Highway Engineering Australia V49.1 June/July 2017

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Editor’s Column

ABN 85 007 693 138 PO Box 510, Broadford Victoria 3658 Australia Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Fax: (03) 5784 2210 www.epcgroup.com

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Special Features

10

Industry News

14

Case Study: Novomesh 950

16

Cover Feature: if3 + GDTech Finite Element Analysis

Editorial and Publishing Consultants Pty Ltd

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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CIRCULATION 8,410 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. 100001888

ISSN 0046-7391

JUNE 2017 Volume 49 Number 1

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20 Budget Feature 24 Road Safety

14

28 ACRS Feature 30 Major Projects 33 ITS Special Feature 42 TCA News

44

44 Case Study: ITS PipeTech Tunneline 48 AAPA Feature 50 Asphalt in Focus 54 Equipment Feature

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About the Cover While crash tests provide us with the critical performance data required to ensure that a product or solution is ‘fit for purpose’, test data relates to very specific site and impact conditions.

GDTech use crash test data and Finite Element (FE) analysis to accurately predict the performance of both the barrier system and the impacting vehicle in a wide range of impact scenarios.

Turn to Page 16 for the full story.

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Coming Unstuck

Managing Vehicle Registration in a ‘Stickerless’ world Dear Readers, While there’s no questioning the savings benefits gained by eliminating the ‘old fashioned’ vehicle registration label system, (doing away with old style rego stickers reportedly saved over $20 million in Victoria alone), it is also clear that the ‘stickerless’ system presents many vehicle owners with a major challenge. This has been clearly evidenced by the significant increase in the number of unregistered vehicles being detected by police in all jurisdictions that have moved to a ‘stickerless’ system.

Even though I am in no doubt whatsoever that some of these detected offences are a result of ‘intentional’ behaviour, anecdotal evidence would indicate that a significant number of these offences are unintentional.

Importantly, whether these ‘unintentional’ offences are the direct result of a breakdown in the notification system (misdirected or undelivered mail, etc.) or simple forgetfulness on behalf of the vehicle owner is largely a moot point; in every instance, the consequence is the same – an unregistered and uninsured vehicle travelling on the road network.

Incidentally, for those who may be tempted to remind me via email that the onus for ensuring a vehicle is registered and insured lies wholly with the vehicle owner – I am fully aware that that is the case. Be that as it may, it’s also clear that quoting rules and regulations does nothing to overcome the issue.

While I have no intention of laying the blame for the increase in unregistered vehicles

2 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

entirely at the feet of Australia Post, there are more than a few instances where the lapse in vehicle registration is a direct result of the registration notification not reaching the intended recipient, resulting in the renewal date passing unnoticed. And while it is tempting to postulate how easy it would be to simply remember the date, make a note on a calendar or in a diary, etc., I wonder how many of you can readily recall the registration renewal date of your vehicle – especially those of you who are lucky enough to drive a company/corporate vehicle or, for that matter, live in a household with two or more vehicles.

Put simply, I feel certain that I’m not going ‘out on a limb’ claiming that for most people, the registration renewal date of there vehicle(s) is a long way down the memory priority list.

Indeed, I believe that many people would be hard pressed to remember the renewal month, let alone the actual due date.

That’s why the registration sticker was so helpful. Even if the renewal letter got lost in the mail, the sticker provided a visual reminder of something that has to be done by a specific date – and it has the added benefit of being physically attached to the subject of the reminder.

Now, while I’m not suggesting that we return to the old style (and quite expensive) registration sticker, I am suggesting that we may have gone a step too far in eliminating the sticker all together.

For example, what about including a simple, compact ‘month/year’ sticker which each registration notice, to highlight the month

that the registration is due. This would at least provide the driver with a strong visual reminder that if they haven’t received their registration renewal notice by the end of the month prior they should chase it up ASAP. It doesn’t need to be a fancy or expensive sticker (it is after all only a reminder for the driver), it doesn’t even need to be part of the registration form and it doesn’t need to contain any information other than the month and year of renewal. It only needs to be in the envelop with the renewal form. It’s cheap and easy to do and if it reduces the number of unregistered / uninsured vehicles on the roads, I believe it’s an excellent investment.

Anthony T Schmidt Managing Editor

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! We value your opinion and welcome your feedback and input.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Aurecon highlights underground road and rail options in future transport

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he newly appointed Managing Director, Government for global engineering and infrastructure advisory firm, Aurecon, says a futuristic vision, including possible underground roadway and rail systems, could help overcome the growing challenge of transport infrastructure in cities around the world.

Leading public infrastructure specialist, Aneetha de Silva, told Highway Engineering Australia magazine that many nations, including Australia, were highly urbanised, so major infrastructure projects had the potential to impact residential areas.

Ms de Silva was commenting on a proposal by Elon Musk, a CanadianAmerican business magnate, investor and engineer, whose vision involves a network of underground road tunnels beneath major cities.

Mr Musk is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tesla and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company.

Under his proposal, cars would be propelled along tunnels by electric trolleys, which would eliminate the need for petrol and diesel as a power source.

The autonomous control of the vehicles and the need for increased power supply for such a tunnel network represents a significant shift in terms of the design of tunnels.

In addition, specialised electronic equipment, such as high-speed trolleys would need to be designed and tested, as well as corresponding intelligent control equipment/ systems.

Smaller tunnel sizes would reduce costs and speed-up construction.

“It’s a really exciting vision, but it’s easy to be overwhelmed and slightly alarmed by the

4 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

scope of the proposition,” said Ms de Silva.

“Tunnelling offers an opportunity to achieve a social licence to provide transport solutions underground.

“It tries to deal with demand pressures – it basically suggests that you can remove the need for massive interchanges or signalised intersections in the case of road transport.

“There’s a lot of thinking that needs to go into how an idea of this nature and magnitude can be translated into reality. And we also have to look how it can be applied in the Australian environment.

“The proposal should be on the list of transport options and examined in the context of population projections for Australian cities.

“We have to assess these innovative solutions because current solutions are probably reaching the end of their lifespan,” Ms de Silva said.

Aurecon Tunnelling Expert, Tom Ireland, said many of the world’s largest cities had reached their capacity to absorb new infrastructure “on the ground” and were looking at solutions – above and below the surface – to overcome mobility challenges.

“Navigating through long-established built form can be technically and aesthetically challenging, so creating below-the-ground transport networks such as underground rail and road tunnels is high on many cities agendas, and these projects are currently transforming cities around the world,” Mr Ireland said.

“Musk’s futuristic tunnel system is ambitious and innovative. Going underground makes sense and many cities have vast tunnel networks beneath heavily populated areas; for example, the London Underground – so we know it can work. His vision presents an exciting alternative to our gridlocked present.”

Mr Ireland said a project of the scale proposed by Musk would transform the current face of transport.

“We live in a complex transport environment where multi-modal solutions must be on the table and, for some of the world’s largest cities, this solution could be an attractive option.

There are lots of opportunities for innovation on a project of this nature, including a move away from more traditional concrete towards a higher strength, lighter weight material for lining tunnels and may even encompass 3D printing this lining as part of the tunnel excavation cycle.

Ms de Silva believes Australia has been one of the few countries able to manage the challenges that have emerged from the Global Financial Crisis.

She said Australia had experienced 10-years of economic growth in circumstances where many other developed nations had really struggled.

“We’re buoyant and positive about the Australian economy and market.

“We’re confident the Federal and State Governments are able to lead and meet economic challenges despite the current environment.”

Aneetha de Silva, Managing Director – Government, with global engineering and infrastructure advisory firm, Aurecon.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

With 20 years’ experience in public and private sector infrastructure roles, Ms de Silva will be the first female member of Aurecon’s global executive committee.

In a statement on Ms de Silva’s appointment, Aurecon said it reflected the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions to Australian State and Federal Governments as they tackled current and future infrastructure challenges.

Ms de Silva said her priorities will include working with State and Federal Government and their transport agencies.

“The states are the primary deliverers of major infrastructure asset services.

“In the context of delivering such projects, Aurecon will continue to be service providers for the states.

“We are increasingly developing our advisory services and part of those services is providing support to clients to develop and refine business cases for major projects.

“We’re also going to be providing support, where possible, on due diligence concerning transport and energy assets that might be upgraded or be subject to examination for more innovative ways of maintaining assets.”

Ms de Silva said Aurecon was positioned to support the Australian Government to better capture innovation through design and technology, and help develop its strategic policy framework to secure community buyin for its infrastructure initiatives.

“There’s been a trend over recent years for communities to have greater input – direct input – into projects that are going to be brought to market.

“The market is increasingly recognising the importance of a social licence before a project is taken from the development phase to the implementation phase.”

Ms De Silva said Aurecon was currently working on a number of city-shaping projects in Australia and New Zealand that would enhance the connectivity and liveability of cities.

These projects include: • Melbourne’s transformational Metro Tunnel project featuring two ninekilometre tunnels and five new stations added to the city’s underground rail network; • Sydney’s WestConnex New M5 with ninekilometre twin tunnels from Kingsgrove to a new interchange at St Peters; • the $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel Project which addresses a number of critical challenges in relation to traffic, growth and livability across Melbourne; and • Auckland City Rail Link: a 3.4-kilometre underground rail line consisting of twin driven tunnels.

6 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

Artist’s impression of planned Stage One development of Western Sydney Airport. Image courtesy Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

New company to construct Western Sydney Airport A new company, WSA Co, will be responsible for the construction of the multi-billion-dollar Western Sydney Airport.

The Australian Government has committed up to $5.3 billion over 10 years in the 2017-18 Budget to build the airport and WSA Co will be established early in the 2017-18 financial year.

It will have a high-quality board and management team, including extensive private sector experience.

Once established, WSA Co will enter into a comprehensive set of contracts with the government, based on the same terms as were provided to Sydney Airport Group under its Right of First Refusal.

Sydney Airport Group, the owner of Kingsford Smith Airport, announced in the first week of May that it would not take up the opportunity under its Right of First Refusal to build and operate the new Western Sydney Airport.

Under the set of contracts, WSA Co will be constructing an airport with a 3.7-kilometre runway and a terminal with capacity for 10 million passengers a year.

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, said the Budget funding announcement for the massive Badgerys Creek project was integral to the government’s commitment to ensure the new airport was operational by 2026.

“The government is committed to Western Sydney, where the new airport will be a major catalyst for jobs and economic growth. The multi-billion-dollar investment in this project will ensure these benefits are delivered without delay,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The airport will add $1.9 billion to Western Sydney’s economy during the construction phase alone. By the early 2030s, it will create around 20,000 direct and indirect jobs closer to home for Western Sydney residents.

“The Turnbull Government is working with the Berejiklian (NSW) Government and local councils in Western Sydney to maximise the economic benefits of the Airport.”

With construction set to commence by the end of 2018, a tender for enabling works is expected to be issued before the end of 2017.

WSA Co will also conduct a procurement process to select a private sector construction company or consortium, most likely under a design and construct contract, for the main construction works.

The airport has already attracted a major investment by Northrop Grumman – the American global aerospace and defence technology company.

Northrop Grumman is investing $50 million to establish a multi-million-dollar Electronic Sustainment Centre of Excellence at the Airport. The Centre of Excellence is a key part of the company’s commitment to double its workforce in Australia to 1,000.

Northrop Grumman’s Centre will be the first anchor tenant in a new high-tech defence and aerospace precinct at the Airport.

Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said it would be in a prime position to service and maintain aircraft and systems, including for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter and MQ-4C Triton.

“The Centre will reach out to universities and training institutions to create partnerships and train the highly skilled technicians essential for Western Sydney’s future job needs.”

Northrop Grumman International President, Dave Perry, has welcomed the government’s investment.

"The government's strong commitment to grow the defence industry in Australia gave us the confidence to make this significant investment in Western Sydney," Mr Perry said.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Infrastructure Victoria calls for increase in Port of Melbourne’s capacity

C

apacity at Victoria’s existing commercial ports should be optimised, having regard to social and environmental factors, before any investment is made in a second major container port, according to Infrastructure Victoria and it has recommended that Bay West is the preferred location for a second major container port.

Its advice to the Victorian Government on the future need, timing and location of a second container port follows a request from the Special Minister of State in May 2016.

The Minister asked Infrastructure Victoria to develop independent advice on when to invest in container port capacity and whether a second container port should be located at the existing Port of Hastings or a new Bay West location.

Infrastructure Victoria’s third key recommendation is that a new container port will not be required until capacity at the Port of Melbourne reaches approximately eight million TEU (unit of capacity), which is likely to be around 2055.

Infrastructure Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Michel Masson, said its advice was based on new evidence and a direct comparison of all the available options - something which had not been done before.

“Our advice is based on the best available evidence - including new data and technical analysis which was released transparently for consultation – and considers the economic, social, environmental and urban planning benefits and impacts.

“We endeavoured to develop our advice in a way that provides clear direction, but also encourages responsiveness to change because we recognise the future is uncertain.”

Mr Masson said increasing capacity at the Port of Melbourne to eight million TEU would require a holistic approach to ports planning and would require some existing trades to be relocated to Victoria’s other commercial ports.

“The Port of Hastings will be an important part of Victoria’s future commercial port network and is particularly well suited to handling automotive trade, while the Ports of Geelong and Portland could grow their existing trades and support emerging supply chains.

8 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

“Once the Port of Melbourne reaches eight million TEU, we think it makes better economic, social and urban planning sense to move some container trade to a new port at Bay West.

“Bay West has strong transport, land use, environmental and amenity advantages when compared to Hastings. It can initially handle overflow container capacity, but is also well suited to becoming Melbourne’s future container port in the longer term.”

Mr Masson said Bay West had good transport connections and few land use conflicts.

“It is the optimal location for most of Victoria’s exporters as it would help keep their supply chain costs down, which is important to ensure Victoria’s ongoing competitiveness.

“While achieving the necessary environmental approvals and outcomes will be complex, it is likely this would be even more challenging at Hastings.”

While current analysis and projections indicate a second container port is unlikely to be required for many years, Infrastructure Victoria has recommended some immediate actions to protect the Bay West location for future port use, including land reservation and transport corridor protection.

