new generation of smart attenuators.”

“Unlike the old style attenuators, the SMART CUSHION attenuator rarely reaches maximum stopping resistance due to the interactive feedback nature of the system. It is this continuous interactive feedback system that allows the lowest ridedown accelerations when impacted end-on. The hydraulic porting in the cylinder ensures the vehicle will stop before it reaches the end of the cushion’s usable length,” he said.

There are two SMART CUSHION models depending on the road speed classification and the traffic mix. The most common model is the NCHRP350 TL3 tested model that is widely used across the USA. The other model is the NCHRP350 TL2 model tested at 70kph and commonly used in Work Zones and on secondary lower speed roads.

Specifically developed to maximize both safety and reusability, SMART CUSHION’s fully redirective, non-gating, bi-directional, design delivers outstanding performance and durability - before, during and after an impact.

The unit’s side panels are fabricated from 10-guage (3.4mm), 60ksi (414MPa) minimum yield steel with a G90 galvanized coating for

REPLACEMENT PARTS When it comes to spare/replacement part costs after an impact, the SMART CUSHION is truly in a league of its own.

Due to the smart engineering design where the strength and durability of the side panels are designed for side angle impact situations, the SMART CUSHION crash attenuator rarely requires call-out for side angle impacts.

Caltrans (California Department of Transport) estimates that in their network, the use of Smart Cushions has reduced call-outs buy one-third - a significant number considering there are 350 SMART CUSHION units in place.

SMART CUSHION requires only a minimal inventory of spare parts, with the most commonly replaced parts being the two 1/4” shear bolts, with a total cost of less than $5.

For the NCHRP350 TL3 and TL2 testing in 2003 there was no side panel damage to the attenuator for either the side impact test or the reverse angle side impact test.

18 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

“Unlike the old style attenuators, the SMART CUSHION attenuator rarely reaches maximum stopping resistance due to the interactive feedback nature of the system.”

maximum service life even under the harshest operating conditions. The panels’ outer profile not only delivers a significant increase in strength, the fact that it also allows for the edges to be bevelled helps to reduce the potential for sagging and damage during reverse direction impacts.

SMART CUSHION’s design has smart features. The widely separated two rows of anchor pins allow greater foundation stability for the SMART CUSHION in both side-on and angled front-on impacts, compared to cushions designed with a single central “spine”. In addition, the front sled is guided

by rollers that allow the force of an angled front-on impact to be safely redirected to the longitudinal axis of the SMART CUSHION roller guide. These rollers help to by reduce friction and resistance at the point of impact, thereby resulting in a smooth, straight mobilization of the sled during an impact.

The wire rope, the sheaves and the hydraulic cylinder are located in the base between the tracks for the frames. There, these components are protected from damage, and provide easy access when exposed for repair work. The hydraulic cylinder does not have a return spring so there is no danger of vehicle rebound causing a secondary accident or incident.

For further information on the SMART CUSHION crash attenuator, please visit the website: www.smartcushion.com.au or contact LB Australia Pty Ltd, Ph: (02) 9631 8833 or Email: roadsafety@lbaustralia.com.au

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 19

ROAD SAFETY

Making Victorian Roads Safer with Innovation…

Motorists driving on the Princes Freeway near Laverton, Victoria, and exiting the highway at the High-Street off-ramp, are being greeted with a 60-metre length of the brightly coloured, newly installed safety roller barrier – the first of its kind to be installed in Australia as part of a trial installation between WA company KSI Global Australia Pty Ltd and VicRoads.

KSI Global Australia’s Safety Roller Barrier (SRB) is an innovative crash tested product, which heralds the arrival of the latest design in safety crash barrier systems internationally.

KSI’s SRB engineering feature is to convert the collision energy generated from a vehicle impacting the barrier to rotational energy maintaining the vehicle within its trajectory post-impact and providing increased protection to drivers and passengers.

John Wheatland, Managing Director and Founder of KSI Global Australia, based in Geraldton, Western Australia, discovered the SRB from South Korean manufacturer, KSI Korea, and has spent the last 5 years researching, re-engineering and crash testing SRB under international standards. John, who also owns and manages Midwest Traffic Controllers Pty Ltd - a medium-sized well established traffic control company in the Mid-West of Western Australia - saw the SRB’s potential to fill the safety gap not necessarily being fully met by existing barrier systems.

According to John (known as Weaties in the trade): “In collaboration with our Korean partner, KSI Korea, we have a world class safety roller barrier – the first in the world which has been tested to MASH TL 3 & TL 4 US accreditation. This is really important, because MASH accreditation is judged on

20 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

three critical criteria; Structural Adequacy, Occupant Risk and Vehicle Trajectory Post Impact.”

KSI Global Australia has since achieved a portfolio of international accreditations, including: EN 1317 (EU), NHCRP 350 (EU), Austroads (Aust), Korean SB 4/5 and Federal Highways (USA) approvals – and above all MASH TL4 (USA).

The Victorian installation took place just prior to Christmas and John, his son Kyle, and Ricky (also experienced Traffic Controllers) oversaw the installation with VicRoads from start to finish. Despite some early challenges organizing the dig, they managed to complete the installation just prior to Christmas, which was their goal. Weaties attributes the success of the installation to the cooperation and teamwork between KSI’s engineering team, VicRoads’ Safe System Design team and VicRoads’ Road Services team from Metropolitan North West.

Weaties adds: “Our SRB is a really versatile piece of road furniture which can be installed onto roadways, medians, verges, on-ramps and off-ramps, and in high risk locations. The distinctive striking yellow colour rollers serve as a visual warning to approaching drivers to be aware of impending road environments and therefore slowdown.”

As Michael Carter, Director, International Engagement, KSI Global puts it: “We are a local company with a global vision and global product to help reduce road fatalities which, globally, are around 1.25 million annually.”

“We have been proactively pursuing opportunities for our SRB in South Asia, SE Asia, North America and the Middle East. Our

international efforts have been supported by the assistance of the Australian Federal Government’s trade and investment agency, Austrade,” added Carter.

With KSI’s first Australian installation in place in Laverton, Victoria, plans are afoot to install two further trials in Western Australia; two units in Perth’s suburbs and one in City of Greater Geraldton, Weaties’ home town.

As Weaties puts it: “Having our SRB on the ground back in Australia is a really significant milestone. Australia is globally recognised as an innovative and pioneering country in addressing road safety, with Victoria and VicRoads showing strong support for innovation to reduce road trauma.”

“We’ll continue to have the performance of the barrier monitored over the next 3 to 6 months, and we’re confident that thanks to its MASH TL4 criteria rating, the SRB will prove its engineering pedigree as the most efficient crash barrier on the market,” Weaties said.

KSI Global Australia is doing its part to bring innovation to crash barrier technology to help support the Government’s efforts and strategies to reduce road trauma to zero.

At the time of writing, the SRB has been installed for 63 days and there have been no impacts at the trial barrier installation site.

What’s more, it’s clearly evident that there have been no vehicles swerving dangerously close to, or hitting the visually distinctive yellow barrier.

“It’s doing its job!“ remarks Weaties.

For further information, please contact: John Wheatland (M: 0447 777 765) or Michael Carter (M: 0466 522 127) or visit:

www.ksiglobal.com.au

Structural Adequacy Occupant Risk Vehicle Trajectory Post Impact

ROAD SAFETY

Road safety still a work in progress as road toll figures show South Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT were the only jurisdictions that recorded reduced road tolls in 2016.

South Australia recorded its lowest road toll on record with 87 fatalities; the previous lowest toll was 94 in 2012.

Road Safety Minister, Peter Malinauskas, said the decline in road trauma had been achieved despite a steadily rising population and growth in the number of motor vehicles and the number of licensed drivers.

“While this record low is welcome, it is sobering to remember that 87 lives have been lost and hundreds more changed forever as a result of crashes on our roads,” said Mr Malinauskas.

“It is concerning to see the statistics for fatal crashes involving drug driving continue to increase.

“This is why we have targeted drug driving as an area of focus, with tough new penalties that I am introducing to Parliament, including an automatic loss of licence for first time drug driving offences.”

The Motor Accident Commission’s Community Engagement Manager, Matt Hanton, said too many people were still dying

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or being seriously injured in crashes that could have been avoided.

“The saddest part is complacency and poor driver behaviour – speed, failure to wear a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, disobeying simple road rules and inattention have all contributed to death and injury.

“Road safety is about each of us taking responsibility for our behaviour – not sometimes or most of the time, but every single time we get behind the wheel.”

Victoria experienced its third-straight year of increased road deaths. Last year 291 people lost their lives, 39 more than in 2015.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, said Victorian drivers would see record levels of investment in safe roads infrastructure and road policing in 2017 as the government’s $1.2 billion Towards Zero Action Plan rolled-out.

“Thousands of kilometres of flexible roadside barriers and other life-saving infrastructure will continue to be installed on high risk, high volume 100 kilometre-an-hour roads this year.

“The installation of the 330 kilometres of flexible barriers is expected to reduce runoff-road and head-on crashes by up to 85 per cent on these sections.

“Victoria is leading the nation in roadside drug testing, with more than 102,000 tests carried out in the last year. We know from these figures that a growing number of people have drugs in their system while driving.”

The TAC is working on a number of new campaigns for 2017 including a major effort to deter drug driving.

In New South Wales, 384 people lost their lives on the roads in 2016 compared with 350 in 2015; in Western Australia, 194 people were killed – an increase of 33 on 2015; and in Queensland 250 people died – seven deaths more than in 2015 and 27 deaths more than the lowest figure of 223 lives lost in 2014.

Queensland’s Main Roads and Road Safety Minister, Mark Bailey, said a new Road Safety Action Plan would be released in July.

“This will show Queenslanders exactly what we will be doing over the next two years to make our roads safer.

“Our goal remains to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads, but as we have repeatedly warned, that cannot be achieved by government alone.”

Thirty-eight people were killed on Tasmania’s roads in 2016, five more than the previous year and four more than the fiveyear average.

Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure, said the recently launched Towards Zero Strategy continued to be based on the Safe System approach, which takes a holistic

approach to the road system focusing on all safety factors and road users.

“One of the first things we will do under the new Towards Zero Strategy is introduce a new motorcycle training and assessment regime in May 2017.

“Motorcycle riders are significantly overrepresented in serious casualty crashes, while they are only four per cent of Tasmania’s total vehicle fleet.

“This new training and assessment regime will adequately prepare them to safely negotiate our roads and other road users.

“But all Tasmanian road users must take responsibility for arriving at their destination safely.”

In the Northern Territory, 45 people died on the roads in 2016 – four down on the 2015 figure – and in the ACT the 2016 toll was 10 – five fewer than in 2015.

Works begin on Oakey to Miles Safety Upgrade Motorists travelling the Oakey to Miles section of the Warrego Highway will see a number of road projects commencing early this year as part of a $40 million project to improve road safety.

The Oakey to Miles Safety Upgrade project is jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing $32 million and the Queensland Government $8 million.

The project is one of 15 upgrades between Toowoomba and Miles which will be delivered by the end of next year.

Construction of the first package of works will include wide centreline marking, road repairs and improvements to streamline town access in Jondaryan, Macalister, Warra and Brigalow.

Traffic lights will also be installed at the intersection of the Warrego Highway and Heeney Street in Chinchilla.

Up to 70 jobs will be supported throughout the life of the $40 million Oakey to Miles Safety Upgrade project.

The safety upgrades are aimed at improving road safety for local motorists and heavy vehicles accessing the highway. They are based on criteria such as road accident history, crash likelihood or severity, and motorists’ complaints.

The Warrego Highway serves a range of road users, from holiday makers heading to the outback to heavy vehicles transporting agricultural or mining freight to the Port of Brisbane.