“We have also recommended continuous monitoring of environmental conditions in Port Phillip Bay because the community told us how important it is to understand and protect the environment,” Mr Masson said.

The Victorian Government will consider Infrastructure Victoria’s recommendations and advice, and will respond as part of its Freight Strategy to be released later this year.

“We thank Infrastructure Victoria for its work and advice on the future of Victoria’s ports, which we will consider as part of our ongoing work on the state’s freight strategy,” said Special Minister of State, Gavin Jennings “With Infrastructure Victoria, we are getting the independent and considered advice our state needs to build for the future, and this includes the future needs for a second container port in Victoria.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Australia’s transport operators another productivity boost.

“If this country wants to get serious about improving the productivity and safety of our road network we need to embrace the opportunities that PBS can provide and not be afraid to try sensible new approaches,” Mr Retter said.

The proposed laws will be considered by Australia’s transport ministers at their next meeting scheduled for November 2017 and are likely to take effect in 2018.

Major productivity boost Newcastle leads way in for Australia’s freight light rail transport operators Australian road transport operators will be able to transport more goods using fewer vehicles thanks to new policies approved during May by the Transport and Infrastructure Council.

The policies will allow trucks to carry larger, but not heavier loads.

Chief Executive of the National Transport Commission, Paul Retter, said the commission had developed the new policy settings to help people who transported lighter loads such as cotton, wood chips or hay to send their goods to market more efficiently.

“These policy decisions pave the way for changes to the law that will help to reduce the number of trucks on Australian roads and give our nation’s transport industry a productivity boost worth up to $1.5 billion per year,” Mr Retter said.

“Our estimates show that as many as 5,000 fewer rigid vehicles and up to 1,700 fewer B-double vehicles would be needed to move the same volume of freight.”

Mr Retter said the changes would permit an increase in the length of rigid vehicles of up to two metres and that B-doubles up to 30 metres in length would be permitted provided they met certain standard safety requirements.

“These changes will result in better road access, fewer trucks on our roads, less road damage and no reduction in road safety.”

Mr Retter said the current access restrictions for PBS (Performance Based Standards) level one vehicles will be removed to encourage more people to use safer and more efficient vehicles approved under the scheme.

Allowing these longer vehicles to operate under general access conditions will give

10 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

Newcastle is set to be Australia’s only city with a wire-free light rail system.

As part of the Revitalising Newcastle program, overhead wires from the planned light rail system will be removed.

Newcastle light rail vehicles will be fitted with on-board storage to remove the “spiderweb” of overhead wires.

New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said the upgrade was a game changer for the urban amenity and sustainability of Newcastle light rail.

“Implementing world-class light rail technology aligns with our plans for Newcastle to become a major university town and a city known for cutting-edge research and innovation,” Mr Constance said.

“Removing the overhead wires will preserve the aesthetics of Newcastle’s heritage architecture and its unique character as light rail breathes new life into the city centre.”

Other upgrades across Newcastle include more open space for outdoor dining, street trees and new activity precincts including Darby Plaza and Civic Link.

The upgrades will be delivered at the same time as the light rail to minimise disruption, with construction expected to start in mid2017.

Upgrading SA level crossings Five railway pedestrian crossings in metropolitan Adelaide and nine rural road level crossings in South Australia will be upgraded as part of an initial $12 million investment in the State Government’s Railway Crossing Safety Strategy.

Between 2011 and 2016, four people were killed and six people were seriously injured at railway crossings and 741 near-misses were reported by rail operators.

The government is investing $2.5 million to install automatic gates at pedestrian crossings in Christie Downs, Brighton and Hove to significantly improve safety, as part of a four-year strategy to improve safety across the rail network.

Another five passive pedestrian crossings which currently pose safety risks will also be closed, with pedestrians directed to nearby, safer alternatives.

Seven rural road level crossings will be upgraded in the Mid-North, Flinders Ranges, Callington, Currency Creek, Murray Bridge and Nairne, while signage will be upgraded at a further 154 level crossings.

Safety upgrades will also be delivered at metropolitan road level crossings at Gillman, Wingfield, Seaton and Port Adelaide.

The strategy has also identified level crossings that should be removed and replaced with underpasses or overpasses, starting with the Oaklands Crossing.

After Oaklands, level crossings at Ovingham, Seaton and Salisbury have topped the list to be redeveloped, with funding to be sought through the Federal Road and Rail Program and Infrastructure Australia.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

State Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said the sheer size and speed of trains meant they could pose dangers for pedestrians, especially if the pedestrians weren’t paying proper attention.

“The average passenger train weighs more than 100 tonnes and can take more than a kilometre to come to a stop. For freight trains this can be even longer.”

Mr Mullighan said the majority of crossings were in rural areas, even though trains were less frequent.

“Statistics show the majority of incidents are occurring on freight lines outside of Adelaide. This investment will allow for the installation of important safety measures such as boom gates, lights and bells, and extra signage.

“By removing level crossings or upgrading them, we will significantly improve safety and reduce the likelihood of injuries and even deaths, which are often caused by inattention and impatience.”

Independent price regulator proposed for heavy vehicle charges The Australian Government has released a discussion paper on options for an independent price regulator for heavy vehicle charges.

Heavy vehicle operators currently pay for access to public roads through the federally managed fuel based road user charge and through state government vehicle registration fees.

While the National Transport Commission makes an annual recommendation to governments regarding the level at which these charges should be set, governments have the final say.

Paul Fletcher, Minister for Urban Infrastructure, said independent price regulation of heavy vehicle charges would enable a regulator to determine the charges for heavy vehicle operators at arm’s length from government.

12 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

“Charges would be designed to more directly and effectively link user charges to government expenditure on roads,” said Minister Fletcher.

“The discussion paper outlines options for which entity could take responsibility for independent price regulation.

“The government is seeking input from stakeholders on the merits of independent price regulation and which organisation would be best placed to carry out this task.”

The reform is part of the commitment

by COAG – the Council of Australian Governments – to accelerate reform of heavy vehicle user charging.

The deadline for comments on the discussion paper is 14 July 2017. The paper and comments form are available on the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s website.

Assessing benefits of public transport franchising Subjecting the running of Australia’s government-operated bus and rail services to competitive tender processes could save taxpayers up to $15.5 billion by 2040, according to Infrastructure Australia.

The savings achieved could be reinvested into new transport services.

Infrastructure Australia’s findings are published in the latest paper in its Reform Series, Improving Public Transport: Customer Focused Franchising.

The paper recommends that state and territory governments pursue Customer Focused Franchising, where the operation of government-owned bus and rail services is subject to a competitive tender process and the contract is awarded to the best operator.

Under this approach, any savings generated by franchising would be reinvested into the public transport network.

“Experience both here and abroad shows that public transport franchising can deliver better services for commuters and significant savings for taxpayers,” said

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive, Philip Davies.

“Franchised public transport is delivered in a tightly-regulated environment with clear performance targets and contracts regularly reviewed to ensure competition delivers the best result for the commuters and taxpayers.

“Governments would still own the infrastructure and have responsibility for important decisions such as network planning, investment in new infrastructure, fare prices and timetabling.

“They would also be able to hold private operators to account with clear performance targets and penalties for poor service,” said Mr Davies.

“The billions of taxpayers’ dollars this could save should then be reinvested into the public transport system to deliver new trains and buses, station upgrades or additional capacity on our networks.

“Franchising has been successfully operating in Melbourne for almost 20 years, providing reliable transport at governmentregulated prices.

“While it has not been without its challenges, franchising Melbourne’s tram and heavy rail services has delivered better services for commuters.

“Customer satisfaction with Melbourne’s tram and train services is at a 15-year high. Performance targets for private operators have driven clear improvements in punctuality with, for example, on-time running for Melbourne Metro improving by 7.1 percentage points since 2009.

“Customer Focused Franchising would allow state and territory governments to invest more money in delivering public transport and enable all Australians to benefit from world class infrastructure.

“There is an important role for the Australian Government to play in encouraging the states and territories to embark upon public transport reform under the Customer Focused Franchising model.

“Introducing franchising is a complex process. Getting it right is contingent on the structure and delivery of each contract.

“It’s important for governments to learn from past experience and ensure contracts are appropriate for the context,” Mr Davies said.

CASE STUDY

NOVOMESH® 950 FIBRES DELIVER THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR TSRC STORMWATER DRAINS Stretching some 41 kilometres from Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa in the east to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west, the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will not only significantly reduce travel times to and from Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley areas of South-East Queensland, it will also provide a much needed heavy vehicle freight link between the Port of Brisbane and the Darling Downs region - one of the nation's most productive agricultural areas.

Funded on an 80:20 funding split arrangement between the Australian and Queensland Governments, the project is being delivered by Nexus Infrastructure Pty Ltd using a Public Private Partnership delivery model. The project, which is being simultaneously constructed along three sections (East, Central and West), incorporates: • a 4-lane highway (2 lanes in each direction)

14 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

• an 800m-long viaduct built over the existing Queensland Rail rail line, connecting the Lockyer Valley and the Toowoomba Range escarpment • 7 major interchanges / connections with existing roads and highways • a 30m-deep cutting at the top of the Toowoomba Range The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing traverses some extremely challenging terrain.

Not surprisingly, the combination of rugged, extremely hilly terrain and the region's humid, subtropical climate have made the management and control of stormwater run-off a major priority for the project - both during and after construction.

In keeping with this focus on stormwater management, the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing also incorporates the construction of a network of concrete-lined longitudinal stormwater drains along much of its alignment.

Constructed with an average width of 4 metres (in some sections the drains are up to 6 metres wide), the stormwater drain network is in itself a major construction undertaking.

Indeed, almost 30,000 lineal metres of the drains are being constructed along the East project section alone - and many of these traverse some of the steepest terrain along the project's alignment.

When it came to selecting an appropriate concrete mix design for the drains, durability was a major consideration - especially along the sections with steeper gradients where the concrete would have to be able to withstand scouring by rapid flows of stormwater.

CASE STUDY

Another major advantage of NOVOMESH® 950 fibres is the significant reduction in weight that they offer when compared to traditional steel fibres. As an example, using steel fibres to produce the concrete mix required to meet Nexus' performance specifications for the longitudinal drains would have required the addition of some 60kg of steel fibres for each cubic metre of concrete. By comparison, the required quantity of NOVOMESH® 950 synthetic fibres to meet the performance specifications is only 7kg - a fraction of the weight of the steel fibres.

Together with the substantial transport savings associated with this 88% reduction in material weight, the NOVOMESH® 950 fibres also provide a significant improvement in manual handling and OH&S conditions without any compromise in mix performance or finishability.

In fact, the NOVOMESH® 950 fibre mix has been so successful in the East project section longitudinal drains, that it is now also being utilised in some other sections along the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project.

For further information please contact: Propex Concrete Systems, T:02 9965 3792.

To overcome this challenge, the team from Holcim - who are supplying the concrete for the drains along the East project section recommended a mix containing NOVOMESH® 950 High Performance Polypropylene Fibres from Propex Concrete Systems for a number of the drain sections. Holcim worked with Propex Concrete Systems to develop a mix that met the specific performance requirements for the project and produced some test pours for Nexus. Following the success of these initial tests, a decision was made to use the NOVOMESH® 950 MIX for approximately 7,000 lineal metres of the longitudinal drains.

NOVOMESH® 950 incorporates both Structural Synthetic and Polypropylene fibres to deliver a range of benefits to the concrete in both the plastic and hardened state, including: outstanding post-crack performance; a reduction in shrinkage and settlement cracking; and a significant improvement in both impact, shatter and abrasion resistance - making it ideal for the concrete-lined drains.

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 15

COVER STORY

TAKING

PERFORMANCE TESTING

to the Next Level A

crash test into a safety barrier,

vehicle and vehicle component design,

whether to European or American

structural design and material analysis,

standards, is simply one set of

through to hydrological analysis, plant

statistics from a test. This is important data but

propagation and audio design. FEA is

very expensive to obtain; one crash test can

today a widely used tool, firmly embedded

cost anywhere between $50,000 to $500,000.

within a framework of standards, particularly

In the past 20 years, increases in computer

in Europe.

hardware capacities and speeds, together costs, have seen a significant shift towards

VALIDATION: A MEASURE OF COMPETENCE

the use of computer modelling to supplement

Many companies around the world use the

the actual crash test data in both vehicle

Finite Element program LS-Dyna. GDTech has

design and safety barrier design.

some 80 LS-Dyna licences, providing it with

with decreases in hardware and software

Belgian company Global Design

a huge capacity to model a range of possible

Technologies (better known as GDTech) has

critical scenarios in-series. This capacity

been working with the University of Liege and

enables better predictive accuracy.

European software giant Samtec to provide

The predictive accuracy against

Finite Element (FE) modelling services to the

the actual crash test data

aero-space industry since 1998 and highway

is validated against a

safety barrier industry since 2002.

standard range of

GDTech has been at the forefront of

calculations.

modelling using Finite Element Analysis

(Refer Box

(FEA) in a diverse range of industries, from

Out).

16 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

COVER STORY

CRITERIA FOR A SUCCESSFUL ROAD SAFETY BARRIER CRASH TEST Two for the structural adequacy: • Criteria A: Test article should contain and redirect the vehicle or bring the vehicle to a controlled stop; the vehicle should not penetrate, under-ride, or override the installation although controlled lateral deflection of the test article is acceptable.

• Criteria D: Detached elements, fragments, or other debris from the test article should not penetrate or show potential for penetrating the occupant compartment, or present undue hazard to other traffic, pedestrians, or personnel in a work zone

Four for the occupant risk: • Criteria F: The vehicle should remain upright during and after collision. The maximum roll and pitch angles are not to exceed 75 degrees • Criteria G: It is preferable, although not essential, that the vehicle remain upright during and after collision • Criteria H: Occupant impact velocities (OIV) should satisfy the following limits, longitudinal and lateral = 30ft/s (9,1m/s) preferred, 12,2m/s maximum.