ROAD SAFETY

New hoon laws come into force in WA Tough new laws making it easier to permanently confiscate the vehicles of hoon drivers came into force on 14 January in Western Australia.

Under the new laws, courts can order permanent vehicle confiscation on a first offence if a motorist does any of the following: • commits a hoon offence in an active school zone; • travels at 90 kilometres-an-hour or more above the speed limit; • commits a hoon offence in a 50 kilometrean-hour or less zone (suburban street) which could result in harm or distress to a person or results in property damage, including the road.

Police and Road Safety Minister, Liza Harvey, said the new laws had come into force in response to community frustration and concerns about dangerous hoon drivers on the streets.

"They build on our successful existing hoon legislation and initiatives such as covert hoon cameras, which will help enforce the new laws," Ms Harvey said.

"The new laws mean if you put our schoolchildren and residents in danger with your irresponsible and dangerous driving, you could lose your car for good."

The Minister said the new laws would remove the red tape which tied up the permanent confiscation process and the resale or scrapping of uncollected hoon vehicles, saving taxpayers money.

Profits from sold and scrapped vehicles are deposited into the Road Trauma Trust Account.

Ms Harvey said the laws would also give police the power to seize unlicensed motorcycles such as trail bikes, if they reasonably suspected they had been illegally ridden on the road.

Illegal trail bike complaints have increased 90 per cent over the past three years.

The new hoon laws came into force as the government revealed the worst hoon suburbs for 2016 after police seized a total of 1,674 vehicles.

The highest hoon vehicle seizures were from Willetton – 36; Stirling – 36; Innaloo and Forrestdale – 28 and Como – 26.

Traffic signal innovation for Perth intersections Traffic signal improvements will be made at more than 40 Perth intersections as part of an initiative by the Western Australian Government to upgrade pedestrian safety and reduce traffic delays.

The improvements will be implemented following successful trials involving traffic signal enhancements – trials conducted as part of Main Roads Western Australia's Traffic Congestion Management Program (TCMP).

"The trials included pedestrian countdown timers, flashing yellow caution lights for turning traffic and right-turn filtering," WA Transport Minister, Bill Marmion, said.

Right-turn filtering removes the red right-turn arrow during non-peak times to

reduce delays - trials on Canning Highway show a 44 per cent delay reduction across six locations, with filters to be installed at up to 12 intersections by June 2017.

"Countdown timers replace the 'flashing red man' at traffic signals and let pedestrians know exactly how many seconds are left to cross the road.

"This will inform pedestrian judgment before crossing to maximise safety and reduce traffic delays for drivers," said Mr Marmion.

Timers are currently operational in 17 Perth locations, with 23 further intersections confirmed for timer installation.

"A key objective of the State Government's TCMP is to make the most out of existing infrastructure - modifications to traffic signals can improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow at relatively small cost," the Minister said.

TCMP focuses on multiple strategies and projects to improve traffic flow such as: • new merge lines and additional freeway lanes; • dedicated exit lanes to improve merging; and • yellow box junctions and traffic signal timing improvements.

"The government is already delivering traffic congestion benefits with reductions to peak period travel times between metropolitan centres and Perth's central area."

Installation of the additional countdown timers, flashing yellow caution lights and right-turn filtering is expected to be completed by June 2017.

The Flashing yellow caution lights alert drivers to a pedestrian's right of way - five sites have been installed, up to 12 sites are scheduled for installation by June 2017.

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 23

ROAD SAFETY

Ezy-Guard 4 – the latest evolution of road safety barriers Ingal Civil Products has set a new standard for safety barrier technology by releasing its best W Beam product yet – the Ezy-Guard 4.

The Ezy-Guard 4 is the newest member of the Ezy-Guard family, and has been well-received by markets in New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates by providing the next level of compliance. It has been anticipated to generate the same growing interest since its approval for use in Australia six months ago.

The unique design of Ingal’s new system offers superior protection of errant vehicles by providing a forgiving impact, designed to slowly reduce the speed of the vehicle and direct it along the road’s path, protecting occupants from roadside hazards such as trees and other rigid hazards.

By meeting the newest standards in the safety barrier industry, Ezy-Guard 4 offers an increased level of protection for Australia’s motorists. This signifies an exciting breakthrough for the capabilities of the currently available safety barrier products.

The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), published in 2009, provided updated and more difficult conditions for crash testing than its predecessor, NCHRP Report 350. Since it was published, vehicle barrier industries around the world have been eager to use the new standard to ensure current options meet the task of improving the safety of modern vehicles.

In Australia, the old standard for crash testing was based on NCHRP-350, with which the traditional systems such as the G4 (Charlie-Post) system are deemed to comply. However, the new Australian Standard has followed in the footsteps of the United States and has adopted MASH as the basis for all crash testing. The original Ezy-Guard Smart system was developed in accordance with MASH TL3.

After further development by Ingal’s product development team, the containment level of the product was increased to include NCHRP-350 Test Level 4. To achieve this compliance, the new guardrail system was required to safely capture and redirect two separate vehicles: the 2,270-kilogram utility travelling at 100-kilometres-per-hour, and the 8,000-kilogram truck travelling at 80-kilometres-per-hour.

24 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

The crash tests embody a dramatic increase in the amount of impact energy that will need to be safely captured and dissipated by the system than previous test levels. This required innovative research and design to optimize performance and produce better results for occupant safety. Ezy-Guard 4 is the first system in Australia to offer these containment levels.

The Ezy-Guard 4 system incorporates a narrow footprint, ensuring it is effective in a variety of applications. The trademark ‘Z’ shaped posts are easier and cheaper to transport and install as part of Australia’s extensive rural network, but can also be used in space restrictive built-up areas, where road widening is not an option.

It is also approved for use in narrow medians where the guardrail is used as protection from oncoming vehicle impacts. The Ezy-Guard 4 back-to-back configuration for narrow medians uses 50 per cent of the space required by traditional G4 median systems.

After years of ensuring the greatly anticipated system meets the highest safety standards, the research and development team at Ingal is excited to be rolling out the Ezy-Guard 4 on Australian road projects.

See the video of the Reverse Smart AEB in action: www.reversesmart.com.au/how-does-it-work

The state-of-the-art Reverse Smart AEB system has been speciďŹ cally designed to reduce the incidents of large vehicles or mobile plant impacting workers or objects while reversing.

1

By providing an additional level of protection, including an engineering control that can stop the vehicle by automatically applying the brakes, the Reverse Smart system can signiďŹ cantly reduce the risk of impacts, injuries and workplace fatalities.

2

Step 1 : Object detected while reversing. Step 2 : Vehicle continues to reverse towards object. Step 3 : Reverse Smart AEB system automatically applies the brakes and stops the vehicle.

For further information, or to arrange a demonstration, please visit:

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3

BRIDGES IN FOCUS

Eliminating the Swan Street Bridge bottleneck Canstruct's Robin, Rory and Dan Murphy at the Girua Bridge.

Queensland company completes mammoth PNG bridge project A Queensland construction company battled the harshest of terrains and conditions to deliver four new bridges in Papua New Guinea’s Oro Province, bringing together communities which have been isolated for nearly a decade.

The bridges – completed late in 2016 – will also greatly assist tourists making the pilgrimage to the Kokoda Trail, with access opened to a key starting point at Kokoda village.

Trekkers can now arrive and depart from the Popondetta Airport which is on the coastal plain and far safer than the Kokoda wartime airstrip which is surrounded by high mountains. In 2009, nine Australians were killed attempting to land at Kokoda.

In 2013, the Brisbane-based Canstruct Pty Ltd was appointed by the Papua New Guinea Department of Works to design and construct four new bridges to replace the ones destroyed by Cyclone Guba in 2007.

The Oro Bridges contract was funded by the Australian Government, and its High Commissioner, Bruce Davis, and PNG Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Leo Dion, attended the official opening at the Kumusi landmark in November.

“The Kumusi Bridge is truly a milestone achievement and an engineering spectacle that we are proud of and I say thank you to the contractors for a job well done. This bridge is a beacon of hope and a symbol of resilience for the country,” Sir Leo said.

The new bridges will allow 176,000 locals to travel more safely and effectively, connecting them and businesses to the market, airport and port at Oro Bay. Canstruct’s Founder, Robin Murphy, said engineers and builders faced numerous challenges during the design

26 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

and construction phase, especially with the Kumusi River bridge which is now PNG’s longest dual lane bridge spanning 285 metres.

“We had to mitigate the effects of the mammoth river flow which came from the nearby Owen-Stanley Ranges, as well as the tropical downpours and flash flooding during the wet season.”

The Kumusi bridge design consisted of four steel continuous girders with cast insitu concrete decks built above Q2000 year flood levels. More than 2,000 tonnes of high quality grade 350 steel was used in the construction of the bridges.

Flooding which hit the province in February 2016 washed away the temporary Bailey Bridges at Girua and Kumusi, but the-then incomplete bridges remained intact, showing the high-quality design and construction undertaken.

Mr Murphy said the $65 million project was a testament to the commitment and skill shown by Canstruct employees, its subcontractors, the PNG’s Department of Works and the Australian Government’s Transport Sector Support Program.

“Up to 300 locals were employed on site during construction and for them to finally see the bridges being completed was a wonderful sight. Life on the province will hopefully dramatically change for the better.”

The other bridges built by Canstruct in Oro Province were a 150-metre bridge over Girua River, a 100-metre span across Ambogo River and a 66-metre bridge across Eroro River.

With palm oil the major industry of Oro Province, the bridges now provide the vital link between the plantations and export terminal.

Work will soon begin to remove the notorious Swan Street Bridge bottleneck, with Seymour Whyte Constructions selected as the tenderer for the project.

Melbourne’s $30 million Swan Street Bridge Upgrade will cut travel times, improve reliability and increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

The upgrade will include: • an additional lane in the eastbound direction on Swan Street Bridge and Olympic Boulevard – becoming five traffic lanes; • two new four-metre-wide separated pedestrian and cycling paths on both sides of the bridge; and • a new pedestrian crossing on the Alexandra Avenue side of the bridge.

The community has played an important part in bringing about the facelift, with people invited to share their stories and help design the bridge.

The design draws inspiration from Melbourne’s iconic Arts Centre and the rowers who regularly make their way up and down the Yarra River.

While retaining its iconic arched shape, the new design will have a “wave-like” appearance, with fins on the sides of the bridge mimicking how oars look when cutting through the water.

Feature lighting will light up Swan Street Bridge at night, illuminating the bridge as drivers make their way into Melbourne’s sporting precinct.

Linking the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Shrine of Remembrance with Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, Hisense Arena and the MCG, the bridge is the gateway to the precinct.

The project will reduce travel times by five minutes for more than 30,000 vehicles that use it every day.

Work on the upgrade will start following the Moomba Festival from 10-to-13 March and will be completed by the end of 2017.

Warrandyte Bridge upgrade to overcome congestion

Take your

Expressions of interest closed at the end of January for work to widen Warrandyte Bridge in Melbourne’s north east and relieve pressure on one of the city’s most dangerous and congested bottlenecks.

The Victorian Government and VicRoads sought applications from construction companies for the $5.1 million upgrade, designed to expand the bridge to three lanes.

The upgrade includes the construction of new cycling and pedestrian paths across the Yarra River and a wider Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road and Research-Warrandyte Road intersection with new traffic lights.

Local drivers currently experience significant traffic congestion and long delays when crossing the bridge, particularly during peak times.

Consultation has helped shape a wider and safer bridge which balances the needs of drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and residents.

As a result of the feedback, the government is extending the scope of the project to include an additional turning lane eastbound on Yarra Street to improve traffic flow during the busy afternoon peak.

The contract for the upgrade will be awarded in March and construction is expected to begin in April.

asset inspection and reporting

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Utilising a fleet of purpose designed and built remote UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and UGV’s (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) for inspection and data collection, together with a world-leading proprietary software package for data analysis and reporting, the SIAMA Bridge Management System truly takes asset inspection and reporting to the next level.