• Criteria I: The occupant ride down acceleration should satisfy the following limits, longitudinal and lateral 15g preferred, 20g maximum.

By 2006 GDTech had a substantial number of tools calibrated and validated against a wide variety of European crash test data.

At the time, some manufacturers were requesting simulations prior to testing, to increase the probability of a successful result when the product was tested.

The three key predictive outcomes of interest were: a) will the barrier contain the vehicle? and if it does b) will deflection of the barrier be within allowable limits? and

c) will the acceleration felt by the vehicle occupants be within allowable limits?

GDTech were very successful at predicting these out-comes for European barrier systems.

In 2008, some North American manufacturers requested predicative modelling on their roadside barriers. Thus, GDTech’s expertise expanded to include both the NCHRP350 test standard and the MASH test standard.

Not surprisingly, by this time, FE modelling was widely regarded as a highly effective tool to increase roadside hardware performance and/or reduce the costs of manufacture.

CERTIFICATION: PRACTICAL MODELLING Whilst simulation was initially primarily used as a tool to help manufacturers design and optimise products to pass crash tests, in recent years Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has become an incredibly valuable tool in the expansive investigation of in-situ conditions.

Not every site condition resembles test conditions. In fact, very few sites resemble test conditions.

Using FEA, a multiplicity of variables (angle of impact, mass, speed, curvature, camber, friction, grade, crossfall of pavement and median, post spacing, etc.) can be rigorously numerically assessed for the worst combination of conditions by modelling and assessing all relevant scenarios.

Certification is the process of taking a validated model and introducing some variable to the model (different soil stiffness,

different fence alignment, etc.) to assess and predict performance. Each scenario can be tested to determine critical design aspects at a given site.

In Europe, guidelines defining the way in which numerical models are checked compared to the real crash test, are laid out in document TR16303.

The two basic elements necessary to allow numerical certification of modifications to a product allowed by the European Standard EN1317 are: i. the product has passed all the necessary crash tests; and ii. a numerical validation of the FE model simulation reproduces the results of the successful crash tests.

With those two criteria satisfied, the proven FE model can be adapted to allow for modifications and/or the specific site conditions. Typically, these adaptations are to allow for modification of a component shape, certifying family of products, change of the soil strength, curvature of barrier, slightly different heights of barrier, post spacing, road speed, expansion joint location, design of transitions, acoustic wall design, load transfer to bridge decks, or adaptation of the connections between a TMA and truck.

Paul Hansen, Managing Director of road safety engineering and equipment specialists LB Australia and if3, explained: “With roadside barrier systems, calculation and verification of optimal performance under a range of site conditions and impact variables is of paramount importance.”

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 17

COVER STORY

FE MODELLING & ANALYSIS Finite Element (FE) modelling is scientific process.

First the material properties for each component are determined by testing (or otherwise supplied by the client to GDTech). Then each component is tested and modelled to check the material data.

“With roadside barrier systems, calculation and verification of optimal performance under a range of site conditions and impact variables is of paramount importance.”

“While crash tests provide us with the critical performance data required to ensure that a product or solution is ‘fit for purpose’ in accordance with a given test standard, these tests are, by necessity, conducted under very specific conditions – both in terms of site/installation conditions and the speed, angle and performance characteristics of the impacting vehicle.”

“Now, thanks to the expertise and computing capabilities of Global Design Technologies (GDTech), we’re able to numerically validate the crash test data and use Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to accurately predict the performance of both the barrier system and the impacting vehicle in a wide range of impact scenarios,” he said.

“The process is as accurate as the input data. This allows FE Analysis based on numerically validated and certified crash test data to not only be used to ascertain the suitability of different roadside barrier systems for specific sites, but also as a valuable crash investigation tool to reconstruct impacts at specific locations,” Paul Hansen added.

GDTech: History Since 2003, GDTech has worked on the creation of advanced and reliable numerical tools thanks to both its collaboration with customers and funds from regional and International research funding. One focus has been on enabling highway safety barrier behaviour to be better predicted. A small unit was set up to work on this problem and fourteen years later, that development process continues as more and more roadside safety products are created, new road vehicles are created and new materials are being used. The roadside barrier

18 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

modelling unit at GDTech now employs 10 engineers.

In 2012, the European authorities introduced the concept of Certification based on simulation. While this is currently only applicable for products that have slight/ moderate modifications compared to a reference product that has to be tested, it was a great step forwards in recognising the high level of reliability of simulation. There are now several modified systems being certified based on the simulation reports of GDTech.

The European National Road Authorities had identified the issues associated with safety barriers being tested in a specific manner where the superstructure is normally of fixed dimensions (for instance, post spacing is fixed) and the substructure is embedded in standard soil compacted to a certain standard; namely, that site conditions can vary greatly from the test conditions.

With that in mind, since 2015 European National Road Authorities have also been using FEA to check the performance of products which have been tested in specific installation conditions to assess (and possibly adapt the product) for performance in a range of different installation conditions.

The goal is to install products that have been tested and, if required, adapted to suit the prevailing site conditions.

For further information, please contact if3, Ph: 02 8898 1017 or visit: www.if3.com.au

GDTech works in conjunction with European Universities to test both materials and components made from the materials, allowing component data to be checked against material data.

Finally, GDTech models ‘the system’ (the assembly of components) to predict performance. The predictive tools are continually fine-tuned against actual crash test results.

ABOUT GDTECH In 1998 the European software developer Samtech established Global Design Technologies (GDTech) as a service unit for the aero-space industry.

Maintaining the strong links with the aerospace industry, in the early 2000s, GDTech became an independent company with a core business of Finite Element Analysis of structures in aeronautics and crash applications.

Recognised as a global leader in the field, GDTech now employs over 180 engineers and IT specialists and operates more than 80 LS Dyna licenses – providing it with outstanding computational capabilities (clusters > 1000Gb RAM).

The GDTech crash and dynamic team (dealing with roadside barriers) has gained an enviable reputation for excellence in the fields of performance prediction, numerical validation of a crash tests and numerical certification, as well as in their increasingly popular field of traffic accident investigation.

BUDGET FEATURE

Funding for ‘transformational’ transport infrastructure

T

he 2017-18 Federal Budget delivers what Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, calls a “transformational next step” in the Federal Government’s record investment in infrastructure; improving connectivity, productivity, and liveability in Australia’s cities and regions.

“These investments will deliver an important economic boost, creating tens-of-thousands of new jobs during construction. On completion, these projects will lift national productivity and drive economic growth,” Minister Fletcher said.

“Infrastructure is a key part of the government's plan to build a stronger and more prosperous Australia. Our investments will unlock the potential of our cities and regions by moving people and freight around the country more quickly, more safely, and more efficiently.

“We will increase the efficiency and safety of our land transport infrastructure, while strengthening the economy through better connections for Australian businesses and industries transporting products to domestic and international markets.”

Mr Fletcher said the government was delivering $75 billion in infrastructure funding and financing from 2017-18 to 2026-27 for critical airport, road, and rail infrastructure projects.

In addition, the Minister said, the budget made provision for a once-in-a-generation, $20 billion commitment to upgrade Australia's passenger and freight rail, which were critical in connecting people to jobs, and services and goods to markets.

The government’s commitment to expanding rail infrastructure is detailed in a separate article in this section of Highway Engineering Australia.

KEY INITIATIVES Bruce Highway

Minister Fletcher said strong gains continued to be made on the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program with $844 million in program savings enabling new projects to be agreed with the Queensland government.

The Commonwealth will accelerate construction on the Pine River to Caloundra, and Deception Bay Interchange sections, as well as additional safety works, including the upgrade of the Wide Bay Highway intersection.

Mr Fletcher said the impact of completed works along the highway with recent flood resilience measures, particularly across

20 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

the Yeppen Floodplain south of Rockhampton, ensured areas of Queensland were not isolated during the recent floods and essential supplies and services were able to be delivered.

Making our Roads Safer The Budget provides an extra $16 million to extend the Keys2drive program, providing around 200,000 free lessons to learner drivers.

The Government will be conducting an inquiry into the National Road Safety Strategy.

The government is also continuing to fund the Black Spot Program with $684.5 million from 2013-14 to 2020-21 so it can continue to deliver safety improvements, such as safety barriers and street lighting to sections of dangerous road that have a crash history.

The Federal Government commitment to the Roads to Recovery Program has been maintained with $4.4 billion from 2013-14 to 2020-21 for the construction, repair and upgrade of local roads.

Western Sydney Airport Minister Fletcher said the government was committed to the delivery of Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, to be operational by 2026.

“The airport is vital to deliver new aviation capacity for Sydney and the nation; and will bring better access to air travel for two million people who will be closer to Western Sydney Airport than Kingsford Smith Airport.

“This is about building more than an airport; our decision will transform the economy of Western Sydney,” said the Minister.

The government will establish a new government-owned company charged with ensuring the airport is operational by 2026. The company, to be established in the 2017-18 financial year, will have a board and management with strong private sector expertise, and will issue tenders for early works before the end of 2017.

The government will commit up to $5.3 billion of equity to this company, to be invested over 10 years, in line with the construction schedule.

“The new airport is a significant investment for Western Sydney and will deliver net long-term benefits to the Australian economy, returning $1.80 for every dollar invested,” Mr Fletcher said.

BUDGET FEATURE

Infrastructure Australia The government will provide additional funding of $12 million over four years to Infrastructure Australia to support its future work program.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau The government is boosting resources to the Bureau, providing an additional $12 million over five years, to continue to improve aviation safety and education.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS BY STATE AND TERRITORY New South Wales

• Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan: $2.9 billion with $725 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• WestConnex: $1.5 billion plus a concessional loan of $2 billion to enable the new M5 section to be constructed in parallel with the M4 extension, with a further $720 million of the loan to be made available in 2017–18.

• Pacific Highway duplication: $5.6 billion with $710.1 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• M1 Productivity Package: $195.8 million with $60 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• NorthConnex: $412.3 million with $50 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Port Botany Rail Line Upgrade (Stage 3): $75 million with $20 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Through the Asset Recycling Initiative, the Commonwealth is also providing a total of $2.19 billion to New South Wales towards: • Sydney Metro: $1.7 billion;

• • • • • • • •

Sydney's Rail Future: $98.4 million; Parramatta Light Rail: $78.3 million; Smart Motorways: $60 million; Regional Road Freight Corridor—Princes Highway: $52.5 million; Pinch Points and Clearways: $52.2 million; Gateway to the South: $39.1 million; Regional Road Freight Corridor—Newell Highway: $78.8 million.

Regional Road Freight Corridor—New England Highway: $30.3 million; and • Regional Road Freight Corridor—Mitchell Highway: $5.6 million.

Victoria • The Budget provides additional funding for Victoria, with more than $1 billion for new and upgraded infrastructure, utilising funding previously allocated to the Asset Recycling Initiative. This includes: o $195 million—Gippsland Rail Line Upgrades; o $100 million—Geelong Rail Line Upgrade; o $100 million—North East Rail Line Upgrade; o $95 million—Avon River Bridge Upgrade; o $30 million—development of the business case for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link; o $20 million—additional funding for upgrades on the Murray Basin Rail line; and o $10 million—Shepparton Line Planning Study.

• Tullamarine Freeway Widening (Section 1): $200 million with $112 million to be provided in 2017–18 to continue work on the 5.5 kilometres from Melrose Drive to the Melbourne Airport.

ENFORCEMENT TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHTING CONTROL STRATEGIC DETECTION

HIGHWAY MONITORING & INCIDENT DETECTION AGD SYSTEMS PTY LTD. 17/15 Valediction Road Kings Park NSW 2148 Australia

T: +61-2-9653-9934 F: +61-2-9653-9935 E: sales@agd-systems.com.au W: agd-systems.com.au

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 21

BUDGET FEATURE

• Western Highway—Ballarat to Stawell Duplication: $499.4 million with $77 million to be provided in 2017–18 to duplicate a further 12.4 kilometres from Buangor to Ararat.

• Princes Highway West—Winchelsea to Colac Duplication: $181.7 million with $46 million to be provided in 2017–18 to duplicate a further 9 kilometres from Warncoort to Colac East.

• Princes Highway East—Traralgon to Sale Duplication: $210 million with $31 million to be provided in 2017–18 to continue work west of Sale.

• Great Ocean Road: $25 million with $3 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• In late 2016, the Australian and Victorian governments agreed to the $3 billion Victorian Infrastructure Package, utilising the $1.5 billion in Australian Government funding previously paid to the now-cancelled East West Link. Under the package, the Australian Government is contributing to the following key projects: • Monash Freeway Upgrade: $500 million • Completion of the M80 Ring Road Upgrade: $350 million, taking the total Australian Government funding to $500 million.

• Rural and Regional Roads Package: $345 million, including an additional $25 million to continue the upgrade of the Great Ocean Road • Murray Basin Rail: $220 million, taking the total Australian Government funding to $240 million.

• Urban Congestion Package: $85 million, including construction of the O'Herns Road Interchange.

Minister Fletcher said the Australian Government remained committed to the scrapped East West Link and its offer of $3 billion still stood.

“We are ready to deliver the project should any Victorian Government decide to proceed.”

Queensland • Bruce Highway: Australian Government is committing to provide funding of $6.7 billion with $552 million to be provided in 2017–18, including new projects announced in the Budget: o Bruce Highway- $530 million to accelerate planning and construction works between Pine River and Caloundra; o Bruce Highway—$182.6 million for additional safety works; o Bruce Highway -$120 million for the Deception Bay Interchange upgrade; o Bruce Highway—$11.2 million for the Wide Bay Highway/Bruce Highway intersection upgrade.

• Gateway Upgrade North: up to $914.2 million with $267.5 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Toowoomba Second Range Crossing: Up to $1.137 billion with $248 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Warrego Highway—Toowoomba to Miles: $508 million with $219 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• M1 Pacific Motorway—Gateway Merge at Eight Mile Plains: $105 million with $34 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• M1 Pacific Motorway—Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes: $110 million with $20 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Ipswich Motorway—Rocklea to Darra: $200 million with $78.5 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Cape York Region Package: $208.4 million with $54.3 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor: $147 million with $38.7 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Northern Australia Roads Program: up to $223.8 million for projects to be delivered in Queensland, with $37.3 million to be provided in 2017–18.

22 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

• Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2: $95 million with $31.6 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Northern Australia Beef Roads Program: up to $56.9 million for projects to be delivered in Queensland, with $26 million to be provided in 2017–18.

South Australia • North-South Corridor—Northern Connector: $708 million with $233.8 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• North-South Corridor—Darlington interchange: $496 million with $198.7 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• North-South Corridor—Torrens Road to River Torrens: $400.5 million with $105.0 million in 2017–18.

• Flinderslink: $42.7 million with $36.3 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands: $85 million with $23.8 million to be provided in 2017–18.

Tasmania • Midland Highway: $400 million with $96.5 million to be provided in 2017–18. This will enable the completion of two projects and allow three further projects to commence construction in 2017–18, including the Perth Link Roads project that has been brought forward by two years.

• Freight Rail Revitalisation: $59.8 million with $12.8 million to be provided in 2017–18.

Australian Capital Territory In the 2016 Federal election, the Australian Government committed $3 million towards the Monaro Highway Widening and Pialligo Road Duplication planning projects.

Through the Asset Recycling Initiative the Commonwealth is also providing a total of $67.1 million to the ACT for Capital Metro.

Northern Territory • Northern Territory Roads Package: $77 million with $15.7million to be provided in 2017–18.

• National Highway Upgrade Program: up to $20 million with $11.4 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Regional Roads Productivity Package: $90 million with $15.1 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Northern Australia Roads Program: up to $192.2 million for projects to be delivered in the Northern Territory, with $94.9 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• Northern Australia Beef Roads Program: up to $30.0 million for projects to be delivered in the Northern Territory, with $13.0 million to be provided in 2017–18.

• In the 2016 Federal election, the Australian Government committed $29.5 million towards the Barneson Boulevard and Tiger Brennan Drive Stage 3 project, with $3.7 million to be provided in 2017–18.

The Northern Territory will also receive a share of the $100 million election commitment to the Outback Way.

Northern Australia Regional Program • Northern Australia Roads Program: $600 million with $188 million to be provided in 2017–18 across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

• Beef Roads Program: $100 million with $45 million to be provided in 2017–18 across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

• $5 billion concessional loan facility for development of Northern Australia.

BUDGET FEATURE

Fast tracking transformational rail projects

A

$20 billion investment in rail being delivered by the Australian Government will cut congestion in cities, grow the regions and create thousands of new jobs, according to Paul Fletcher – the Minister for Urban Infrastructure.

Minister Fletcher said a long-term investment in passenger and freight rail would boost the national economy.

He said the key components of the package included: • A $10 billion National Rail Program for urban and regional passenger rail projects that reduce travel times, connect people to jobs and provide families and businesses with affordable options on where to live and invest; • An additional $8.4 billion to build the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail – a dedicated high productivity rail freight corridor that will help save lives by removing freight from roads; • Other commitments to rail in the 2017-18 Budget: o $792 million for Perth Metronet; o $500 million to upgrade regional rail networks in Victoria; o $30 million towards development of a business case for Melbourne Airport Rail Link; o $20.2 million for Murray Basin Rail building on the government’s previous commitment, and o $20 million to progress business cases for faster rail connections between major cities and surrounding regional centres.

Mr Fletcher said the $10 billion commitment to a transformational National Rail Program for rail projects would progress the Government's Smart Cities agenda “It recognises that urban rail projects have the capacity to be cityshaping by providing opportunities for urban regeneration, unlocking land for affordable housing and promoting better integration between land use and transport planning.

“There are several once-in–a-generation, city-shaping rail projects around the country at different stages of development. These projects have long planning and construction lead times, with high capital costs.

“The government will continue to work with state governments early in the planning process to ensure that Commonwealth funding is targeted to support these high priority projects.

“Commonwealth funding for these projects will be linked to a tailored package of funding and financing measures for each project to ensure the appropriate balance of Commonwealth, state and private funding and financing is leveraged.”

Minister Fletcher said the National Rail Program provided regional Australia with a fair share of the $10 billion commitment to deliver faster, more reliable rail connections both between regional cities and capitals, and within regions themselves.

“Better rail services have the potential to completely transform our regional communities, allowing easier access to jobs, health services and affordable housing.”

The government's initial focus will be regional rail in Victoria, with an additional $500 million in the 2017-18 Budget to build a better regional rail network with improvements to the North-East Line, the Gippsland Line and the Geelong Line, as well as undertaking a study into improving the Shepparton Line.

The government recognised, according to Mr Fletcher, the important role that rail could play in connecting capital cities and regional centres.

“These connections provide a means to rejuvenate regional centres while mitigating population growth pressures in our major

cities including congestion, housing affordability, job accessibility and liveability.

“Under the Budget's Faster Rail initiative, the government has committed $20 million to support the development of up to three formal business cases for faster rail connections between our major cities and regional centres. It will call for submissions from state governments and the private sector later this year.

“The business cases will then be considered for potential project funding in future years.”

The Government has committed to finance the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project through an additional $8.4 billion equity investment in the Australian Rail Track Corporation and a public private partnership for the most complex elements of the project.

Inland Rail will provide a high-capacity freight link between Melbourne and Brisbane through regional Australia to better connect products to domestic and international markets.

“The Inland Rail project will drive national productivity and reduce the number of trucks in our cities and on our regional roads,” said Mr Fletcher.

“The project will sustain thousands of jobs, with up to 16,000 direct and indirect jobs to be supported at the peak of construction.

“The 126-kilometre section from Toowoomba to Kagaru, including large scale tunnelling, will be delivered through a Public Private Partnership.

“Under this delivery arrangement, the private sector will design, build, finance and maintain this section of the railway over a longterm concession period.”

The Minister said the funding arrangements would provide effective risk management and harness innovative design solutions for the biggest Commonwealth rail construction project since the transcontinental rail link across the Nullabor Plains was finished 100 years ago.

“Inland Rail is a national project that provides an opportunity for the states and the Commonwealth to work together to drive the nation's prosperity through regional development and strategic transport investment. Construction of this transformational project will start this year.”

The government has committed nearly $900 million towards planning and land acquisition.

Minister Fletcher said Infrastructure Australia's Infrastructure Priority List made a clear case for the need for further investment in public transport and freight rail across Australia.

“That is why the government is already partnering with State Governments early in the planning process to progress transformative rail projects.”

In Queensland, the Government has committed funding to progress planning for Cross River Rail. In New South Wales, it is partnering with the Berejiklian Government to investigate rail options for Western Sydney to connect the future Western Sydney Airport to population and jobs centres, and unlock affordable housing, and further investment in the region.

The commitments build on Australian Government funding for significant rail projects, such as Gold Coast Light Rail in Queensland, the Forrestfield Airport Link in Perth, Flinders Link in Adelaide, Capital Metro in Canberra, and the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal in Sydney.

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 23

ROAD SAFETY

SA takes tough stand on drug driving The South Australian Government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to drug driving, with legislation before the state’s Parliament proposing an immediate loss of licence for first time offenders.

South Australian Road Safety Minister, Peter Malinauskas, said around 22 per cent of drivers or riders killed on South Australian roads tested positive for cannabis, methylamphetamine or a combination of these drugs.

The proposed new laws include an automatic three-month license disqualification for first time offenders along with increased disqualification periods for repeat offenders.

“Drug drivers have become a growing safety risk on our roads, and these new laws send a clear message about the seriousness of these offences,” Minister Malinauskas said.

“Drug drivers put themselves and innocent road users at risk, and this behaviour will simply not be tolerated.”

There is also an increasing number of drivers testing positive for drugs who have a child in their car.

Recognising the seriousness of this trend, Mr Malinauskas said, the government was moving to introduce a new offence of drug/high-level drink driving with a child under the age of 16 present.

If found guilty, offenders face loss of licence until assessed to be non-dependent on drugs or alcohol.

Under the proposed new rules, people caught behind the wheel while suspended for drug driving will also face increased penalties and the possibility of imprisonment.

Proposed new penalties include: • a three-month licence disqualification for a first drug driving offence, along with an increase to the court-imposed disqualification period.

• an increased licence disqualification period for repeat drug driving offences: - Second offence – not less than 12 months (currently not less than six months) - Third offence – not less than two years (currently not less than one year) - Subsequent offence – not less than three years (currently not less than two years)

24 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

• any driver detected drug or drink driving (0.08 BAC and above) with a child aged under 16 in the car will need to undergo a drug or alcohol dependency assessment before a licence can be reissued.

• offenders who have lost their licence for drug driving and are caught driving unlicensed, will face penalties of up to $5000 or one year imprisonment and license disqualification of no less than three years.

Commissioner for Victim’s Rights, Michael O’Connell, said road traffic crashes were unexpected, sudden, and violent.

“Despite the reduction in fatal road crashes, crashes are still too common a cause of death and injury. The cost of the resultant road trauma is huge,” said Mr O’Connell.

“When a person drug drives or drug rides, the probability of a crash and subsequent death and injury is significant.

“Victims of road trauma might suffer intense grief, psychological harm and other mental health issues, as well as reductions in quality of life. The burden on family left to care for the injured can be immense.”

Focus on advanced braking systems for motorcycle safety Consulting started on 25 May on options to improve the safety of motorcycle riders through the greater use of advanced braking systems.

The Advanced Motorcycle Braking Systems for Safer Riding early assessment Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) analyses options to improve safety for motorcycle riders by increasing the use of advanced braking systems.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said there was strong evidence that the systems were amongst the most effective options available to manufacturers for improving motorcycle safety.

“Motorcycling has a significant range of benefits, including recreation, ease of commuting in congested areas and low-costs,

and most riders are very capable and safe users of our roads,” said Minister Chester.

“However, if we can find ways to improve road safety – particularly for new and returning riders – that will pay dividends for all motorists.

“With an increasing number of new and returning novice level motorcycle riders, it is timely for the government to look at the latest technology available and how it can help keep riders as safe as possible.

“In line with the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 and following a discussion paper issued last year, the Australian Government has released an early assessment RIS to examine the options more closely.

“The RIS identifies advanced braking systems as the most effective countermeasure available.

“Advanced braking systems include antilock braking systems (ABS) and combined braking systems (CBS). Real-world research shows these systems are up to 31 per cent effective at reducing trauma related crashes.”

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, said in line with major overseas markets, the RIS identifies international standards for ABS and CBS that could be adopted through the Australian Design Rules.

“Over a 10-year period, this option would provide a net benefit to Australia of $1.62 billion and save 587 motorcyclist lives,” Mr Fletcher said.

“What this means for all Australians is reduced strain on our communities and emergency services, as well as a reduction in fatalities on our roads.

“In addition, harmonising with international standards will ensure the safest vehicles are made available to Australians at the lowest cost.

“Currently an Australian motorcycle rider or passenger is faced with around 20 times the fatality risk per kilometre to that of a car occupant,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Although motorcycles represent only four per cent of registered Australian vehicles and only one per cent of kilometres travelled, riders represent 18 per cent of all road deaths and 22 per cent of hospitalisations. This costs the community around $2 billion per year.”

For more information, go to: infrastructure.gov. au/roads/motor/design/adr_comment.aspx

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.

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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:

www.a1reversingsystems.com.au or contact Davin Hamnett Ph: 0419 177 199

or A1 Reversing Systems Pty Ltd Ph: 03 9765 9444

3

The SMART MONEY in Road Safety...

is on SMART CUSHION • Less Waste

• Complete Standalone Unit

• Less Mess

• Low Maintenance

• Faster Reinstatement

• Lowest Whole Of Life Costs

• Fewer Replacement Parts

• All Steel Construction

• Temporary Or Permanent Installations

• MASH TL3 Tested

DESIGNED FOR SAFETY · Low ride down accelerations on vehicle occupants in end-on impact. · Reduced spare parts inventory: In almost 50% of all resets to date, the only replacement parts needed are two 1/4” shear bolts. · Increased crew safety: The average reset/repair time (often with just a one person crew) is 56 minutes. · Reduced call outs increase crew safety: To date there have been no call outs for side angle impacts, a similar pattern to that in the USA. · Reduced lane closure time: Fewer call outs and faster repairs keep traffic lanes open for longer · Happier motorists: Fewer lane closures, less blockages and faster repairs. · SMART DESIGN, SAFER SITES FOR ROAD CREW and SAFER MOTORING

ROAD SAFETY DESIGN AT ITS BEST The SMART CUSHION spare parts detailed record to date for the first 54 resets.

GAME CHANGER

To date 30 Smart Cushions have been impacted, one of these has been impacted 11 times. The total cost of all Spare Parts used in 54 resets is $7,438.00 at an average of $137.74 per reset.

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For further information, please contact: Paul Hansen, LB Australia Pty Ltd

Ph: 02 9631 8833 www.lbaustralia.com.au

ACRS FEATURE

CHOOSE ACRS

BECAUSE NOT ALL PRODUCT CERTIFICATION SCHEMES ARE CREATED EQUAL! When it comes to selecting construction steels, ensuring that they conform with the appropriate Australian and New Zealand Standards is critical. What's more, it's simply not enough to think that just because steel has been ordered to an Australian or New Zealand Standard that the delivered product will automatically conform with that Standard and be fit for purpose.

Increasingly, this is not the case: The product may meet the Standard; it may be supplied with documents for “an equivalent standard” (but which standard and is it really equivalent?) or; it may not meet any standard at all.

With the building products being used on construction sites now sourced globally, the importance of independent technical validation of materials conformance, and awareness of consequences of failure of these materials, has never been greater.

Unfortunately, in some instances, one of the major problems associated with the selection and use of materials that comply

ABOUT ACRS

with all relevant Australian and New Zealand Standards is one of identification or, more specifically, who or what to believe. The same applies for ‘product certification’.

ACRS MAKES IT EASY ACRS certification makes checking for compliance with the relevant Australian and New Zealand Standards easy. It demonstrates INDEPENDENTLY and EXPERTLY that the supplier consistently meets the Standards stated on the certificate.