New-look Collins Ave bridge to open in March The new $3.1 million Collins Avenue Bridge in Cairns is expected to open by March.

The original 25 metre bridge was constructed in around 1970 as a three-span bridge on steel girders and concrete piers.

Inspections in 2012 identified deterioration of the bridge structure and further assessments determined that repairs were not economically viable, leading to the decision to replace the bridge.

Demolition took place in September 2016. Construction of the pier and abutments commenced in October and was completed in early December 2016.

The deck was then put in place, followed by work on the approaches to the bridge, footpaths, landscaping and lighting.

The new structure will improve flood mitigation, provide safer access for cyclists and pedestrians, and offer better driving conditions – particularly for heavy vehicles.

The new bridge is a Queensland Government-Cairns Regional Council project and is an essential link in the Cairns Airport connection and Captain Cook Highway.

The government is contributing $1.5 million to the project through its Building our Regions critical infrastructure program and the council is contributing the remaining $1.6 million.

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MAJOR PROJECTS

Improving the productivity of national rail freight

First glimpse of new Forrestfield Station An artist’s impressions of Forrestfield Station, a key part of Perth’s $1.86b Forrestfield-Airport Link project, have been released by the Western Australian Government.

The impressions provide potential passengers with their first look at the rail link's terminus.

The Forrestfield-Airport Link project will involve construction of an 8.5 kilometre rail spur off the Midland Line with twin-bored tunnels under the Swan River.

The Public Transport Authority awarded the design, construct and 10-year maintenance contract to a Salini Impregilo - NRW Joint Venture in April 2016.

Transport Minister, Bill Marmion, said Forrestfield station would include a major car park and bus interchange and was expected to open in 2020.

"With eight bus bays and four layover bays, up to 2,500 parking bays for vehicles, and cycling facilities, people will have a multitude of travel choices when the station opens," Mr Marmion said.

"Passengers catching the train at the Forrestfield station will have a 20-minute CBD journey option - compared to up to 45 minutes by car."

Minister Marmion said the Forrestfield-Airport Link was expected to generate an estimated 20,000 daily boardings across Perth’s rail network.

"Construction of the rail line is important for improving public transport in Perth's eastern suburbs and reducing congestion in the metropolitan area.

"The Forrestfield station will change the face of the area and has been designed with the future community and the surrounding landscape of the Darling Scarp in mind. The Darling Scarp is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth.

"With its soaring eaves and geometric style, the station will offer passengers easy transfer options between rail, bus, bike, car and walking."

30 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

Works are getting underway to increase the flow of freight by removing major pinchpoints in Adelaide’s rail freight and road networks following the award of the tender to design and construct the Torrens Rail Junction upgrade.

The consortium of Laing O’Rourke, AECOM and Kellogg, Brown & Root has won the alliance contract to separate the interstate freight rail line from the Outer Harbor passenger line and build a rail underpass at Park Terrace.

This project will – according to Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher – deliver substantial benefits for transporting freight across the country by rail, and reduce the number of heavy freight vehicles using the road network.

“Currently freight trains must give way to Outer Harbor passenger trains resulting in delays to rail freight network services.

“This upgrade will improve the productivity of the national rail freight network by reducing those delays and by enabling around 20 per cent longer, 1,800-metre freight trains to operate between Adelaide and Melbourne.”

South Australia’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said there would be significant benefits to the road network, with the removal of the level crossing at Park Terrace.

“Almost 50,000 vehicles use this part of the Inner Ring Route every day, but with 160 daily passenger train movements through the level crossing, traffic is held up by more than two hours every day,” Minister Mullighan said.

“About 11 freight trains a day travel through the Torrens junction, closing the Torrens Road and Hawker Street level crossings for up to six minutes each time.”

The Torrens Rail Junction project will feature a new lowered railway station at Bowden, improving connections to the Bowden Urban Village, Entertainment Centre, parklands and local area, including a new shared pedestrian and cycling path.

The Torrens Rail Junction project is the second stage of the $357.6 million Goodwood and Torrens Junctions project.

These projects are expected to support on average about 212 jobs a year during construction and will be delivered in line with the SA Government’s Industry Participation and Steel Procurement policies.

Stage one, the Goodwood Junction, was completed in 2013, improving rail safety and productivity by eliminating delays caused by the freight line crossing the Seaford passenger line.

Stage one also delivered the Adelaide Showground Station in 2014, which caters to more than 100,000 passengers a year.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Three new projects listed as priorities by Infrastructure Australia The nation's independent infrastructure advisor, Infrastructure Australia, has added another three major projects to its Infrastructure Priority List.

The additions follow Infrastructure Australia’s assessments of the business cases for the Murray Basin Rail and Bringelly Road Stage 2 Projects, and the Melbourne Metro Project.

The Murray Basin Rail Project and Bringelly Road Upgrade Stage 2 are regarded as Priority Projects, and the Melbourne Metro as a High Priority Project.

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, said the Australian Government had committed $220 million to the Murray Basin Rail Project, which would give farmers from the region access to Victoria's ports in a more efficient and cost competitive way.

“The Murray Basin Rail Project will help address capacity constraints on the existing freight rail network, which includes standardising rail gauges along the route, as well as increasing axle loadings to 21 tonnes to allow trains to run at full capacity.

“In addition, we are also delivering major upgrades through the $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, including the $509 million Bringelly Road upgrade. The government has committed $407 million to this upgrade, which is being delivered in two stages.”

Minister Fletcher said Canberra welcomed the Victorian Government's commitment to fully fund the Melbourne Metro project.

“The inclusion of this project on the priority list demonstrates the important work undertaken by Infrastructure Australia in identifying and assessing priorities that are capable of being funded independently of the Federal Government.”

To find the three business case assessments, visit http:// infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/

Second phase of market testing for Inland Rail

The second phase of the market testing process for private sector involvement in the Inland Rail project is underway.

Federal Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, and Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Darren Chester, said after consideration of feedback from Stage One Market Testing against the Australian Government's objectives, the Stage Two Market Testing Parameters had been agreed and four shortlisted options identified.

Ministers Cormann and Chester said the options all involved delivery of Inland Rail through the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), in partnership with the private sector, for the design and construction of the project.

They said the following opportunities would be open for private sector involvement: • ARTC delivery of the entire Inland Rail corridor through a combination of government financing and ARTC debt-raising in partnership with the private sector; • ARTC delivery of Inland Rail with a Design, Build, Finance and Maintain contract for all or part of the 126 kilometre Toowoomba to Brisbane section, including tunnels; • ARTC delivery of Inland Rail, using a combination of government financing and ARTC debt raising, with a take or pay arrangement for coal producers from Toowoomba to Brisbane (Gowrie to Kagaru, 126 kilometres); and • a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) contract for the Parkes to Brisbane section (975 kilometres), with government and/or user Image courtesy Sydney Metro support, and ARTC delivery of the remainder of the Inland Rail alignment.

The Ministers said the second phase of market testing would seek views on: • the preferred delivery model of the four shortlisted options or alternatives put forward by the participants in the first phase of market testing; • willingness and capacity to participate in the shortlisted options; • understanding of the various risks associated with the delivery of Inland Rail; • capacity to enhance the performance and value of Inland Rail, including design and operation; and • potential project level procurement models for the design and construction of Inland Rail.

Market testing meetings are being held in late January and early February 2017. This is the next step in ensuring Inland Rail is construction ready.

Ministers Cormann and Chester said the government was committed to ensuring Australia’s national freight network was as efficient and effective as possible, including delivering the largest transport project in Australia – Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane.

More duplication work on Princes Highway Construction is underway on two new sections of the Princes Highway as part of the duplication of highway between Traralgon and Sale in eastern Victoria.

Work is being carried out on the section of highway from Nambrok Road to Maffra-Rosedale Road and the section from Minniedale Road to Sheepwash Creek Road.

The Nambrok Road to Maffra-Rosedale Road section will upgrade 3.4 kilometres of highway by delivering new traffic lanes and upgrading the intersection at Maffra-Rosedale Road. Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2018.

The Minniedale Road to Sheepwash Creek Road section will upgrade 3.9 kilometres of highway by constructing new traffic lanes and upgrading the intersections at Kenyons Lane and Sheepwash Creek Road. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2019.

They are the latest of nine sections to be upgraded in the $260 million Traralgon to Sale Princes Highway duplication project.

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 31

MAJOR PROJECTS

The upgrades will reduce travel times and improve traffic flow and safety for the 15,000 vehicles estimated to use these sections each day.

Victoria’s Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, said the upgrades would provide a boost to the Gippsland economy.

“The duplicated highway is making the journey safer and more reliable for all road users from heavy vehicles to those heading to the Gippsland Lakes for holidays,” Mr Donnellan said.

“As work begins and traffic conditions change, we're reminding everyone to obey all work site signs to keep themselves and roadside workers safe.”

The Australian Government is contributing $210 million and the Victorian Government $50 million to duplicate sections of the Princes Highway between Traralgon and Sale.

Review of South Road Overpass

National and international consulting engineering firm, Aurecon, has been selected by the South Australian Government to complete a thorough and comprehensive external review of Adelaide’s South Road overpass.

The review will identify the cause of the issues associated with the movement of the pedestrian and cycling pathway over South Road at Glandore – a suburb of Adelaide partly in the City of Marion and partly in the City of West Torrens.

Aurecon has more than 50 years of experience in all forms of bridge design, including large span bridges, rail and road bridges and bridges for cyclists and pedestrians.

The firm has a range of bridge specialists, none of whom was involved in the original design or construction of the structure.

The government will also appoint external resources to assist the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to review other bridges across the state.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said the government was open to the possibility of providing compensation to

32 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

businesses impacted by the closure of South Road.

The Small Business Commissioner is requesting preliminary details of the claimed losses from affected businesses.

Image Courtesy VicRoads The commissioner’s office will analyse each claim and prepare advice on whether ex-gratia payments should be considered by the government.

Minister Mullighan said the review of the overpass and other bridges would enable the public to have full confidence in the condition of existing bridge structures.

“This is in addition to the government’s routine inspection regime, which involves engineers carefully assessing each bridge and identifying any maintenance work that needs to be completed.

“Each bridge component is rigorously examined to ensure the structure remains safe for travel,” said the Minister.

“I have asked the Small Business Commissioner to co-ordinate the claims for losses incurred by businesses located along South Road.

“The commissioner has visited most of the affected businesses and it is apparent that those in the fast food, convenience store and building products areas, in particular, are experiencing some difficulty due to the loss of passing trade.

“This process will take some time and we would urge business owners and operators to respond to requests for information as soon as possible.”

Go-ahead for Stage 2 of Sydney Metro tunnels The second stage of the Sydney Metro tunnels project, which will run under Sydney Harbour and the city’s central business district, has been given the go-ahead.

Construction will begin this year on the twin tunnels that will start at Chatswood and travel beneath Sydney Harbour, through the CBD to Sydenham and on to Bankstown.

Planning approval includes: • delivering 16.5 kilometres of new metro rail between Chatswood and Sydenham, including 15.5 kilometres of new twin railway tunnels under Sydney Harbour and the Sydney CBD; and • seven new metro railway stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross (North Sydney), Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt St, Central (new underground platforms), and Waterloo.

Construction sites will be established in the CBD this year. By the end of 2018, the first boring machine will be in the ground carving out the new tunnels.

In total, five boring machines will be used to deliver the tunnels between Chatswood and Sydenham. They include a specialised TBM for the section under Sydney Harbour because of the ground and rock conditions found at the bottom of the harbour.

New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said the scale of the project would rival any megaproject across the globe.

“This is an unprecedented boost to rail capacity for our great city,” Mr Constance said.

And Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, said the go-ahead for the project ensured Sydney was preparing for the future.