Beyond checking the supplier’s ACRS certificate, product markings and tags, there’s no need for you to make any further checks on ACRS certified materials.

• No more checking materials properties against technical specifications; • No more checking batch numbers against the test certificates.

The bottom line... with ACRS it’s easy for your suppliers, easy for your customers and easy for you!

Established in 2000 with the support and endorsement of leading engineering and construction groups, such as Austroads, Engineers Australia, Consult Australia, Master Builders Association, and the Housing Industry Association, ACRS (Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels) has become the leader in the field of steel conformity assessment and certification to Australian and New Zealand Standards.

Indeed, with over 2,000 audits and 6,000 materials assessments now completed, ACRS is recognised locally and internationally for both its rigorous and practical scheme, and its expertise in the compliance of construction steels to AS/NZS Standards.

JAS-ANZ accredited, ACRS is a not-for-profit, independent Authority that provides expert, impartial assessment and certification that gives specifiers and customers the widest available choice of construction steel materials demonstrably compliant with Australian and New Zealand Standards.

ACRS presently certifies 62 steel mills and processors, in over 150 production locations in 17 countries.

WHAT ARE YOUR TAGS REALLY TELLING YOU? Your products may arrive with tags, but what do they really tell you?

While at first glance the example on the left may appear to tell you all you need to know (there’s even a reference to an Australian Standard) it’s missing some CRITICAL information, including the manufacturer and point of origin.

The example ACRS tag on the right provides all of the information needed and, most importantly, the validity of the certificate number and other information can be checked and verified online quickly and easily at: www.steelcertification.com

28 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

ACRS FEATURE

THE ACRS DIFFERENCE ACRS is an independent, not for profit, expert certification body formed in 2000. ACRS specialises in verification of construction steels and associated products. All ACRS auditors are fully-qualified metallurgists with many years of experience working with steels.

In addition to factory production control audits and independent testing, the ACRS scheme provides regular review and analysis of all products supplied by the certified supplier under ACRS certification. This makes matching material to conformity documentation simple and effective for the customer and for any verifier.

Another commonly encountered industry problem is mixed supply (sometimes called “shandying”), where conforming supply is declared but either only a portion of the product supplied is sourced from a compliant supplier (and the rest sourced from a noncompliant supplier), or alternatively, the material is sourced from a supplier but the product delivered does not consistently meet the Standard. By providing effective continuous review of both the manufacturer and the fabricator/ processor, ACRS certification plays a major role in reducing the risk of 'shandying'.

AREN'T TEST CERTIFICATES THE SAME THING? Test Certificates, ARE NOT the same as ACRS independent certification.

Test certificates from the supplier are simply a “snapshot” of the manufacturer’s own test results of the material on the certificate, not its regular supply.

ACRS certification demonstrates INDEPENDENTLY and EXPERTLY that the supplier manufactures consistently to the Standards stated on the certificate.

Unless you are going to check and validate EVERY single test certificate against EVERY delivery, you should check the ACRS certificates for the manufacturer and supplier instead.

For further information about the validity of certification for any materials being supplied into your project, please visit the ACRS website: www.steelcertification.com, or contact ACRS, Phone: (02) 9965 7216.

HOW DO I SPECIFY ACRS CERTIFIED STEELS? The easiest way to manage and minimise the risk of nonconforming construction steels, is to specify ACRS certified steels.

Evidence of compliance with this clause must be obtained when contract bids are received.

SUGGESTED WORDING FOR STEEL VERIFIED BY ACRS AS MEETING LONG-TERM QUALITY LEVELS TO AS/NZS 4671, OR AS/NZS 4672:

SUGGESTED WORDING FOR STRUCTURAL STEELS VERIFIED BY ACRS AS MEETING MINIMUM REQUIRED TESTING LEVELS TO AS/ NZS 1163, AS/NZS 1594, AS/NZS 3678, AS/NZS 3679.1, OR AS/ NZS 3679.2:

Steel reinforcing and steel prestressing materials for concrete shall comply with AS/ NZS 4671 or AS/NZS 4672, respectively. Where applicable, materials shall be cut and bent in accordance with the requirements of the "Material and Structural Requirements for Reinforcing Steel" clauses AS 3600 and AS 5100.5, or the "Reinforcement" Clauses of NZS 3109.

Acceptable manufacturers and processors of steel reinforcing and prestressing materials must hold a valid certificate of approval issued by the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd (ACRS), or other product certification system as shall be demonstrated to be directly equivalent to ACRS and approved as such in writing by the specifier.

Structural steels shall comply with AS/NZS 1163, AS/NZS 1594, AS/ NZS 3678, AS/NZS 3679.1 or AS/NZS 3679.2, as appropriate.

Acceptable manufacturers of structural steel must hold a valid certificate of approval issued by the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd (ACRS), or other product certification system as shall be demonstrated to be directly equivalent to ACRS and approved as such in writing by the specifier.

Evidence of compliance with this clause must be obtained when contract bids are received.

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 29

MAJOR PROJECTS

“We’re going through one of the most comprehensive environmental investigations in Victoria’s history to make sure that the West Gate Tunnel is built to the highest environmental standards.”

The EES, EPA Works Approval application and draft Planning Scheme Amendment will be on public exhibition, and open for comment until 10 July.

EES released for West Gate Tunnel Project An Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for Melbourne’s West Gate Tunnel Project was released at the end of May, giving residents throughout the city’s western region a chance to have their say.

The West Gate Tunnel will cut travel times, take trucks off residential streets and create 6,000 new jobs.

The 10,000 page EES assesses the environmental effects and benefits of the project, which include: • taking more than 9,000 trucks per day off residential streets in the inner west, as up to 67,000 vehicles use the new tunnels every day as an alternative to the West Gate Bridge; • cutting travel times by up to 20 minutes between Melbourne and the western suburbs, Geelong and Ballarat; • planting more than 17,000 trees and replacing trees that need to be removed at a ratio of more than 3:1; and • protecting the health of the community with the report finding there will not be any measurable change in the health of the community associated with the project.

Two custom-made Tunnel Boring Machines will be used to build the tunnel, shifting more than 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and soil.

Victoria’s Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, said innovative construction methods would minimise disruptions on the West Gate Freeway and Footscray Road, maintaining all lanes during peak periods throughout construction.

“We’re building the longest road tunnel Victoria has ever seen, connecting the west to the CBD and the port – and we’ll do it without closing lanes during peak periods,” Mr Donnellan said.

30 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

Concept designs for M4-M5 Link The final stage of WestConnex will provide a vital link between two of Sydney’s busiest motorways, the M4 and M5.

Concept designs of the M4-M5 Link reveal the new M4 Motorway at Haberfield will connect to the new M5 Motorway at St Peters, as well as the Iron Cove Bridge and Rozelle Interchange.

The non-stop underground western bypass of Sydney’s CBD will also have links to the ports and airport precincts.

Motorists can expect faster travel times, including: • up to 40 minutes cut from the average peak journey between Parramatta and Sydney Airport; • around 20 minutes cut from a peak hour trip between Burwood and Sydney Airport; and • around half-an-hour cut from the morning peak hour trip from Port Botany to Silverwater.

There could also be up to 10,000 fewer trucks on Parramatta Road east of Concord.

Minister for WestConnex in the New South Wales Government, Stuart Ayres, said the M4M5 Link would form a key part of Sydney’s road network.

“It will connect to projects like the future Western Harbour Tunnel and F6 extension, while also improving the liveability of local communities,” Mr Ayres said.

Construction of the M4-M5 Link is expected to start in 2018 and finished in 2023.

TBM being prepared for ForrestfieldAirport Link work Key components of a 600-tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM) have been delivered to the future Forrestfield Station, marking a milestone in the delivery of Perth’s $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link.

The $20 million machine is one of two TBMs which will each dig eight kilometres of seven-metre diameter tunnels, including under Perth Airport and the Swan River.

The heaviest components of the TBM are the 74-tonne cutter-head and 164-tonne front shield, each seven metres in diameter.

The highly-specialised machine, one of only nine of its kind in the world, was manufactured by German company, Herrenknecht. It spent nine months in China for initial assembly and testing, and arrived at Henderson in the first week of May. The TBM will be craned into the dive structure at Forrestfield and, in July, will begin its two-year journey underground to Bayswater where the rail line will spur off the Midland Line.

Western Australia’s Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, said the TBMs use new dualmode, variable-density technology, which was important, given the varied ground conditions between Forrestfield and Bayswater.

"The machines will tunnel under Perth Airport and the Swan River, reaching a depth of 25 metres, and the conditions underground on the route are incredibly diverse - ranging from sandy material to clays and rock, all under water.

"The Salini Impregilo-NRW Joint Venture has adopted the latest technology, which enables the TBM to bore through these variable soils."

Image courtesy Forrestfield Airport Link / WA Government

Crown Perth 10th–12th October 2017 www.australasianroadsafetyconference.com.au INVITING PARTNERS

If you haven’t seen Australia’s spectacular West, this is the ARSC conference for you!

The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), Austroads, ARRB Group and Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC) invite you to attend the largest road safety-dedicated conference in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2017 Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2017) will be held in Perth at the beautiful Crown complex from Tuesday to Thursday 10-12 October 2017.

With a theme of “Expanding our horizons”, ARSC2017 will showcase the regions’ outstanding researchers, practitioners, policy-makers 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 Post-Crash Care. 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. The comprehensive 3-day scientific program will showcase the latest research; education and policing programs; policies and management strategies; and technological developments in the field, together with national and international keynote speakers, oral and poster presentations, workshops and interactive symposia.

PLATINUM SPONSOR

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

ARSC2017 is expected to attract over 500 delegates including researchers, policing and enforcement agencies, practitioners, policymakers, industry representatives, educators, and students working in the fields of behavioural science, education and training, emergency services, engineering and technology, health and rehabilitation, policing, justice and law enforcement, local, state and federal government, traffic management, and vehicle safety.

DESTINATION PERTH

Perth is a beautiful contemporary city, set amidst the natural wonder of the picturesque Swan River and the world’s largest inner city park, Kings Park. It is also the gateway to the West’s iconic Margaret River wineries, white sand beaches, Rottnest Island with its unique quokka population, and bohemian ocean-side Fremantle.

Now’s the time to plan that long-considered WA holiday!

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on ARSC2017, past conferences, to submit your abstract, or to receive regular conference updates visit www. australasianroadsafetyconference.com.au or contact the Conference Secretariat on (08) 9389 1488 or ARSC2017@eecw.com.au ARSC2017 also offers unique branding opportunities for organisations in road safety and injury prevention. See the website for further details.

Registration now open

MAJOR PROJECTS

Preliminary work on Melbourne’s ‘missing link’ Work has started on what the Victorian Government describes as the “missing link” in Melbourne’s road network – the North East Link.

Victorian Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, said the project would result in reduced congestion in Melbourne’s north, east and south-east, and would create more than 5,000 new jobs.

Mr Donnellan said the North East Link would connect the Metropolitan Ring Road at Greensborough to the Eastern Freeway and EastLink.

“When we complete the ring road, you’ll be able to drive from Ringwood to Tullamarine without stopping at a single traffic light.

“We’ve listened to the community and the experts. It’s time to complete the missing link in Melbourne’s road network.”

The first $100 million for the North East Link will be used to fund critical design, planning and pre-construction work before contracts are signed in 2019.

Work on the project is being spearheaded by the expert North East Link Authority, with geotechnical investigations underway at 24 sites across Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs.

These extensive geotechnical investigations will provide valuable information about conditions, including the type and strength of rock under the ground, and the location of ground water.

Other detailed planning and engineering work will include field investigations, equipment procurement, service investigations, site establishment and upgrades to existing infrastructure.

These expert engineering, environmental and social investigations will help determine

32 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

the best design for the project, with a focus on protecting existing urban areas and minimising the impact to the environment.

Infrastructure Victoria identified North East Link as the highest priority next infrastructure project for the state.

Local residents, motorists, the freight industry and businesses will see extensive community consultation with sessions scheduled across the project area from mid-year.

Detailed design and engagement will take place throughout the year, with procurement starting next year, contracts signed in 2019, and construction beginning soon after.

For further information about the project, please visit: northeastlink.vic.gov.au

Milestone for O-Bahn City Access Project The final roof planks for Adelaide’s O-Bahn tunnel have been lowered into place, marking another milestone for the O-Bahn City Access Project.

The $160 million O-Bahn City Access Project will create a dedicated tunnel linking priority bus lanes on Hackney Road and Grenfell Street.

The final precast planks were installed on Hackney Road on 27 May, just over a-year

after main works contractor, McConnell Dowell, began construction.

In total, 423 of the planks have been used for the 670-metre dedicated bus tunnel from Hackney Road near the National Wine Centre to Grenfell Street.

The tunnel will improve travel times and reliability for Adelaide’s busiest public transport network, which is used by more than 31,000 people each weekday.

Other milestones for the project include: • all excavation works completed for the tunnel; • around 91 per cent of approximately 13,500 cubic metres of concrete has been placed; • 491,000 construction hours have been worked to date; • 2,000 tonnes of high quality steel billet sourced from the Whyalla steelworks for reinforcing steel on the project has been placed; • installation of priority bus lanes on Hackney Road; • realignment of East Terrace to improve safety and traffic flows; and • construction of a shared use bridge across the River Torrens Approximately 450 South Australian jobs are being supported over the life of the project, which is expected to be complete by late 2017, weather permitting.

South Australia’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said the O-Bahn City Project was still on budget and on schedule to finish by the end of this year.

“Already we have seen some of the benefits of this project, even during the construction phase, with the creation of the priority bus lanes on Hackney Road,” Minister Mullighan said.

“The most significant benefits for both buses and the more than 79,000 vehicles using this part of the Inner Ring Route will be evident when the tunnel opens.

“By removing buses from the rest of the traffic we will not only give our most popular public transport network a better run, but we will also remove more than 1,000 buses each week day from the road corridor, freeing up space for more cars.”

Image courtesy SA DPTI

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

Intelligent Transport Systems News and Feature Articles

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

AUSTRALIAN GUIDELINES

FOR AUTOMATED VEHICLE TRIALS Australian governments are taking steps to move to a new era of mobility, with the launch of national guidelines for trials of automated vehicles.

Guidelines for trials of Automated Vehicles in Australia is a joint publication of the National Transport Commission (NTC) and Austroads.

The guidelines support state and territory road agencies in providing exemptions or permits for trials, and give greater certainty to industry on conditions for trials.

Chief Executive of the NTC, Paul Retter, said the guidelines were designed to be flexible and easy for industry to use, to support trials across Australia.

“We have worked closely with vehicle manufacturers, technology developers and federal, state and territory governments to ensure our approach to trials is nationally-consistent and reflects best practice,” Mr Retter said.

“With a range of different environmental conditions, a receptive population and now guidelines for the safe conduct of trials, Australia has the potential to become a global testing and innovation hub for automated vehicles.”

Mr Retter said industry would have enormous flexibility in the type of trials that can be run – they simply need to address some key issues. These include having: • a clear scope of operations; • a safety management plan that addresses risks; and • appropriate insurance.

Trialling organisations will also need to provide data from trials to road transport agencies, including details of any crashes.

“This approach allows industry to innovate – they just need to demonstrate that they are managing the risks, including any risk to other road users,” Mr Retter said.

State and territory governments are also reviewing their exemption powers to ensure they have appropriate powers to support trials.

Nick Koukoulas, Chief Executive of Austroads, said the guidelines drew on international best practice and had a strong focus on safety.

“By establishing a performance-based framework to support on-road trials, these guidelines aim to assure the Australian community that roads are being used safely,” Mr Koukoulas said.

“We’re looking forward to the Australian public getting a first-hand view of the benefits of these new and emerging technologies.”

The release of the guidelines is the first stage of the NTC’s reform roadmap to support the deployment of automated vehicles.

Ministers agreed to the roadmap in November 2016, which includes a series of reforms to develop an endto-end regulatory system for eventual commercial deployment of automated vehicles.

The guidelines are available for download on the NTC website: www.ntc.gov.au and the Austroads website: www. austroads.com.au

34 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

USING BIG DATA TO PLAN

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT The massive amounts of Australian vehicle traffic data being collected via satellite could soon be used by the Australian, state and territory governments to plan for future investments in essential transport infrastructure.

On 27 April, Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, released the terms of reference for the Data Collection and Dissemination Plan project, with a draft plan scheduled for release within six months.

“Technology is having a transformative effect on transport and infrastructure, and the opportunities provided by data are immense,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This project – which involves the federal, state and territory governments, and representatives from the transport sector and academia – will examine how this wealth of big data information can be used to better inform the decision-making process.”

Minister Fletcher said the Australian Government was committed to utilising this emerging technology to help address the future infrastructure needs of the nation’s growing population.

“By providing information on freight routes, speeds and fleet composition, big data has the potential to improve the productive capacity of current and future transport networks.”

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) will lead the project, overseen by a Steering Group comprising industry, academia and government representatives.

The project was launched in Sydney at an event hosted by the SMART Infrastructure Facility, from the University of Wollongong. The initiative forms part of the Australian Government's response to Infrastructure Australia's Australian Infrastructure Plan.

The Terms of Reference for the development of the Data Collection and Dissemination Plan are available at: https://bitre.gov.au/data_dissemination

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

VALUE OF ITS WORLD CONGRESS BIGGER THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED Australia’s largest international association conference of 2016 proved to be much more valuable to Melbourne than first thought.

The economic benefit of the 23rd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems is now estimated to be $46.6 million - nearly twice the initial projection.

The increase is attributed to the higher than anticipated attendance figures. More than 11,500 Australian and international delegates participated – that’s 4,500 registrations more than the target figure of 7,000.

The high volume of visitors had a positive impact on the local economy with benefits felt, in particular, across hotels, transport companies, restaurants and places of interest.

The ITS World Congress is an internationally renowned annual transport technology conference, alternating between Asia Pacific, America and Europe.

Themed ITS-Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities the 2016 event in Melbourne was the largest international association conference held in Australia last year.

Brian Negus – President of ITS Australia, host of the World Congress – said selling Melbourne as a destination of choice was an important aspect of promoting the event.

“The Congress was a great success and, from an industry point of view, it showcased Melbourne’s integrated transport network, connected local industries to the global market and enabled Australian leaders to engage with international colleagues.

“From a destination perspective, we knew Melbourne would be a draw card and ensured the city’s cultural diversity, restaurants and cafés,

36 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

tourism, sporting and heritage attractions were featured. Delegates could even pet our unique animals in the exhibition centre.

“But it wasn’t just Melbourne that benefited.

After travelling a combined total of more than 36 million kilometres to come here, many visitors then made additional trips to regional Victoria and interstate.”

Delivering the ITS World Congress to Melbourne was a collaborative effort, involving many partners, including the Victorian Government, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

As Headline Partners, the Victorian Government played an active role to bring the World Congress to Melbourne. Victoria’s Minister for Roads, Road Safety and Ports, Luke Donnellan,

participated in the official opening and multiple key events.

Jacinta Allen, Minister for Transport, and Robin Scott, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, were actively engaged as was Treasurer, Tim Pallas.

Mr Pallas said the Congress was the second largest international association conference ever held in Melbourne.

“Victoria is a national and international leader in technology, transport and tourism.

“Melbourne has been voted the world’s most liveable city for six successive years and the city provides unrivalled conference facilities and exhibition spaces.

“The ITS World Congress in Melbourne made a significant economic contribution, benefiting Victorian businesses, jobs and paving the way for future opportunities.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau is responsible for bidding for and securing major international congresses and conventions for Victoria – business events that deliver an economic contribution of $9.8 billion and 65,000 jobs annually to the state.

MCB Chief Executive Officer, Karen Bolinger, said the city’s reputation as Australia’s leading business events destination had continued to go from strength to strength in recent years.

“The ITS World Congress was an effective platform for showcasing Victorian preeminence in the ITS sector on the international stage, profiling research infrastructure and organisational capabilities, highlighting policy leadership, facilitating commercial ventures and export potential, and bringing global ITS leaders

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

to Melbourne to develop new networks, share best practice and foster expertise.

“Economic contribution is a key indicator of the success of a business event; however, it is the beyond-tourism legacies, such as those that occurred from the ITS World Congress in Melbourne, that are the real indicators of the long-term impact and success of an event,” Ms Bolinger said.

The ITS World Congress showcased Melbourne’s multi-modal transport network, taking more than 650 delegates to key air, sea, road, train, tram and freight centres. Albert Park’s internationally recognised Formula One track was one of multiple locations for 3,500 booked live vehicle technology demonstrations.

The nearly 250 plenary, executive, special interest, scientific and technical sessions, 278 exhibiting partners, a Hackathon and the student and public community projects were held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

MCEC Chief Executive, Peter King, said the success of the World Congress was a clear example of why the centre is expanding its footprint by almost 25 per cent.

“The ITS World Congress took over more than 80 per cent of our venue, with the Welcome Reception spread across 16,500 square metres of space.

“It is a terrific example of the type of major business events that come to Melbourne, which not only fill our venue but infiltrate the entire city of Melbourne.

“At MCEC, we host over one thousand events each year and welcome more than two million visitors through our doors, while turning away almost 20 per cent of business because we are operating at capacity.

“This expansion will allow us to attract new events to Melbourne and allow existing customers to grow their events.

“Our award-winning venue infrastructure and delivery capabilities are a key factor when major events like the ITS World Congress choose to host their event in Melbourne, and our expansion will certainly add to this global reputation,” Mr King added.

With Australia not expected to host another World Congress for several years, ITS Australia Chief Executive, Susan Harris said it was important to maximise the opportunity and build a legacy.

“The World Congress put Australia on the transport technology map and shone the spotlight on our position as global leaders.

“A number of industry opportunities, partnerships and initiatives are now underway and, over the next few years, we expect to see more World Congress benefits realised, which will positively impact industry and consumers with safer, more efficient and sustainable transport options.”

ITS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL AWARDS –

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL WINNER GOES TO HONG KONG 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China.

Commemorative events will take place during the 15th ITS Asia Pacific Forum and Exhibition and, there to witness them, will be Benjamin Hanly, Project Engineer at SICE. Ben Hanly will be in Hong Kong courtesy of ITS Australia, one of the benefits of winning last year’s ITS Australia National Awards, Young Professional Award.

The event was held at the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground where Victoria’s Treasurer, Tim Pallas, made the opening address to more than 100 members of the transport technology industry.

Ben said being nominated was an opportunity to learn more about the industry.

“I was able to hear about and witness the new developments and major projects happening within Australia. It gave me a great sense of achievement because of all the hard work I had put into the projects I had been part of.”

The Award was Ben’s ticket to Hong Kong and an opportunity to broaden his horizons and networks.

“International exposure helps me think differently about problems, and how we need to find the best solutions by looking at how others have solved them. I am hoping to see new ideas and technologies that I can bring back to Australia.

I would not have had this opportunity without the support of ITS Australia and my organisation.”

ITS Australia President, Brian Negus, who presented the award said the ITS industry offered young people long and exciting careers.

“Ben is an example of young talent being given an opportunity to thrive by being involved in key projects and introduced to industry networks.

“Because ITS is innovation based, the industry is constantly evolving, making it an ideal career path for the next generation.”

Ben is one of a growing number of intelligent, articulate and capable next generation ITS professionals. A student at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Ben joined SICE in 2014 as an Intern Project Engineer.

While continuing to balance work and study, he played a significant role as a team member of the WestConnex project, despite being the youngest engineer among SICE’s 20 employees and probably among the hundreds of professionals involved in the project.

More than a half of SICE Australia’s 45 engineers are under the age of 35, with 10 of them 30 years old or under. Yosu Zubizarreta, Director Business Development, SICE Pty Ltd said the organisation actively supported young talent.

“The message Ben’s success sends is that SICE can help them in their career at a very early stage, but more importantly, it tells them SICE cares about their future.”

Hosted annually, the ITS Australia National Awards is one of the highlights of the intelligent transport systems calendar and an opportunity to recognise industry excellence.

Now in its eighth year, the 2017 Presentation Night Dinner will be held at The Pavilion, Arts Centre Melbourne. Categories include Industry, Government, Automated Vehicle, Research, Lifetime Achievement (Max Lay Award) and Young Professional.

ITS Australia Chief Executive, Susan Harris, said the Committee was particularly keen to see more next generation transport technology professionals recognised.

“Our industry is about innovation, initiatives, growth and development. The young men and women currently entering or in ITS are shaping future safety, efficiency and sustainable transportation solutions. They will influence liveability in cities and communities. Their contribution is significant and they deserve to be recognised.

“We encourage ITS organisations and managers to consider their young team members and nominate them for this year’s Award. The 2017 winner will also be invited to the 16th ITS Asia Pacific Forum in Fukuoka, Japan, 2018,” Ms Harris said.

To nominate for the ITS Australia National Awards, visit www.its-australia.com.au

Ben Hanly, Project Engineer at SICE, receives the ITS Australia Young Professional Award from ITS President Brian Negus.

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 37

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

DRIVING UPTAKE OF ELECTRIC CARS IN AUSTRALIA

An industry-led organisation representing and coordinating the broader electric vehicle industry in Australia has been launched in Canberra.

The Electric Vehicle Council represents companies involved in providing, powering and supporting electric vehicles. Its members sell over 350,000 new vehicles per year in Australia, and have over six million Australian customers.

Speaking at the council’s launch on 22 May, Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, said the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), would provide a $390,000 grant to Climateworks to support the uptake of electric vehicles.

Minister Frydenberg said the grant was being made as part of the Australian Government’s technology neutral approach to emissions reduction.

“Increasing the uptake of electric and lower emissions vehicles is an important part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce emissions.

“Passenger vehicles account for around 10 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, which means if we can reduce emissions in this area, it can help us meet our targets under the Paris Agreement.

“The uptake rate of electric vehicles in Australia is around 0.1 per cent of new vehicle sales and is projected to increase to 0.3 per cent by 2020, and 15 per cent by 2030 as electric vehicles become more price competitive.

“This would result in more than 12,000 electric vehicles registered in Australia by 2020, and around one million by 2030.”

The Electric Vehicle Council’s Chair, Behyad Jafari, said the market for electric vehicles included significant opportunities to deliver economic investment, innovation and environmental sustainability.

38 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

“While the global industry grows exponentially each year, Australia continues to miss out. In the next 12-months, almost one million electric vehicles are projected to be sold, with more than $50 billion invested in the industry over the last 10 years,” he said.

“Addressing the barriers preventing the mass uptake of electric vehicles in Australia requires a consistent and collaborative effort across a range of sectors.

“In addition to introducing vehicle emission standards, key policy measures include incentivising electric vehicle purchase in the short term as the technology works to meet price parity through upfront incentives and taxation measures, as well as establishing a recommended roadmap for national public charging infrastructure.”

ClimateWorks Australia Head of Implementation, Scott Ferraro, said the funding from ARENA would support a broader effort to educate and engage Australians about electric vehicles.

“This funding will enable us to work with the Electric Vehicle Council to provide more information about electric vehicles to Australian consumers and undertake research on the best policies to drive greater uptake of electric vehicles.

“The council will also publish a state of electric vehicles report annually so we can monitor progress on the transition of the Australian fleet.”

Mr Ferraro said electric vehicles provided a significant range of environment, economic and social benefits.

“When powered by renewable energy, electric vehicles are zero emission vehicles. This will help us meet our emission reduction targets faster and at lower cost, and can reduce impacts from air pollution in our cities.”

FIRST DIGITAL BUS STOP OPERATIONAL IN ADELAIDE Adelaide’s first digital bus stop was installed in the last week of April, allowing passengers to see when the next bus will arrive.

The bus stop features digital signage displaying real-time information on the next services, sourced from Adelaide Metro’s state-of-the-art Bluetooth monitoring systems.

It is a joint Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, and Adelaide City Council initiative and harnesses the same technology used by the Adelaide Metro metroMATE app.