“This project has been approved subject to some of the highest sustainability provisions in the world,” Mr Stokes said.

“Once completed, Sydney Metro will have the capacity of a new metro train every two minutes in each direction under the Sydney CBD and 31 metro stations from Rouse Hill to Bankstown.”

Expanding our horizons and our move Towards Zero Reducing deaths and serious injuries on Australasian roads is a priority for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and the National Road Safety Strategy.

The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), Austroads, The Australian Road Research Board and the Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC) are cohosting the annual Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2017) which will be held at the Crown complex in Perth from 10-12 October 2017.

The Conference will play an important role in highlighting issues that will contribute to the reduction of death and serious injury on the roads through the translation of research into policy and practice as well as strengthened collaboration between stakeholders as we continue to discover new ways to reduce the incidence of injury on our roads and in our workplaces.

The ARSC2017 is a merger of Australasia’s two premier road safety conferences: The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) Conference and the Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference (RSRPE). As a result the ARSC is the largest road safety conference in the Asia-Pacific region and aligns with international, Australasian and national road safety efforts, and is a significant step forward in Australasia’s road safety strategy.

Conference outcomes include: • a key avenue for transfer of knowledge across all sectors, upgrading skills and building road safety capacity; • transfer of knowledge across all sectors – research, road and transport authorities, insurance agencies, policing, education, health, medical, pre and post trauma care, consumer and user groups, related professional bodies, relevant industries and industry organisations as well as the media; • development of mechanisms for translating research into action; • providing opportunities for networking for administrators, researchers and practitioners within and across disciplines; • opportunities to give public recognition to authors and others for their achievements; • opportunity to ‘broaden the reach’ of road

safety as a whole by encouraging the participation of political advocates, media, road authorities, researchers, insurers, manufacturers, health professionals, disability, public health and other sectors not immediately associated with the road safety community or road trauma outcomes and; • is a prime opportunity to increase diversity and inclusion across all sectors and communities, thereby widening the reach of road trauma reduction strategies and promoting the development of new, innovative solutions to expedite road trauma reductions.

The theme of the conference is “Expanding our horizons”. The ARSC2017 will showcase the regions’ outstanding engineers, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and industry spanning the plethora of road safety issues identified in the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, Road Safety Management, Infrastructure, Safe Vehicles, User Behaviour and postCrash Care. The ARSC2017 will bring with it a special focus on engaging all levels of government and community, from the city to the bush to move Towards Zero through the inclusion of national and international keynote speakers, oral and poster presentations, workshops and interactive symposia.

The Conference attracts a myriad of road trauma stakeholders including but not limited to; • Engineering and technology • Traffic management • Road construction • Mining companies that have self driving vehicles • Trucking OH&S • Vehicle safety • Researchers • Policing and enforcement agencies • Practitioners • Policymakers • Industry representatives • Educators and students working in the fields of behavioural science • Emergency services • Health and rehabilitation • Justice and law enforcement • Local, state and federal government

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS In 2016, the ARSC attracted over 600 delegates and received over 200 abstract submissions which gave rise to a high quality program. The ARSC is the largest dedicated road safety conference in the Asia Pacific region and an ideal avenue for those working to reduce road trauma to present research and program results to a broad Australasian and international audience of road safety professionals and advocates. With rigorous and competitive review of abstracts, delegates are assured they are getting the ‘best of the best’ research papers, policies, policing programs and project outcomes, ensuring a high level of attendance from road safety stakeholders.

The conference will be a multi-disciplinary event featuring representatives from all facets of road and transport safety. The following topics are a sample of what the conference is expecting to cover over an intensive 3 day scientific program; • Road Safety Management: includes Practice, Policy, Enforcement, Capacity Building, Safe Mobility, Safe System Approach, Insurance, Legislation and Law, etc.; • Road Infrastructure (Safer Roads): includes Road Safety Barriers, Safer Roadsides, Safety Audits, iRAP, etc.; • Safer Vehicles: includes Crash-worthiness, ITS technology, Crash Avoidance, Autonomous Vehicles, Heavy Vehicles; • Road User Behaviour: includes Speed, Drink and Driving, Fatigue, Pedestrian, Cyclist and Motorcyclist Safety, Young and Older Drivers, Community, Education and Training, etc.; • Post-Crash Care, Data and Crash Analysis: rescue, EMS and rehabilitation, data collection and research methods, forensic crash investigation, etc Abstract submissions are open now and can be submitted online at: http:// australasianroadsafetyconference.com.au/ submissions/abstracts/ The ARSC2017 will also include the prestigious 2017 Australasian College of Road Safety Awards, recognising and celebrating exemplary projects and people working hard across our region to save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 33

SPECIAL REPORT

ARRB – ‘ENABLING’ NEXT GENERATION ROAD TRANSPORT The Australian Road Research Board

“Our role as the national research agency

the opportunity to undertake first-principle

has completed a ground-up review of its

for road transportation in Australia requires

research and apply it to the challenges we

operations – a review that CEO, Michael

us to bring the best minds in the world here

face as a country.

Caltabiano, says will result in ARRB becoming

to inform our policy makers.

the “enabler of next generation development of transportation across Australia”.

"It’s been an in-depth, scientific appraisal

“We need to understand what the rest of the world is doing and, in some instances, catch up. In other spaces like our traffic speed

“We took a slice through every transport agency in the country and received feedback from CEOs to project engineers.

“There was a unanimous view that ARRB

of who we are, what we’re about and why

deflectometer – the best asset maintenance

really needs to be acting in the national

we exist,” Mr Caltabiano told Highway

data collection tool in the world – we can

interest. We are a ‘public-good institution’

Engineering Australia.

transfer that knowledge to the rest of the

and we need to refocus our energies on

world.”

higher-order research to inform policy makers

“The outcomes will ensure ARRB acts in the national interest by supporting and

Mr Caltabiano said ARRB would be

delivering high quality, applied research.

looking to attract experts from the United

“We are really going to be focused on creating knowledge for tomorrow’s transport challenges,” said Mr Caltabiano.

“Challenges like smart roads, digital

States, Europe and England.

“We are participating in the Roads

on the outcomes that can be achieved on the back of quality research.

“Our staff are really excited about the new vision. They live to achieve great things and

Australia International Outreach on Driverless

the new direction will allow them to really

and Autonomous Vehicles at the end of

exercise their intellect; to fulfill their ambition.

“The move forward will certainly enhance

disrupt, next generation asset maintenance,

March which is going to the US and Europe

how transport functions and how people

to look in a policy sense at how regulators are

the research capacity of Australia and allow

respond to the different stimuli within

dealing with the next generation of autonomy

ARRB’s member organisations to garner the

transport systems.

on road networks.

benefit of the intellect within our organisation.”

“We want to explore the policy

Mr Caltabiano said when AARB was

research outcomes for policy makers – state

frameworks under which autonomous

created in 1960, it’s prime purpose was to

road agencies, Austroads and the National

vehicles will operate and inform our policy

serve the research needs of its members.

Transport Commission – to enable them to

makers on how they might proceed.”

“ARRB is going to be providing high level

make better informed decisions.”

Mr Caltabiano said the review of ARRB’s

“Those needs have been amplified by today’s research environment and ARRB

operations had been informed by road

has to become a modern, responsive and

ARRB would be drawing on the knowledge of

agencies and transport departments around

progressive organisation focused on research

experts from around the world.

Australia, and staff members were excited by

that delivers applied results. Those results will

Mr Caltabiano said as part of its vision,

allow members to undertake their work in a ARRB CEO, Michael Caltabiano

smarter, more efficient way.”

ARRB was a major participant at last year’s ITS World Congress in Melbourne and Mr Caltabiano said it would also attend the 2017 World Congress in the Canadian city of Montreal.

"It’s really important for organisations like ours to be at these events – to participate, to listen and also to share our experiences in Australia," he said.

“Australia is a microcosm when it comes to transportation, particularly for motor vehicles.

We are receivers of vehicles from all over the world.

“The challenge for Australian Governments is to set the standards for infrastructure that enable these vehicles to utilise all their functionality and advanced safety systems, not being impeded by a lack of co-ordination, policy depth or research rigor,” Mr Caltabiano added.

34 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

Intelligent Transport Systems News and Feature Articles

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

THE WAY FORWARD FOR ITS AUSTRALIA

ITS Australia is working on a report that will have a major influence on the direction of the intelligent transport systems industry in Australia.

Susan Harris – ITS Australia’s Chief Executive Officer – said the report focused on the outcomes of the ITS World Congress in Melbourne in 2016 and ways to apply those outcomes to the development of the sector.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the ITS space following the World Congress. The event fostered great engagement between the Australian industry and its global partners, and improved our connectedness internationally,” Ms Harris said.

“We’re looking to launch the report in early March. It will examine the opportunities we need to focus on to maximise development in the local ITS space and also inform industry and government about the actions they might want to consider to encourage the take-up of new technology and deployment opportunities.

“The local sector is in an ideal position to take a leading role in the development of connected and automated vehicles. We’re seeing an increasing number of trials being planned and implemented, and the next 12 months will be a very exciting time.”

Ms Harris said the exhibition component of Melbourne 2016 had provided local companies with expanded business opportunities.

“Local firms have told us they’re recalibrating their position in the market place; they’re reassessing their potential for doing business locally and internationally.

“The World Congress opened the local sector’s eyes to how well placed it was to expand markets here and beyond our borders.”

Ms Harris said 2017 was already shaping as a busy and challenging year for ITS Australia.

The first major event is the National Electronic Tolling Forum from 2325 May in Sydney. This annual event is Asia Pacific’s premier road tolling conference and will focus on topics including advancements in tolling technologies, the impact of connected and automated vehicles on the tolling industry and the increasingly debated question of road charging.

Internationally, the ITS Asia Pacific Forum will be staged in Hong Kong from 27-29 June and later in the year – 29 October-2 November – the Canadian City of Montreal will play host to the 2017 ITS World Congress.

“ITS Australia will be leading top-level delegations and hosting Australian pavilions at both events, and there are certainly opportunities for our companies to have a substantial presence in Hong Kong and Montreal,” Ms Harris said.

“The focus right now is on the programs for the events and we encourage Australian companies to nominate abstracts for presentations and to be part of the exhibition scene.

“We’re encouraging senior government representation at Ministerial and Departmental level as part of the delegations to build on the momentum established at the 2015 and 2016 World Congresses in Bordeaux and Melbourne.”

Ms Harris said the World Congress in Melbourne had energised the team at ITS Australia.

“The team was incredibly proud to have been involved in such a successful world event as the Congress – a showpiece for portraying the latest developments in a sector that is playing such an influential role in developing transport and sustainable cities.

“But there’s still so much to be done, so many opportunities to be harnessed. It’s a really exciting time to be part of such a vibrant industry.”

36 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

“There’s a lot of excitement in the ITS space following the World Congress. The event fostered great engagement between the Australian industry and its global partners, and improved our connectedness internationally.”

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

NEW ITS AUSTRALIA BOARD TO BUILD ON CONGRESS SUCCESS The new board was announced on 30 November at the ITS Australia Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.

It will be led by Brian Negus, who continues in the President’s role and Dean Zabrieszach as Vice President.

“The ITS industry is well represented by the ITS Australia Board,” Mr Negus said.

“Board members have a vast range of skill sets and experiences across government, industry and academia, and will continue to provide strong guidance and oversight of the organisation.”

• The new and re-elected board members are: • Mr Bill Advic – Eastlink; • Mr Gino Dompietro – Jacobs Group; • Mr Chris Koniditsiotis – Transport Certification Australia; • Mr Jeremy Nassau – Transurban; • Mr Soren Tellegen – Kapsch TrafficCom Australia; • Mr Dirk Van de Meerssche – Cubic; and • Mr Michael Watts – Transmax Pty Ltd. They join on-going members of the Board: • Dr Dale Andrea – VicRoads; • Mr John Hawkins – Visionstream; • Mr James Hurnall – Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries; • Mr Mark Jackman – Robert Bosch Australia; • Mr Andrew Mehaffey – NSW Roads and Maritime Services; • Mr Brian Negus – RACV; • Mr Dennis Walsh – Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads; and • Mr Dean Zabrieszach – HMI Technologies.