That app. provides up-to-the-minute details of service arrivals, including pinpointing the location of buses, trains and trams on an interactive map.

Static geographic information including landmarks and street names are also included on the bus stop, as well as directions for linking up to other public transport services of popular destinations.

Bus stop W on the southern side of Grote Street, next to the Hilton Hotel and near the Central Markets, was the first to go digital.

Another two digital bus stops are planned for the city through this partnership - one at Stop V2 King William Street (west side near Waymouth Street) and one at Stop Z1 King William Road (adjacent Parliament House).

Adelaide Metro will investigate rolling out the signs further if they are successful.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said the digital bus stop was the first of a suite of new signage designed to better serve customers.

“Already passengers can get detailed door-todoor journey information, check exactly where their train, tram or bus is on the network and find out exactly when it will arrive via the metroMATE app.

“Now they can also get information about when the next service will arrive simply by checking the digital sign at the bus stop.”

Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, Martin Haese, said the initiative would improve services for passengers and enhance the look and feel of public transport in the city.

“This is an exciting pilot project for people who travel by bus and we’re delighted that each of the stops receiving an upgrade is on the well-utilised City Connector route.

“For people from interstate or overseas who are unfamiliar with the Adelaide Metro network, this new digital bus stop means they don’t need to find a timetable, an app or a website to work out when the next bus will arrive.

“It’s the type of technology that sits comfortably alongside all of the Smart City initiatives the City of Adelaide already has in place or is developing.

“If we want to be known as a truly Smart City, this is precisely the type of public infrastructure we want to see rolled out.”

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

IMOVE CRC

APPROACHES THE STARTING GRID The iMOVE CRC is moving forward on a number of fronts and is expected to be operating officially from early July.

The new Intelligent Transport Cooperative Research Centre secured a $55 million grant earlier this year from the Australian Government to research and develop more productive and safer transport systems across Australia.

The ten-year centre will undertake industryled research that uses emerging technologies to improve transport systems nationally. These technologies will deliver fast and predictable freight systems, and enhanced mobility for Australians on the roads and using public transport.

Chief Executive Officer of the iMOVE CRC, Ian Christensen, told Highway Engineering Australia Magazine that preparations were well advanced for the completion of a consortium agreement involving the centre’s 46 participants.

“I’m confident the participants will sign the agreement by the first week in July and highly optimistic that we’ll be up and running by the middle of the month.”

Mr Christensen said the CRC members – including government, state road authorities, logistics and insurance companies, technology developers, automobile clubs, retailers and universities – were enthusiastic to push ahead.

“Some participants are already clear about what they want to achieve in cooperation with the CRC, while others are realising they have bigger opportunities than they first thought and are looking to prioritise their aspirations.

“It’s quickly become apparent to us that we need to run a range of workshops or forums to help participants lift their understanding about the landscape.

“There’s a need to improve understanding and interaction between the partners and also between the partners and the rest of the world,” said Mr Christensen.

“There’s a lot of activity going on in parallel overseas and it’s important to understand the impact that is having on technological developments in the transport sector.”

Mr Christensen said it was a priority of the CRC both to facilitate projects to allow participants to move forward, and to forge a greater understanding across industry of the state-of-play and the global opportunities that exist.

“We’re also trying to cultivate national engagement around this task because it ultimately involves more than just our partners;

40 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

it extends to many stakeholders and to the community, all of whom will benefit from the new technologies.

“We have to ensure the community has confidence in the technology and the advances it will help to bring about.”

Mr Christensen said Federal and State Governments continued to be strongly involved in the transport technology space – an involvement highlighted by a recent forum staged by the Department of Infrastructure and the Australian Logistics Council.

“The forum canvassed a range of issues associated with the logistics sector and the event clearly showed the government was enthusiastic about a range of initiatives in transport technology, and the facilitation role iMOVE CRC can play.

“State road authorities are coming together to work on issues around the adoption of automated vehicles because they believe it’s important for the community for the technology to be introduced as soon as possible.

“The authorities are keen to embrace the issues in order to deliver the benefits to the community sooner rather than later” Mr Christensen said one of the first projects the CRC would have on the drawing board would focus on what changes were needed from road operators and builders to encourage the implementation and operation of connected and automated vehicles in Australia, and in a way that was effective and accessible to the population.

“We’re looking at vehicles, at realistic prices, that would have not just automation but also the ability to ‘cooperate’ with each other to improve traffic flow and capacity on the road network.

“We’re looking for the middle ground between cost, functionality and ease of access, in order to foster the rapid uptake of the vehicles” Mr Christensen said a second priority project was focused on improving traffic management.

“However, before you can improve traffic management you have to have a measuring mechanism by which you can show how much improvement can be achieved by any proposed change.

“One of our early projects aims to establish benchmarks for how the system behaves in terms of vehicle throughput and waiting times.

“We want to assess how it behaves before changes are made and then test the effectiveness of different innovations,” Mr Christensen said.

“The project is an attempt to establish solid and reliable baseline information about how a

system works, so we can identify the worth of improvements we’re proposing.

“This is one of many projects that the CRC and its partners will get up and running in the initial months of the centre.

“What’s more, interest in the centre and its activities continues to grow, reflecting a strong desire in the community to get our transport systems to operate better. The iMOVE team has received a lot of enquiries from additional organisations seeking to get involved.

Mr Christensen said: “We aim of course to deliver the best possible value to our already signed up partners.

“Part of this is achieved by bringing together all the relevant people to solve problems. To that end we continue to also talk to new stakeholders about future possibilities.

“It’s a uniquely exciting space that involves many sectors, organisations and technology. We are keen to make sure that we capitalise on this enthusiasm for everyone’s benefit.”

Ian Christensen, Chief Executive Officer of the iMOVE CRC

On-Board Mass (OBM) System Type-Approval Applications Now Available Type-approval provides government and industry with assurance in the use of OBM Systems.

Providing a foundation to realise productivity and safety outcomes for road freight transport.

OBM System suppliers can use type-approval to set their system apart in the market through independent validation and recognition of: • quality • reliability • functionality • probity & financial standing

To find out more visit: www.tca.gov.au/truck/obms-ta Completed applications and checklist documentation received by TCA prior to 23 July will receive a 50% discount on the full cost of type-approval.

Connect with TCA Level 12, 535 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000 F +61 3 8601 4611 E tca@tca.gov.au

P +61 3 8601 4600

TCA is the national government body responsible for providing assurance in the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies. @TCA_latest

Transport Certification Australia

TCA NEWS

TCA Hosts International and Australian Experts in Connected Vehicles at Special Industry Event During June, Transport Certification Australia (TCA), hosted the Connected Vehicle Security and Standards industry event. Over seventy guests attended the fully booked event to discuss international developments to harmonise security and standards for connected and automated vehicles.

As the Australian co-lead on international Harmonisation Task Groups (HTGs) with the European Commission and the US Department of Transportation, TCA has hosted the HTG team in Melbourne.

The event provided a means for experts from Europe, the United States and Australia to communicate progress and facilitate discussion on security, trust, privacy and interoperability for Connected and Automated Vehicles – key areas that will underpin the cooperative and connected transportation network into the future.

“The speakers highlighted the benefits being derived from of a unified, cooperative and consistent approach to standardisation and security,” said TCA acting Chief Executive Officer, Gavin Hill.

“A key theme of the event was that security and harmonisation efforts require deliberate, collaborative efforts between regions, while taking local considerations into account,” he said.

Senior representatives from Australian road and transport agencies, the National Transport Commission (NTC), Austroads, the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), Roads Australia, ITS Australia, the NZ Ministry of Transport, Royal Automobile Club Victoria (RACV), Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), as well as representatives from the automotive, telematics and transport sectors were all in attendance.

“The event benefitted not only from the diversity of stakeholders, but the ability for HTG members to translate highly complex subject matter into readily understandable concepts,” Mr Hill said.

42 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

“To this end, I take this opportunity to acknowledge HTG members from Europe, the United States and Australia in taking the time to deliver presentations at the event.”

“Members of the European Commission and the USDOT acknowledged the benefits of Australia’s ongoing involvement in the harmonisation effort,” he added.

With there being few environments where security is operationally deployed in the transport sector, the National Telematics Framework provides critical learnings which are now being applied to the world of CAVs. TCA’s experience in deploying and managing a secure, operational environment has been especially valuable.

“Governments around the world are making security a priority to enable the deployment of technologies that will transform the transport network. Safety and security are one and the same for the connected vehicle world. Compromised security could threaten the safety of travellers,” Mr Hill said.

“Security is also fundamental to ensuring a commercially viable deployment. This week's event made that crystal clear,” he concluded.

To view the HTG7 presentation made at the Connected Vehicle Security and Standards industry event please visit: www.tca.gov.au/ tca/events/cav-event

TCA releases On-Board Mass (OBM) System Functional and Technical Specification Transport Certification Australia (TCA), the national government body responsible for providing assurance in the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies, recently released the On-Board Mass (OBM) System Functional and Technical Specification.

TCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chris

Koniditsiotis said, “The Specification represents a major step forward in establishing performance-based outcomes for the accuracy, integrity and performance of OBM systems which can satisfy the needs of both industry and government.

“With transport operators continuing to adopt OBM systems to manage commercial obligations, mass compliance and chain-ofresponsibility requirements, having assurance in the use of OBM systems is crucial.

“The ability to obtain assurance in the measurement of vehicle mass, as well as individual axle groups, provides a new way of managing infrastructure utilisation, and the opportunity for greater productivity and improved safety of the road network. The ability to use OBM systems to support future road access and productivity initiatives has been at the forefront of the development of the Specification,” he said.

“Consistent with the principles of the National Telematics Framework, and the Policy Framework for ITS in Australia, the availability of the Specification will minimise cost to industry and achieve consistency through performance-based open standards, while promoting competition and innovation,” Mr Koniditsiotis added.

TCA has now commenced type-approval of OBM systems against the Specification to provide transport operators with greater confidence in their use. The Specification may therefore be used in two ways: • By suppliers of OBM systems investigating and/ or planning to apply for type-approval; and • By end-users investigating and comparing different OBM systems against the Specification.

End-users will also benefit from having competition and choice in type-approved OBM systems, as they become available in the marketplace.

The move towards the Specification and type-approval of OBM systems follows considerable work by TCA in consultation

TCA NEWS

with government agencies, the OBM system, telematics and transport industries – including an in-service evaluation of OBM systems, which informed the development of the Specification through operational learnings.

“The Specification is positioned to support the need for assurance in OBM systems both locally and internationally, where the effective management of mass loadings is required to manage the safe and productive movement of vehicles and loads,” Mr Koniditsiotis said.

“It should also be noted that the Specification is consistent with current developments and proposals by the European Commission to better manage mass loadings of heavy vehicles in a cost effective, sustainable manner,” he concluded.

TCA acknowledges the breadth of stakeholders who provided valuable feedback and insights during the development of the Specification.

The Specification is available for download from the TCA website at: www.tca.gov.au/ntf/ specifications/obm-spec

Type Approval Applications Now Open for On-Board Mass (OBM) Systems Transport Certification Australia (TCA) is now accepting applications for type-approval of OBM Systems. Following the recent release of the OBM System Functional and Technical Specification, type-approval will make available to end users OBM Systems which have been independently assessed, and can deliver the assurance sought to underpin productivity and safety gains.

TCA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chris Koniditsiotis said, “TCA type-approval is more than just a technical assessment of OBM Systems, and extends to an assessment of the business standing of OBM System suppliers.

This holistic approach to type-approval delivers assurance in two critical ways.”

“Firstly, a probity and financial assessment ensures the legitimacy and financial standing of suppliers seeking type-approval of their OBM System. The outcomes of the probity and financial assessment are critical indicators of OBM System suppliers’ ability to deliver the level of business continuity and support expected by stakeholders,” he said.

“Secondly, by performing an independent assessment of OBM System ‘types’, type-approval ensures that each of the performance-based requirements contained in the OBM System Functional and Technical Specification are satisfied,” Mr Koniditsiotis added.

“The functional and technical assessment of OBM System ‘types’ focuses on performance-based outcomes, rather than prescribing technological approaches. TCA recognises that there are often many different ways to achieve an outcome, fostering innovation and best practice, and importantly, promoting competition and choice for end-users.”

“This approach is a hallmark of the National Telematics Framework, which provides a marketplace of certified services and typeapproved hardware and systems which offer assurance to industry and government alike.”

“Over time, we expect a variety of typeapproved OBM Systems to become available in the marketplace,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

“With OBM System suppliers having provided valuable input and feedback on the OBM System Functional and Technical Specification, I expect many OBM System suppliers are ready to commence the typeapproval process with TCA.” OBM System suppliers are reminded that TCA is not a testing house. The applicant’s substantiation of conformance with requirements is paramount to the speed at which type-approval can be granted by TCA. Further information on OBM System typeapproval, including the application process can be found at: www.tca.gov.au/truck/obms-ta

Telematics Industry Group Leads Engagement on New Government Initiatives Transport Certification Australia (TCA), recently hosted the Telematics Industry Group (TIG) in Melbourne.

TCA acting Chief Executive Officer, Gavin Hill, said “Over 40 leading experts from the telematics industry across the country met with TCA to receive briefings on the growing use of telematics and related intelligent technologies across government policy areas to enable public purpose outcomes.”

TIG provides a forum where TCA interacts with the telematics sector on government-led initiatives to improve the safety and productivity of transport through the use of telematics.

“The interaction we have with TIG members is highly valued. TCA can only perform its functions, and deliver the productivity, safety and efficiency reforms being led by Australian governments through the use of telematics, with the valuable interactions we gain from the telematics industry,” said Mr Hill.

The meeting included a briefing on the latest specifications developed by TCA,

including the Interconnectivity of Telematics IVU with Other Systems Functional and Technical Specification and the On-Board Mass (OBM) System Functional Technical Specification.

These new performance-based specifications focus on outcomes sought by governments, rather than prescribing technologies, and emphasise the ability to colocate applications. They join a growing library of functional and technical specifications within the National Telematics Framework.