Mr Negus said 2016 was a massive year for ITS Australia with its annual calendar of events around the country and the hosting of the ITS World Congress in Melbourne.

“The Board now looks forward to 2017 and ensuring we build on the momentum created by the World Congress. Strong promotion of smart solutions in the transport sector and providing business connections across Australia and the broader world-wide ITS sector for our members will be a focus for the Board.

“As Australia’s peak ITS industry organisation, we will continue to lead the discussion and provide our more than one-hundred-member organisations with significant benefits.”

Mr Negus acknowledged the considerable contribution made by out-going Board members, Mr Adam Game, Intelematics and Mr Peter Leihn, Data61.

In particular, Mr Game was thanked for his near two decades of service to ITS Australia, as a Board member and key contributor to the organisation’s development over this period.

REASSESS PLANNING

FOR INTRODUCTION OF AUTOMATED VEHICLES A leading executive of Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has called for a reappraisal of the way planning is being undertaken for the introduction of automated vehicles.

Martin Howell is Director of External Affairs for CTS – a business unit of Cubic Corporation, which designs and operates systems to increase situational awareness in the transport and defence industries.

Mr Howell said automated vehicles would bring enormous benefits, but it was going to take some time for those benefits to be realised.

“We spend too much time talking about how to introduce these vehicles as quickly as possible into the transport network.

“We’re focusing on moving from very limited automation to full automation and there’s a blur; a fog on how we get from point-A to point-B. “We need to clear the fog and lay out how we’re going to make the transition – to avoid just cluttering cities with driverless cars that are doing what cars have always done.

“We should be thinking about the benefits of arriving at a fully tested pilot fleet to operate on our roads.”

Mr Howell said city populations were growing and infrastructure was failing to match the growth.

“People are the lifeblood of cities and we must do something to help them move around more effectively and efficiently.

“Millions of people are spending oneto-two hours a day – possibly more – doing

nothing except sitting in vehicles. And that loss of productivity is costing billions of dollars.”

Mr Howell said automation could be achieved sector-by-sector rather than acrossthe-board.

“You could argue for hours about the sectors that should be given priority, but you would have to consider automated freight deliveries in cities at night and public transport vehicles.

“Sector-by-sector introduction would inform regulators about how an automated fleet would interact with other vehicles.

“Public transport vehicles would have dedicated lanes on the network and could take advantage of available technology like accessing routes and paying for travel via mobile phones.”

Mr Howell said consideration would have to be given to harmonising operations in jurisdictions at a local, national and international level, without becoming bogged down in bureaucracy.

“One thing that has held-up a lot of technological advances and the standards/ regulations covering them is the involvement of committee-on-committee, which hinders progress to adopting and implementing the standards.

“If we could develop some demonstrable, beneficial and efficient models of how standards would work, the desire to make things happen would win-out.”

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 37

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

DRIVING SAFELY INTO THE FUTURE WITH NETWORKED INTELLIGENCE ZF UNVEILS NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT HELP TO ENHANCE TRAFFIC SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY AT THE CES 2017 TRADE SHOW ZF, the global, integrated systems innovator and top-three global supplier is focusing on digitizing mechanical components, promoting e-mobility technologies and reducing traffic accidents and emissions. By developing advanced technologies and business models, ZF continues its journey as a key player in autonomous driving – for both passenger cars and commercial trucks.

“Electromobility and autonomous driving are fundamentally changing the automotive industry at lightning speed,” said Dr. Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG in the run-up to the CES 2017 (Consumer Technology Association) trade show, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada in early January.

"Rather than simply keep up, ZF intends to help dictate the pace at which major topics like safety and efficiency advance in the future. To this end, it is increasingly moving in a digital direction," Dr Sommer said.

“Digitization is already helping us to research, develop and produce faster and more efficiently. As a systems supplier for intelligent mobility, we are helping to make driving safer and more efficient. In our efforts to do so, software is becoming an increasingly important source of added value and a key distinguishing factor.”

“SEE – THINK – ACT” FOR INTELLIGENT MOBILITY

ZF’s motto “See – Think – Act” reflects its active role across the entire automated driving spectrum, which ranges from sensor technology (“see”), software and powerful electronic control units (“think”) to actuators (“act”).

As a systems supplier, ZF not only networks these technologies with one

38 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

another inside the vehicle, it also enables them to communicate outside the vehicle: with other drivers and road users, utilizing local infrastructure systems and even the cloud. This expanded communication capability is capable of enhancing safety and automated driving functions in passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

X2SAFE CONNECTS ALL ROAD USERS

ZF unveiled its X2Safe algorithm for the first time at CES. To help prevent accidents, this system issues early warnings to drivers and other vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists regarding potential collisions.

X2Safe is the first development of its kind to enable cloud networking between vehicles and other road users, and it is easy to install. For ZF, this cloud-based algorithm represents another milestone in the digitization of mobility solutions. It is therefore one more example of how ZF is playing a pivotal role in the development of autonomous driving.

INTELLIGENT FLEET MANAGEMENT WITH OPENMATICS

With its Openmatics telematics platform, ZF has already been actively involved in intelligent fleet management for several years. Openmatics cloud-based technologies have made fleet owners more willing to accept e-mobility solutions in their fleets.

For example, it integrates battery charging cycles and other charging options into the vehicle management system. On top of that, ZF also supplies many components for clean, efficient electric vehicles, including electric motors for hybrid vehicles and all-electric drive modules.

PICTURED BELOW: In line with its motto “See – Think – Act,” ZF equips cars and trucks with new sensing abilities and greater intelligence, which are essential elements of future mobility in a networked world.

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

ADELAIDE TO HEADQUARTER LEADING DRIVERLESS CAR SUPPLIER A leading international driverless car supplier will open its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Adelaide and has plans to develop an assembly facility in South Australia.

RDM Group – which is working on delivering the United Kingdom’s first driverless vehicles for use on public roads and private land – is set to open an office at Flinders University’s Tonsley campus.

The office will be responsible for purchasing, sales and technology support as part of the firm’s expansion into Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

The company has long-term plans to create a bespoke assembly facility in Adelaide, supplying vehicles to the Asia-Pacific region.

UK-based RDM Group is a key player in the production of autonomous vehicles within the L-SATS (Low-Speed Autonomous Transport System) sector. It has appointed a program director to oversee the set-up of its headquarters, develop a supply chain and explore opportunities with the SA Government, education and private sectors.

RDM Group CEO, David Keene, said there was massive demand for creating autonomous mobility solutions in Australia and the company wanted to make sure its technology was at the forefront of any new developments.

“We feel the opportunity deserves a local presence and we are delighted to have taken a technical office at Flinders University, within the world class Tonsley Innovation District.

“This will give us the base to develop an Australian supply chain and to explore new opportunities, with the longer-term plan to create a bespoke assembly facility in Adelaide that will supply vehicles direct to customers across the Asia-Pacific region.

“Our Adelaide office is the first step in a plan that will hopefully see us build a bespoke

assembly facility where we can build hundreds of autonomous pods every year,” Mr Keene said.

Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) Executive Director, Rita Excell, said RDM was the first of a number of companies that were seriously considering establishing a base in SA. “We have been working with Investment Attraction South Australia’s Future Industry and Advanced Manufacturing area to identify and attract world leading driverless technology providers to South Australia.

“ADVI's economic paper has identified that up to 15,000 jobs can be created from the automated vehicle industry and SA’s leadership has it well placed to attract a large share of these direct and indirect jobs to the state.”

RAA Senior Manager of Mobility and Automotive Policy, Mark Borlace, said the RDM vehicles represented the smaller, more flexible type of autonomous vehicle that may have applications in areas such as retirement villages and assisted care.

“The RAA supports the roll out of these technologies and the setting up of companies like RDM in South Australia will help the state to maintain a leadership role in this technology development.”

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February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 39

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

MOMENTUM OF ITS INDUSTRY GATHERING PACE Initiatives in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia are testimony to the rapid advancement of the intelligent transport systems industry in Australia.

In Victoria, the University of Melbourne – with support from the State Government – is undertaking a hi-tech transport project focused on reducing congestion and improving road safety as Melbourne’s population approaches seven million.

Queensland is preparing for driverless and connected vehicles with ambitious plans underway for the largest on-road testing trial in Australia.

And in South Australia, the government is assessing applications from companies, industry bodies and research institutions for a share in the $10 million Future Mobility Lab Fund to boost local testing, research and development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

More than 40 applications worth more than $20 million were received for a share of the fund.

The Victorian initiative involves researchers at the University of Melbourne’s School of Engineering studying connected data from vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and infrastructure in a busy five square kilometre test area of Melbourne bounded by Alexandra Parade, Victoria Street, Hoddle Street and Lygon Street.

Thousands of sensors and wireless units fitted to roads, traffic signals and vehicles will generate the connected data.

Results of the world-first National Connected Multimodal Transport Test Bed project (NCMT) will provide an insight into how to manage emerging smart Australian transport systems and road networks in a more efficient way.

The University of Melbourne project includes a variety of public and private sector partners, including ITS Australia – the test bed pilot is scheduled to be launched in April, 2017.

Professor Iven Mareels, Dean of the Melbourne School of Engineering, said the faculty was pleased ITS Australia had committed to the test bed initiative.

“The collaborative approach of partners and the ability to capture, analyse and share sophisticated data will open the door to high tech solutions”.

Founding Director of the NCMT test bed, and University of Melbourne Professor in Transport for Smart Cities, Majid Sarvi, said the urban laboratory would be a living experiment of connected vehicles and transport networks, people movements and city infrastructure.

40 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

“The digital revolution has enabled better connectivity and by understanding real world situations and customer needs, we can take a considerable step towards providing better services and focused innovations,” Mr Sarvi said.

ITS Australia CEO, Susan Harris, said following the success of the World Congress in Melbourne, it was important governments and industry continued to work to find solutions to complex challenges.

“ITS Australia recently hosted more than 11,500 delegates from 73 counties and the message we heard time and time again was that end-users are driving change.

“Governments, industry, business and academics need to have more accurate data and research to provide meaningful transport options.”

Ipswich, in Brisbane’s south west, has been chosen as the site of a large-scale test-bed to trial vehicles and infrastructure that can talk to one another, as well as to test cooperative and highly-automated vehicles on South East Queensland roads.

“To realise the potential benefits of these emerging technologies, we will undertake a trial over the next four years as part of the Cooperative and Automated Vehicle Initiative (CAVI),” said Main Roads and Road Safety Minister, Mark Bailey.

“The government will recruit around 500 Ipswich motorists to take part who will have their vehicles retrofitted with cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) technology.

“These C-ITS devices work by providing safety warnings to the driver about a range of conditions; for example, a pedestrian crossing at a signalised intersection, a red light runner or a queue ahead that isn’t visible to a driver.”

Minister Bailey said the Department of Transport and Main Roads would be working with Bosch to secure cooperative and highlyautomated vehicles for testing.

“Our interest in testing these vehicles is to help understand the implications for our infrastructure and drivers, and the improvements to automated vehicle

“These rapidly developing technologies have the potential to significantly reduce crashes and crash-related gridlock, as well as reduce vehicle emissions and fuel use over coming decades.”

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

performance when the vehicle can talk to other vehicles and infrastructure.

“These rapidly developing technologies have the potential to significantly reduce crashes and crash-related gridlock, as well as reduce vehicle emissions and fuel use over coming decades.”

Bosch Australia’s, Mark Jackman, said the future of mobility would be connected, electrified and automated.

“The Queensland Government’s CAVI project is another example where industry and government will work together to trial and validate the benefits these new technologies will bring to the market,” Mr Jackman said.

“The Bosch highly automated driving vehicle will be used in trials and demonstrations across Australia to assist government and its agencies to prepare for when these cars become commercially available.

On-road testing under the CAVI project is expected to occur in 2019.

In late 2016, the South Australian Government invited applications from interested parties for the $10 million Future Mobility Lab Fund to boost local testing and research and development of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

It called for creative proposals which would accelerate the development and implementation of the technology. Under the guidelines, the proposals would focus on three themes: • Autonomous vehicle testing and demonstrations: Testing of vehicles and technologies in off-road laboratory conditions and a real world environment in general mixed traffic conditions.

• Connected vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicleto-infrastructure pilots and demonstrations: Propose pilots and demonstrations for nextgeneration technology in infrastructure and in vehicles.

• Research and Development: Projects that enable and accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous and connected vehicles.

SA’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said all projects must take place in the state and overseas-based partners were encouraged to participate by partnering with local small-to-medium sized enterprises, universities and other organisations.

“Connected and autonomous vehicles have enormous potential to save lives, reduce congestion and help people get around our community with more freedom.

“We want proposals which will open up new opportunities for South Australian businesses and workers.

“This is the next step in giving South Australia vital access to this burgeoning industry, expected to be worth $90 billion globally in less than 15 years.”

REFINING THE TRANSPORT MIX FOR A ‘COMPACT’ CITY Morten Kabell – the Mayor of Technical and Environmental Affairs of Copenhagen – is focused on changing the city’s transport mix so more people will use bicycles and public transport.

Mr Kabell’s focus on the transport mix is in line with Copenhagen’s Climate Plan to make the Danish capital the first carbon neutral capital in the world by 2025.

And he believes there could be a place in the city’s transport network for automated vehicles, provided they are used for car sharing.

Mr Kabell was one of the keynote speakers at the ITS World Congress in Melbourne last October and he told Highway Engineering Australia that reducing the carbon footprint of transport was an essential part of achieving Copenhagen’s carbon neutral status.

He said the city had adopted a policy that all buses had to be fossil-free from 2019.

“We won’t be deciding on the technology for the bus fleet; that will be up to the market to show us,” Mr Kabell said.

“Then there’s the issue of heavy vehicles; vehicles used to clear the streets of snow, large transport vehicles and those used to lay asphalt. That sector doesn’t provide for electrically powered vehicles and we’re pushing for it to adopt a fossil-free fuel source.

“About 80 per cent of the City of Copenhagen’s car fleet comprises electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles and we’re moving to increase that percentage. And our aim in the years ahead is to replace private vehicles which currently run on petrol and diesel fuel with electric and hydrogen powered vehicles.”

Mr Kabell said Copenhagen was growing by two per cent every year and the growth was generating new traffic in what he described as a “compact city”.

“The administration’s goal is for 75 per cent of the new traffic growth to comprise bicycles, public transport and walking.

“Bicycles are the greenest transport of all and we aim to have 50 per cent of all commuting undertaken by bicycle in 2025.

“At present, our bicycle lanes are hugely congested and we need to use Big Data to ensure cyclists are aware of the least congested routes to make their journeys quicker and more efficient.

“We also need to regulate intersections so that bike riders, who may be slowed or disrupted by bad weather, can benefit from extended green light cycles to reach their destinations.

“Private vehicles, with a single occupant in many cases, would receive the lowest priority.

“Our problem at the moment is that our traffic models don’t have sufficient data concerning bicycle traffic patterns – the models fail cyclists and they need to be recalibrated to take account of the mainstream mode of transport in Copenhagen.

“Bikes are the most efficient way of getting around and, from a city perspective, we need to make the right transport solution the easy solution. By doing that, the people will follow our lead.

“We are also working to develop ‘super-cycle highways’ that will allow inter-city commuting by bike and increase the level of cycling throughout Denmark.

“The Netherlands is a great example of how cycling can be increased at a national level and we’re trying to replicate that in our country.”

Mr Kabell said automated vehicles were an interesting concept from a car sharing viewpoint – if they were used to replace existing vehicles.

“I can see huge potential for automated vehicles if they’re used for car sharing services, but I have the anxiety that they will only result in increased traffic levels and congestion.

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 41

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS – AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE OR FAUX FRIEND?

THIS ARTICLE DEALING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS FEATURES DR HELEN MURPHY, CHAIR OF PIARC/WORLD ROAD ASSOCIATION TECHNICAL COMMITTEE. The recent World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Melbourne highlighted that ITS have the potential to be a key enabler of sustainable transport systems. But whilst the benefits also include reference to managing transport related air pollution and noise, it is these aspects that are least defined.

Should the management of transport emissions by ITS be a key concern?

“Absolutely”, says Dr Helen Murphy, Chair of the Environmental Technical Committee for the World Road Association.

The effect of transport emissions on the community – in terms of both traffic noise and air quality – outweigh those of road safety and yet little is made of this social and economic burden.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated, that in 2012, some 72 per cent of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to heart disease and strokes, while 14 per cent of deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute lower respiratory infections. Air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause three million premature deaths worldwide.

The report further noted that 92 per cent of the world’s population live in places where annual concentrations of particules (PM2.5) exceed acceptable standards. From a global perspective, the Western Pacific and South East Asian regions bear most of the burden, with 1.1 million and 799,000 deaths respectively, whilst 479,000 Europeans were estimated to have died prematurely due to ambient air pollution.

In addition, a recent study by the European Heart Foundation found that people living in

Figure 1: Changes in Emission Rates vs Speed

42 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

noisy streets, where there were average nighttime noise levels of 50 decibels, had a six per cent increased risk of developing hypertension compared to those living on quieter streets.

Today, air pollution from road transport is estimated to cost the Australian economy between $1.5 billion and $3.8 billion accounting for around 900 to 4,500 morbidity cases – cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases and bronchitis—and between 900 and 2000 early deaths.

Of greater concern is that transport-related emissions affect ambient air quality on a wide range of spatial scales, from local roadsides and urban scales to broadly regional background scales. It is estimated that communities within a range of up to 300 to 500 metres from a major road are the most highly affected.

So what will ITS do for transport emissions?

Improvements in transport emissions due to the use of ITS have been reported in a number of studies. For example, surveys performed in the Seattle, Washington, and Boston, Massachusetts, areas indicated that when provided with better traveller information, there was a nearly even split between travellers who change their route of travel and travellers who change time of travel, with an additional five-to-10 per cent changing travel mode based.

This adjustment of travel behaviour was estimated to deliver daily reductions of pollutants in the order of 25 per cent of volatile organic compounds, 1.5 per cent NOx, and 33 per cent of CO. While this appears to be a significant reduction - in this particular study, it represented less than one per cent of registered drivers .

The problem is that in a regional or local air quality sense, where the impact of ITS is only one part of a network (or alternatively if only a small percentage of vehicles in the fleet are fully autonomous and connected), the positive environmental benefits are likely to be swamped by the large numbers of non-autonomous vehicles or other external variables including weather, complex atmospheric chemical interactions or contributions from other sources.

Environmental benefits of ITS based on computer analysis and simulations quote similar or more or less optimistic results as those cited above, but most studies focus on the positive reductions in fuel and hence greenhouse gases. Few will make reference to the fact that, potentially, NOx emissions could increase by five per cent due to increases in vehicle speeds (refer Figure 1). In fact, by indirectly estimating emissions from fuel use, rather than calculating emissions directly from change in speeds or idling, projected emission reductions may be misleading.

Many countries have identified the societal and economic benefits of ITS largely driven by improvements in road safety and increased productivity through greater utilisation of the road network. Autonomous vehicles are also cited as enabling the ageing population to maintain freedom of mobility while ensuring safe driving.

With the proportion of people over 65 expected to double by 2051, in Victoria alone , few would argue the safety benefits that autonomous vehicles will provide.

But does it mean that many aged drivers are likely to prolong their driving age and/ or increase their vehicle kilometres travelled (vkt) by driving longer distances (either through choice or vehicles being rerouted to faster but longer routes) or increasing their driving at night time – both of which are currently curtailed through restrictive licences and or self-imposed restrictions due to concerns regarding failing eyesight or reduced reaction times – and both of which will be effectively eliminated by the functionality of autonomous vehicles.

Sophisticated applications for vehicles include remote monitoring of the vehicle to provide alerts for mechanical issues, live traffic updates, cheapest fuel and more. But none indicate the need for monitoring of air pollution that would enable vulnerable drivers, such as the elderly, to plan their journey to avoid highly polluted areas.

44

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

$40 MILLION SMART CITY CHALLENGE PIONEERS THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION Smart sensor installed in the centre of Wellington by the Regional Council as part of a transport-related air quality research initiative supported by NZTA.

As awareness of the potential health effects of transport-related air pollution has grown, many countries have implemented more stringent emissions controls and made steady progress in reducing the emissions from motor vehicles.

However, the rapid growth of the world’s motor-vehicle fleet due to population growth and economic improvement, the expansion of metropolitan areas, and the increasing dependence on motor vehicles because of changes in land use has resulted in increasing numbers of the population living in close proximity to busy highways and roads – counteracting to some extent the expected benefits of pollution-control regulations and technologies.

The role of ITS on air pollution is complex.

Hence, a greater understanding of the role of ITS in achieving air quality benefits is critical to ensure these systems are not over-relied upon to manage community impacts from transport emissions and conversely, to maximise the benefits that such systems can deliver by undertaking further research to measure realtime impacts and actively promote those demand management strategies that balance fuel savings and congestion management with air pollution mitigation.

Dr Helen Murphy, Chair of the Environmental Technical Committee for the World Road Association is asking for help. “We would love to hear from road agencies, governments, suppliers or research bodies to provide case studies of the air quality benefits – particularly where these have been verified through air pollution monitoring.”

The Technical Committee, representing countries all around the world, has been asked to produce a state-of-the-art report on environmental considerations of transport projects and, in particular, the role of ITS. For further information contact: Dr Helen Murphy (Helix Environmental) or Rob Hannaby (NZ Transport Agency) on helenmurphy802@ gmail.com or rob.hannaby@nzta.govt.nz For further information on the Technical Committee can be found at: http://www.piarc. org/en/Technical-Committees-World-RoadAssociation/

44 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

An executive with the United States Department of Transport says the department’s involvement in the multi-million-dollar Smart City Challenge highlights its role in working with communities to ensure the transport system is best serving people’s needs.

Under the Smart City Challenge, the department has awarded $40 million to the city of Columbus, Ohio, to accelerate game-changing technologies from self-driving cars, to smart traffic lights, to vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

Ken Leonard – Director, Intelligent Transportation System Joint Program Office within the DOT – has worked directly with the Columbus community and he highlighted the city’s innovative proposal when he addressed delegates to the ITS World Congress in Melbourne last October.

Seventy-eight cities took part in the Challenge; they created blueprints for the future of transportation on their streets. Colombus was one of seven finalists – the others were Austin, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland, and San Francisco.

Mr Leonard said in December 2015, then US Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, called for cities to develop a plan to reshape their transportation systems as part of a fully-integrated city that harnessed the power and potential of technology to reimagine how people and goods moved.

Columbus presented a holistic vision of how technology could help all its residents move better and access opportunity. Working with industry and philanthropic partners, the city also leveraged the Smart City Challenge to raise an additional $100 million in non-Federal resources to carry out its plan.

Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan, Inc. is providing an additional $10 million to Columbus. And a range of national industry partners are providing technology to help implement the plan, including NXP® Semiconductors, Amazon Web Services, Mobileye, Autodesk, Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs, AT&T, and DC Solar.

Mr Leonard said in its Smart City plan, Columbus was leveraging a new central connected traffic signal and integrated transportation data system to address specific transportation challenges faced in four districts across the city. To address the challenges, the city will: • use transportation data analytics and improved first-mile-last-mile connections to public transport to improve health care access in a neighbourhood that currently has an infant mortality rate four times that of the national average, allowing Columbus to provide improved transportation options to those most in need of pre-natal care.

• deploy fully electric self-driving shuttles on three fixed routes to connect a new bus rapid transit centre to a retail district, connecting more residents to jobs and helping fuel the district’s growth.

• equip city fleet, transit vehicles and many intersections with connected vehicle technology to optimise traffic flow and demonstrate safety applications.

• test connected vehicle technology in the freight district, including automated truck platooning and traffic signal management.

• address climate change by expanding the investment in electric vehicle charging stations, assist fleet operators to encourage EV adoption, create customer education programs such as ride-and-drive events with local dealers, and create an EV cooperative buying program.

• create an integrated payment system for residents to access transport solutions throughout the city, regardless of whether they have a credit card or rely on cash, and offer a trip planning smart app to help residents plan their trips across many different modes and public and private operators.

“The exciting thing for me being a ‘transportation guy’ is working with other departments and agencies to solve complex problems which impact on the functionality of communities,” said Mr Leonard.

“Our goal is to share what we learn from these initiatives with any group, town or city that wants to embrace concepts that will improve people’s liveability all over the United States.”

Mr Leonard said the department and its federal partners were committed to helping all cities that applied to the Smart City Challenge identify resources to carry out their plans.

Already, it has provided technical assistance to all 78 cities to help them identify and apply for approximately $6 billion in federal funding.

Ken Leonard

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The aim of the conference is to help prepare the Australian Flexible Pavements sector for future challenges, by openly discussing the possible disruption from new digital and physical environments and technologies.

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For details on packages and custom options please contact Rachel Black on 03 8416 5400 or visit conference.aapa.asn.au for more information

ASPHALT IN FOCUS

NEW TECHNICAL NOTE TO BRING THINNER ASPHALT PAVEMENTS TO QUEENSLAND The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is set to publish a Technical Note to allow thinner asphalt pavement design in Queensland, opening the way for cost savings and more innovative asphalt mixes.

Heavy duty asphalt pavements like those typically used on south east Queensland motorways could realise significant savings using the new Technical Note (TN167), particularly in combination with the department’s Pavement Design Supplement.

Recent research by the department, undertaken in partnership with the Australian Road Research Board through the National Asset Centre of Excellence (NACoE), has demonstrated that thinner asphalt pavements can be adopted in Queensland’s warm

46 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

climate without detracting from pavement performance.

TN167 brings this research, and research outcomes from Austroads and the Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA), into a single practical guide for design engineers and asphalt producers.

Through the Technical Note this research can be put into practice on ‘real world’ projects, where real cost savings will occur. Initial reductions in pavement thickness of 7% are expected using conventional asphalt mixes, and is possible to make further reductions through the use of more highly engineered (optimised) or innovative mixes.

Implementing all options in the TN167 would realise (indicative) savings of around $850,000

per kilometre for a typical six lane motorway in south east Queensland.

Perhaps most significantly, the option to develop mix-specific flexural modulus master curves and fatigue models is expected to reduce the barriers to innovative, high performance asphalt mixes such as high modulus asphalt (EME2) and mixes with (innovative) polymer modified binders.

TN167 has been consulted widely with industry stakeholders and is due for online release in February 2017. Once published it will be available free from the Transport and Main Roads website (www.tmr.qld.go.au), with background research reports and training webinars available from the NACoE website (www.nacoe.com.au) in the future.

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ASPHALT IN FOCUS

AMMANN STRENGTHENS ITS LIGHT COMPACTION EQUIPMENT PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA Ammann has announced a major expansion of its light equipment product line in Australia.

The product line includes rammers, walk-behind rollers, add-on compactors for excavators and a broad selection of vibratory plates. Ammann is based in Switzerland and manufactures many of its products, including the light compaction equipment, in Europe.

The product models vary in size and power. Yet all utilise technology that helps businesses become more productive – and more profitable.

48 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

Examples of that technology include Ammann’s development of the first autonomous vibratory plate compactor. The machine concept was unveiled at bauma 2016 in Munich, Germany. The plate travels and maps the targeted area, and then compacts without an operator.

The Ammann Service App is another technological step that helps customers.

The app provides access – from virtually anywhere – to service contracts and manuals, instructional videos, parts information and dealer locations.

Ammann hydrostatic vibratory plates leverage the technology of the triple-shaft exciter system, which provides high compaction output, consistency and climbing ability. The system also makes the machines easier to turn. No V belts are required, eliminating the need for a clutch and drive belt – and the maintenance costs that go with them.

A growing Australian dealer network is ready to serve customers. Each dealer offers a range of new machines and features personnel with expertise to help contractors choose the tools that best fit their needs. The dealer facilities are staffed with well-trained technicians and include properly stocked parts departments. Sales and product support personnel are available to travel to customer sites.

Ammann also manufactures a variety of asphalt and concrete plants as well as heavy rollers. Its product line includes pavers, too, which means road construction and other infrastructure projects can be handled – from start to finish – with Ammann plants and machines.

For more information on the products or for the location of your nearest Ammann dealer please visit www.ammann-group.com or call 07 3293 1111.

FROM RAMMERS TO ROLLERS, THE LIGHT COMPACTION TOOL YOU NEED.

The Ammann light compaction product line comes in all shapes and sizes, just like the jobsites you work on.

The product diversity ensures you have a perfect fit for virtually any application, creating efficiencies that impact your bottom line.

For more information on how to find cost effective light compaction tools for your jobsite or rental operation, contact your local Ammann dealer.

Campbellfield, Vic – Melbourne Tractors Pty Ltd (03) 9303 5777, info@melbournetractors.com.au Dandenong, Vic – Melbourne Tractors Pty Ltd (03) 9799 4777, info@melbournetractors.com.au Ballarat, Vic – Ballaratt Tractors (03) 5334 2444, info@ballarattractors.com.au Richlands, Qld – Brisvegas Machinery (07) 3320 8800, info@brisvegasmachinery.com.au Banyo, Qld – C&L Tool Centre Pty Ltd (+617) 3326 1500, sales@cltoolcentre.com.au Brendale, Qld – Niugini Link PTY LTD (+617) 3205 2227, steve@niuginilink.com.au Cavan,SA – SA Tractors (+618) 8349 7500, andrew@satractors.com.au Auckland, NZ – Youngman Richardson & Co. Ltd (+649) 443 2436, philf@yrco.co.nz Christchurch, NZ – Youngman Richardson & Co. Ltd (+649) 443 2437, philf@yrco.co.nz Ingleburn, NSW – Conplant Pty Ltd (+612) 9933 3100, enquiries@conplant.com.au Malaga, WA – Conplant Pty Ltd (+618) 9248 7855, enquiries@conplant.com.au Nambour, Qld – Conplant Pty Ltd (+617) 5441 7816, enquiries@conplant.com.au

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Coffs Harbour, NSW – Conplant Pty Ltd (+612) 6651 1433, enquiries@conplant.com.au Weston, NSW – Conplant Pty Ltd (+612) 4937 3999, enquiries@conplant.com.au Burton, SA – Conplant Pty Ltd (+618) 8280 9608, enquiries@conplant.com.au Yatala, Qld – Conplant Pty Ltd (+617) 3807 0099, enquiries@conplant.com.au Dubbo, NSW – Conplant Pty Ltd (+614) 88 419 370, enquiries@conplant.com.au St Leonards, TAS – DLM Machinery 03 6339 1550, D0427 592 528, david@dlmmachinery.com.au Seventeen Mile Rock, Qld – Minemech Services 07 3712 0500, brendan.jones@minemech.com Pinelands, NT – Airpower (08) 8939 0200, grant@airpower.com.au Alice Springs, NT – Airpower (08) 8952 5155, alicesprings@airpowe.com.au Redcliffe, WA – McIntosh & Son 08 9475 1600, paul.d@mcson.com.au.

ASPHALT IN FOCUS

The quarter mile (402.34m) track record at the legendary Gardermoen Raceway is 4.7 seconds and the top speed is 514km/h. These figures underline how important it is that the asphalt layer is absolutely perfect.

UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY FOR A 500KM/H TRACK Maximum precision is called for when paving a dragstrip in Norway.

The race itself only takes a few seconds, but in these brief moments, everything has to be absolutely perfect. This is true of both the dragster itself as well as the track.

When the drivers rev up their engines for their high performance acceleration duels, they not only rely on automotive technology.

The track must also be completely even and have an excellent grip.

Needless to say, when it came to rehabilitating the famous Gardermoen Raceway near Oslo, the only permanent dragstrip in Norway, the paving team of Stange Asfalt AS placed very high demands on the asphalt paving - and used state-of-the-art equipment supplied by VÖGELE and HAMM to deliver the result they needed.

50 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

Millimetre precision During a drag race, the drivers hit extremely high speeds. For this reason the track itself must meet stringent evenness requirements.

The tolerance range on the Gardermoen Raceway was only ± 2mm across a width of 4.5m, and a crown with a slope of exactly +1° was specified.

When it comes to paving a dragstrip, absolute precision is critical - the track must be smooth, shaped correctly and even, as the slightest unevenness can cause instability in the dragster’s road performance.

On the dragstrip, the drivers accelerate up to top speeds of more than 500km/h within seconds. After a quarter of a mile (402.34m) the race is already over and the braking parachute is deployed. Put simply, there is no room (or time) for error.

Made-to-measure paving: the paving team of Stange Asfalt AS met the highest demands for evenness and surface quality on the dragstrip.

The Road to Relevant Research

Made-to-measure paving: the paving team of Stange Asfalt AS met the highest demands for evenness and surface quality on the dragstrip.

ErgoPlus delivers the result To achieve the required level of precision, the Norwegian road construction company Stange Asfalt AS left nothing to chance on the dragstrip near Oslo airport.

The company's SUPER 1900-3i tracked paver worked with two VÖGELE multi-cell sonic sensors for grade and slope control. To guarantee continuous paving without interruption, a VÖGELE PowerFeeder type MT 3000-2i Offset was used for material feed.

Key to the equipment's performance is VÖGELE's unique userfriendly ErgoPlus 3 operating system. An optimum workstation is essential, especially for the screed operator. After all, he is largely responsible for producing a first-class asphalt pavement. The ErgoPlus 3 screed consoles help achieve this: their ergonomic design guarantees safe operation – and ensures first-rate pavement quality.

All functions of the ErgoPlus 3 operating system are easy to understand and clearly arranged on the console, thereby ensuring that the screed operator always has the paving process under his full control.

Compaction on the job was provided using HAMM DV 70 VO and DV 90 VO rollers - each equipped with vibratory and oscillating drums - compacted all three layers of the new asphalt pavement.

Not surprisingly, the combination of innovative and reliable equipment, quality paving materials and a skilled paving team proved invaluable during the project - with the finished track delivered with the specifications and, most importantly, to the satisfaction of both the track owner and drivers.

For further information, please visit: www.voegele.info

Did you know you can access the latest issue of Highway Engineering Australia via Informit?

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February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 51

Assisting in building with strength, wisdom and beauty

Before using these materials for your next building project why not call Ability about abilox® . ®

Ability Building Colours manufactures abilox - an extensive range of seventy (70) fine, UV resistant, inorganic mineral oxide colouring pigment powders from which to choose OR we will make you a CUSTOM colour. ®

Unfadeable abilox powder colourants are added to, mixed in and used for permanently ‘through’ colouring of pre-mixed concrete, asphalt, mortars, paints, other surface coatings, caulks and sealants, applied finishes and other composite products and materials used in the building industries.

Individual, colourfast powder colourants, including absolutely permanent ® Cobalt Blue and Chromium Green, are available in the abilox range exstock for immediate shipment to your nominated pre-mix concrete supplier or concrete products manufacturer.

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TCA NEWS

TCA constitution updated by members: reaffirms and expands TCA’s role in telematics, related intelligent technologies and Co-Operative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) Transport Certification Australia (TCA) recently held its Annual General Meeting, where TCA Members updated TCA’s Constitution.

TCA’s updated Constitution not only reaffirms TCA’s established role in providing assurance in the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies, but agrees to expand TCA’s role to support the emergence of connected and automated vehicles.

TCA’s Members comprise Australia’s road and transport agencies from the Commonwealth, and each State and Territory.

TCA Chairperson, Stephen Golding said, “I am pleased and heartened to receive this encouragement and support from Australia’s road and transport agencies, and the growing role they see us playing in what is becoming a rapidly changing and varied technological environment.

“As outlined in our Strategic Plan, TCA recognises how disruptive influences of technology to transport, and how traditional roles, responsibility, public policy and government decision making, are all being challenged.”

“The growing need for governments to provide robust, sustainable and technology-based outcomes, along with promoting innovation, is driving a need for assurance in the use of telematics and related technologies.”

The purpose of TCA is to provide the following services to its Members, other government organisations and the community to support the current and emerging use of telematics and related intelligent technologies – and cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) applications – to enable public purpose outcomes through the provision of:

Advice: This includes providing information on current and emerging opportunities and an understanding of the complex interaction of policy, technical, operational and commercial elements. TCA helps to achieve a whole of government approach in the deployment of telematics applications.

Accreditation: This includes the development of functional and technical specifications and assessing conformance against functional, technical and business requirements. TCA also develops standards and manages government pilots, initiatives and reforms.

Administration: This includes the type-approval of hardware and systems, certification and audit of service providers and the operational end-to-end management of programs and applications.

“Governments rely on TCA to represent their interests when developing and implementing policy reforms which depend on the use of technology,” Mr Golding said.

“Our unique ability is to help both Governments and the telematics industry to ‘get it right’ as new technology is developed – not after they go on the market.

“By working closely with industry, standards developers and other stakeholders, TCA facilitates innovation, unlocking productivity and new sustainable business environments.

“I acknowledge the support of our Members and other stakeholders across government, and look forward to continuing to deliver the objectives identified in our Strategic Plan, and facilitating innovation for public purpose outcomes,” Mr Golding concluded.

TCA’s Constitution details the expanded role TCA provides to its Members, other government organisations and the community. TCA will provide the following services.

Advice services include: (i) Enabling public purpose outcomes to be achieved through the use of Telematics* and related intelligent technologies; (ii) Informing TCA’s members and other government organisations on the opportunities for policy makers to advance public purpose outcomes; (iii) Assisting governments to gain a better appreciation of the complex interaction of policy, technical, operational and commercial elements when developing new policies and programs and revisit existing ones; (iv) Achieving a whole of government approach to the deployment of Telematics applications.

Accreditation services include: (i) Development of functional and technical specifications; (ii) Assessment of conformance against functional, technical and business requirements; (iii) Development of standards; (iv) Management of government pilots, initiatives and reforms that utilise Telematics and related intelligent technologies.

Administration services include: (i) Type-approval of hardware and systems; (ii) Certification and audit of service providers; (iii) The operational, end-to-end management of public purpose programs and applications which utilise Telematics and related intelligent technologies; (iv) For the IAP:

(a) manage the certification and auditing regime for the IAP;

(b) certify, audit and cancel the certification of IAP Service Providers;

(c) select and coordinate IAP Auditors;

(d) be a focal point for the IAP;

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 53

TCA NEWS

(e) undertake communication and disseminate information in the IAP; (f) liaise with government authorities, end users and IAP Service Providers; (v) For other programs: manage and generally implement or operate, in a manner consistent with clauses (iv)(a) to (f) above, the implementation of such further public-purpose administration services including the certification, type-approval or other approval of providers and/or devices as the Board approve; In addition to the above TCA will: • Monitor and implement policy, technological, operational and commercial developments as part of the National Telematics Framework; • Manage and generally implement and operate such public-purpose projects as the Board approve. * Telematics means integrated systems of information, communications and sensor solutions used in: • vehicle to somewhere; • vehicle to vehicle; • vehicle to infrastructure; and • infrastructure to somewhere.

Examples include: • Monitoring and reporting of vehicles; • Monitoring and reporting of infrastructure; • Providing information from and to vehicles; • Connected and cooperative vehicles; and • Automated and autonomous vehicles.

For further information, please visit: www.tca.gov.au

International society for weigh-inmotion (ISWIM) elects TCA CEO, Chris Koniditsiotis, President Transport Certification Australia (TCA) Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis has been elected President of the International Society for Weigh-In-Motion (ISWIM). ISWIM has over 700 individual members from 70 countries, and 16 vendors as corporate members.

The ISWIM is an international non-profit organisation, founded in 2007, and legally incorporated in Switzerland. It is an international network of people and organisations active in the field of Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) (inclusive of on-road and on-vehicle systems). Having served on the Board since the inception of the ISWIM in 2007, the Board - which consists of 15 International Directors - elected Mr Koniditsiotis as President in November.

Mr Koniditsiotis said, “I am honoured to accept this position and to support ISWIM in its goal to advance WIM technologies, standardisation and the application and use of WIM data.

“The goals of ISWIM align closely with TCA’s established role in providing assurance in the use of telematics and related intelligent

54 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

technologies, and in particular, TCA’s internationally leading work in using On-Board Mass (OBM) systems.”

In Australia, road managers and regulators are recognising the value of OBM systems fitted to heavy vehicle combinations to further advance productivity and safety, by leveraging the National Telematics Framework (which has been adopted as international standard ISO 15638). The importance of ISWIM, and the growing use of OBM systems, should not be underestimated.

In February 2016, the Australian Infrastructure Plan highlighted the importance of being able to remotely monitor truck mass, to satisfy road owners that higher productivity vehicles can operate safely on the network. In addition, the technology allows road managers to allow heavy vehicles to be used on roads that, previously, they would not have been able to use.

“The link between on-road and in-vehicle is an increasingly codependent relationship. With the technology now available, we can connect the two in new and innovative ways, all to produce better safety and productivity outcomes. Traditional WIM systems and modern OBM systems can be used together to produce the most accurate and reliable data. This in turn is creating better connections between infrastructure stakeholders and in-vehicle system developers.

“As President, I will continue to actively lead ISWIM to ensure that these diverse groups continue to take a collaborative approach to advance the use and application of WIM. It is relationships such as these that ensure information is shared, that technology is compatible and reduces duplication on an international scale,” Mr Koniditsiotis said.

“TCA facilitates innovation by working closely with both the telematics and transport industries and other stakeholders. I very much look forward to working with the ISWIM Board and Members to advance the application and use of WIM,” Mr Koniditsiotis concluded.

To find out more about ISWIM, please visit: www.is-wim.org

On-Board Mass (OBM) functional and technical specification - TCA releases final draft Transport Certification Australia (TCA) has released the final draft version of the On-Board Mass (OBM) Functional and Technical Specification – for the last round of review from industry stakeholders, prior to finalisation in early 2017.

TCA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis said, “The OBM Functional and Technical Specification forms part of the National Telematics Framework, which provides a nationally agreed framework for the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies.

“The National Telematics Framework houses the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), Intelligent Speed Compliance (ISC), the Certified Telematics Service (CTS), and a suite of commercial telematics applications, as well as OBM systems.”

TCA NEWS

Consistent with the principles of the National Telematics Framework, the availability of the Specification will minimise cost to industry, removing barriers and red tape, by achieving greater harmonisation and consistency through performance based open standards – while promoting innovation. Importantly, the Specification details the functional and technical requirements necessary for stakeholders to obtain assurance in the use of OBM systems – be it for commercial or regulatory use – with requirements extending to accuracy, security, installation, calibration and maintenance.

Commonly known as weigh scales or mass systems, OBM units typically utilise load cell or air pressure technologies to measure the axle group mass and gross vehicle mass of heavy vehicle combinations.

The final draft Specification has been developed with the active engagement of the Telematics Industry Group (TIG) – including suppliers of OBM systems – and the operational learnings from transport operators’ use of OBM systems linked to the IAP in Queensland and New South Wales. The Specification builds upon the road transport industry’s move to adopt hardware which can support both commercial and regulatory telematics applications.

In November TCA reported that over 30,000 Telematics InVehicle Units (IVUs) installed in heavy vehicles, already meet (or are capable of meeting with minor amendments) TCA requirements to co-locate commercial and regulatory applications through a single Telematics IVU. The availability of the OBM Functional and Technical Specification, together with the introduction of the type-approval of OBM Systems, provides transport operators with assurance in performance, accuracy and quality of the OBM system now, and into the future.

The final Specification will enable TCA to accept applications for type-approval of OBM Systems beginning the first quarter of 2017.

Over 30,0000 Telematics IVUs that satisfy TCA requirements already fitted to heavy vehicles across Australia

functional and technical requirements relating to: • Robustness • Accuracy • Reliability • Tamper evidence • Data storage • Security.

“These same requirements are being demanded by industry stakeholders, who have become increasingly knowledgeable and focussed on making the right purchasing decisions, to cater for their business needs.

“The transport industry continues to tell us that the IVU is a central piece of technology which supports a range of functions, such as vehicle performance monitoring, job management, messaging and document keeping of permits, gazettes and dispatch information.

“It is not a surprise, therefore, that transport operators are seeking strong assurances from Telematics IVUs.” The ability to co-locate commercial and regulatory applications in a single Telematics IVU has been enabled through the availability of the National Telematics Framework.

“In short, it means end-users don’t need to install separate, standalone devices to perform individual functions, significantly reducing costs by avoiding the need to support numerous stand-alone devices,” Mr Koniditsiotis concluded.

The increased demand for Telematics IVUs which meet TCA requirements has been highlighted by telematics provider BIGmate obtaining type-approval for one of its new Telematics IVU offerings.

BIGmate’s type-approved Telematics IVU joins a total of 32 separate types of Telematics IVUs which are already offered by IAP Service Providers.

Further information can be obtained from TCA: http://tca.gov.au/ type-approval Reference: 26/03/2015, Nuttall, S ‘Trends in telematics adoption and compliance management in road freight transport industry’, ACA Research, http://www.acaresearch.com.au/australian-market-research-blog/ bid/362002/Revealed-Latest-trends-in-telematics-adoption-andcompliance-management-in-the-road-freight-transport-industry

Transport Certification Australia (TCA) has reported on the number of Telematics In-Vehicle Units (IVUs) already installed in heavy vehicles throughout Australia which satisfy TCA requirements.

Intelligent Access Program (IAP) Service Providers have advised TCA that there are 30,480 Telematics IVUs already installed in heavy vehicles which are either currently able to meet the requirements of the IAP Functional and Technical Specification – as well as the Telematics IVU Functional and Technical Specification – or are able to meet the requirements with some amendments.

Notably, there are a further 1,500 Telematics IVUs installed in light vehicles, which highlights the growing diversity of demand for invehicle hardware which meet TCA requirements.

In total, there are 31,980 Telematics IVUs that satisfy TCA requirements, fitted to vehicles throughout Australia This represents a 22% increase since the end of 2014. This increase is significant, given the percentage of truck fleets adopting telematics is trending at 5% growth year on year according to ACA Research. The industry is clearly seeking assurance when making IVU purchasing decisions.

TCA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis said, “There are a number of key features which distinguish these Telematics IVUs from others available in the marketplace, including the ability to meet

February 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 55

PRODUCT FOCUS

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56 Highway Engineering Australia | February 2017

For further information on the the XTOOL

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