The advantages of operating within a nationally agreed framework flow through as benefits to end-users in the form of lower costs, greater inter-connectivity, greater competition and choice, while shortening the time it takes to bring new applications to market.

TCA thanks David Mitchell, Director, Infrastructure & Corridor Analysis from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) for taking the time to meet with TIG members on a new, national initiative which will demonstrate ways to use aggregated, de-identified telematics data to better inform road infrastructure planning decisions.

The project is recognition of TCA’s national role in providing assurance, including adherence to legislative safeguards and processes to manage the collection, use and disclosure of telematics data.

“I take this opportunity to acknowledge TIG members for taking the time to attend this meeting, and their participation in discussions,” Mr Hill concluded.

To find out more about TIG, to become a member of TIG, or to view the June 2017 presentations, please visit: www.tca.gov.au/ntf/tig

TCA acting Chief Executive Officer, Gavin Hill addressing the recent Telematics Industry Group (TIG) in Melbourne.

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 43

CASE STUDY

REPLACE, REHABILITATE OR DO NOTHING? FUTURE PROOFING OUR ASSETS

unacceptably high carbon footprint which impacts on the environment and community.

Several remedial systems exist in today’s market that are designed for the small bore, non-man entry market. These are generally classified as flexible linings but are frequently offered as proxy structural solutions for larger profile culvert and tunnel repairs. Whilst these solutions can be suitable for small sections they are not always appropriate for larger remedial proposals and are nearly always limited in the lengths that they can be applied to without surface intervention which almost always means excavations from the surface.

To avoid asset usage disruptions and open cut intervention costs, culvert and pipe remediation over 1200mm require a different approach as structural integrity poses higher demands to deliver effective designs with a design life of 75 years or more.

ITS Pipetech Pty who operate nationally via their offices in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth specialise in pipe renewal and culvert

BEFORE - 3.6M TWIN CSP Why replace when you can renew?

This is a fundamental question facing our Utilities, Asset owners and Transport Infrastructure providers as our ageing infrastructure is starting to show signs of stress as it is being put to ever greater demands and critical planned maintenance programmes are sidelined in the continual drive for economies, cost savings and budget restrictions.

All pipes, culverts, tunnels and sub surface access conduits are all prone to damage and degradation and with the addition of today’s traffic and loading; factors that were never conceived at the time of the original design, planned maintenance programmes need to be developed if these assets are to remain intact and serviceable in the years to come. Regardless of how these structures were originally constructed, like the highway or rail infrastructure that they sit under, as much attention needs to be paid to the infrastructure below the surface as is above, regular work is required and from time to time major upgrading will be necessary.

The costs of replacing these assets is high and inevitably new construction causes large scale disruption and interruption to water flow and traffic service and often carries an

44 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

AFTER

CASE STUDY

These state-of-the-art remediation solutions achieve an acceptable stand-alone structural lining and avoid an open cut replacement option which avoids many of the conventional issues such as cost, impact on the community, asset uptime and the environment.

The Tunneline way

4900MM FINAL REHAB renovation throughout Australia and offer several ‘best practice’ technologies to address these issues. These state-of-the-art remediation solutions achieve an acceptable stand-alone structural lining and avoid an open cut replacement option which avoids many of the conventional issues such as cost, impact on the community, asset uptime and the environment. ITS offer a Cured in Place Pipe relining solution for pipes and

ELLIPSE WITH INBUILT FISH CHANNEL

46 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

culverts up to 1500mm (Berolina) and the reinforced steel and concrete ‘Tunneline’ solution which is designed in accordance with AS5100.2 and has been used extensively under road, rail and under a broad array of general infrastructure. ITS Pipetech have been proposing and installing Tunneline as a successful solution to the ever-increasing problem of our degenerating and aging infrastructure issues.

Tunneline is an innovative reinforced concrete lining technology developed in the UK and used extensively to upgrade and maintain crossings under roads, railtracks and waterways as well as for drainage remediation for the past 30 years.

Tunneline is a one pass operation and requires little or no pre-works to stabilise the existing host condition. It is able to line most existing profiles (circular, box, ovoid etc) and will also accommodate vertical and horizontal bends as well as size and shape transitions within the existing host structures. It can be used to line all known culvert materials in a size range from 1200 to 9000mm. Tunneline can be designed as a stand-alone structure or as a composite form, where a factor of the existing host tunnel is taken into consideration in the final design. It is designed to withstand the external ground loading and traffic loads from both road and rail under limit state conditions to AS5100 and can also be designed to cater for internal pressure loading up to 64 Bar where the conduit is used as a transit for pressurised liquids. The system is also able to line vertical shafts, tanks and chambers as well as horizontal and inclined culverts.

In terms of a comparison to conventional methodology [GRP or PVC/PE systems] Tunneline is a one stage operation and compliant with AS5100 offering quicker, stronger, and more cost effective solutions.

It is installed without having to excavate access from the surface and expensive transport costs associated with the delivery of traditionally used liners and product to site are eliminated.

In Australia, ITS have completed 22 projects with Tunneline and are currently working on another 3 totalling over 2300 LM. The size of these vary from 1200mm pipe to the largest at 5600mm and profiles have been circular, square, Oviform, elliptical and rectangular with host substrates comprising of Brick, concrete, CSP and CSU constructions.

Worldwide Tunneline has completed over 850 separate projects with over 400 Klms successfully rehabilitated.

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

AAPA FEATURE

MAJOR MILESTONE AS EME2 HITS THE MOTORWAY Wider acceptance and use of high modulus asphalt (EME2) in Australia is a step closer with its first and largest major production run, on Brisbane’s Gateway Upgrade North project.

EME2 pavements are thinner than those made with conventional asphalt due to the hard grade bitumen applied at a high binder content. EME2 is renowned for its high stiffness and durability, especially rut and fatigue resistance, which enables cost and sustainability improvements. The asphalt base layer, first used in France in the 1990s, is now commonly used in several European countries.

EME2 has become available in Australia in recent years following technology transfer from France. Previously, EME2 has been used only in limited volume applications and demonstration trials in Australia.

The Gateway Upgrade North project marks the first time EME2 has been used on a major road project in Australia, and within a design and construct project. Boral developed a complying EME2 mix design for the project and supplied the material.

The $1.14 billion Gateway Upgrade North project (between Nudgee and Deagon) is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments in an 80:20 spilt, and is being delivered by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), in partnership with Transurban Queensland. Lendlease is the main contractor for the project design and construction.

48 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

TMR and Lendlease selected EME2 on the project because of the infrastructure sustainability rating sought from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia.

Jenny McMillan, TMR Project Director for Gateway Upgrade North, said EME2 offered a range of sustainability and productivity benefits including: • Lower emissions during production by reducing throughput in the asphalt plant • Use of fewer non-renewable raw materials (such as aggregates) associated with the reduction in asphalt quantities required • Fewer trucks needed to transport the asphalt, meaning less impact on the roads, road users and the environment • Reduction in plant required onsite to construct the pavement.

The EME2 was laid on a 1700-metre section on the southbound carriageway of the Deagon Deviation (part of the Gateway Upgrade North project).

Instrumentation will be installed to enable TMR to monitor the performance of the pavement over time.

Skid resistance testing is also being undertaken to assess the suitability of trafficking EME2 during construction. A section will be gritted and subjected to traffic temporarily.

In this section, no intermediate layer will be placed on top of the EME2 as part of a trial that will also be monitored and assessed.

Consistent with overseas experience, the wearing surface will be placed directly on top of the EME2 asphalt. Not having to construct the intermediate course eliminates significant cost and time.

Part of the EME2 pavement incorporates 10 per cent Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) materials to demonstrate and help understand to what degree EME2 can provide further sustainability benefits in future.

AAPA FEATURE

Lendlease Project Director, Warren Crowther, said EME2 with 10 per cent RAP had never been used before in Australia.

“The use of RAP has two major benefits,” he said. “It is a sustainable product and it reduces the overall cost of the EME2 pavement, resulting in further cost savings for the road owner.”

Mr Crowther sees plenty of other potential cost savings with the use of EME2.

He said the reduction in pavement thickness and increased allowable maximum layer thickness for EME2 resulted in an overall reduction in the paving program for the trial section.

“We have seen savings of up to 30 per cent on the program for these works,” he said. “If EME2 was used across all pavements

on the Gateway Upgrade North project, we could save the need for up to 160 asphalt crew shifts and more than 120,000 tonnes of asphalt.

“This presents a fantastic opportunity for contractors and road authorities delivering large infrastructure projects which include substantial volumes of asphalt pavements.”

Mr Crowther said the use of EME2 on the Gateway Upgrade North project would provide important performance data in a major highway environment that could be used by other road authorities across Australia.

Asphalt supplier Boral manufactured and laid about 9000 tonnes of EME2 on the Deagon Deviation, with the work being completed at the end of March 2017. The EME2 was transported about 20 kilometres from the Boral plant at Whinstanes.

Ryan Jansz, Boral’s National Pavement Manager – Asphalt, said the main lesson from the project was around temperature management on large-scale production.

“The normal precaution taken with EME2 is to place it at a higher than normal temperature for standard mixes because it is stiffer,” Mr. Jansz said.

“Contrarily, we found that at higher temperature the asphalt was ‘lively’ and more likely to move around during compaction, and that the precaution needs to be tempered depending on ambient conditions and temperature losses expected through the supply and laying process.”

Boral introduced EME2 to Australia in a successful demonstration trial in collaboration with AAPA, the Australian Road Research Board, TMR and Brisbane City Council at Cullen Ave West, Eagle Farm, in 2014.

Mr Jansz said the use of EME2 on the Gateway Upgrade North project had reinforced the value of the product as a major contributor to achieving efficient asphalt pavement construction throughout Australia.

TMR’s Jenny McMillan said EME2 is highly durable, has superior resistance to permanent deformation (rutting) and superior fatigue resistance (cracking) when compared to conventional asphalt used in Australia.

“It is a stronger and better performing alternative to ‘conventional’ asphalt for heavy duty asphalt pavements,” she said.

“Its high modulus (stiffness) means that, for such pavements, traffic loads can be carried by a thinner pavement than would be required if using conventional asphalt. The use of EME2 provides a reduction in total asphalt thickness of around 25 per cent.”

She said other potential benefits of EME2 included: • Reducing the upfront cost of pavements (for example, through reduced overall pavement costs and/or improved productivity) • Reducing the time required to construct a pavement, leading to reduced impact of roadworks on road users • Helping preserve finite non-renewable resources.

“The use of EME2 on the project provides an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of the product and gain an improved understanding of how EME2 asphalt is produced and placed during construction,” she said.

“It is intended this project will facilitate the increased use of EME2 in Queensland and across Australia.”

A national model specification for EME2 materials is now available. It is intended as a guide for asset owners to create technical specifications for the supply of EME2 asphalt mixes.

Visit www.aapa.asn.au/aapa-nationalmodel-specifications or contact AAPA Director, Technology and Leadership, Dr Erik Denneman, at erik.denneman@aapa.asn.au

June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 49

ASPHALT IN FOCUS

HEATEC RECON SMARTPHONE

MOBILE MONITORING USING YOUR SMARTPHONE TO AVERT PROBLEMS AT YOUR ASPHALT PLANT As smartphones continue to revolutionize the way people connect and do business, asphalt producers are looking for ways to use their mobile devices and new technology to help them be more productive. In response, Heatec, Inc. has developed Recon™, an innovative system that monitors asphalt heaters and storage tanks. Asphalt plant owners and operators are now able to monitor critical operations at their facilities and avert problems that could cause a costly shut down of their operations.

Live Monitoring Heatec RECON™ is a monitor that informs operators about the status of asphalt storage tanks and oil heaters at their HMA plant. It’s a web-based system that can be accessed by smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Heatec spent nearly a year configuring the product when operators at HMA plants began asking about possibilities using the Internet.

They wanted to know if it might be possible to monitor their asphalt heating and storage systems using a smartphone.

Customers helped in its development by purchasing early versions and making suggestions for improvement. The RECON display screen shows the real-time status of the hot oil heater that heats the asphalt tanks and the status of the asphalt stored in the tanks. One version shows the status of the plant heater and up to three tanks while another version shows the status of two plant heaters and up to six tanks.

50 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

Other screens show trend data that enables operators to better manage usage.

The trend data can be printed and other options are available. The system can be programmed to send an email alert message when abnormal conditions of the heater and/ or tanks are encountered. The system can easily be retrofitted to many existing plants without upgrading existing equipment.

The Recon system enables plant personnel to remotely monitor the live status of asphalt heaters and asphalt storage tanks at their plants. The Recon monitor shows heater alarm status, hot oil temperatures, asphalt tank temperatures, tank liquid levels, and tank mixer on-off state. Current Recon systems can monitor up to six tanks and two heaters, depending on the model selected. Operators use this information to avoid unwanted shutdowns, keep close watch on asphalt usage, and supervise inventories. Additional options can be developed to meet customer needs.

Managers of asphalt facilities in the U.S. and Canada are showing a remarkable response to the Recon monitor system.

Heatec, Inc. introduced the system in late 2015. As of July 2016, Recon units are in operation at 23 facilities and in the process of being installed at nine others. Heatec is also working through a significant backlog of orders for additional units.

Recon in the Field King Asphalt has been in business since 1973, and currently owns and operates three

asphalt plants in upper South Carolina. The Recon system was installed at its Pacolet, South Carolina, plant about six months ago.

By the end of the year, King Asphalt hopes to have a second Recon system in place at another location.

Chris Cook, plant superintendent at King Asphalt, says he likes the remote access that his Recon system provides. He uses his iPhone to keep close watch on tank levels and temperatures at their facility. And he looks forward to finding ways to use the historical data that the system records.

Chris continued, “Heatec and its products have been a great asset to our company over the years and I believe the Recon system will prove to be another one of those great assets.”

For more information please contact Steve Mole at Astec Australia Pty Ltd on: 1300 278 322

ABOUT ASTEC AUSTRALIA Quality equipment backed by reliable service Astec Australia represents a number of Astec Industries Companies. We specialise in the design, engineering, manufacture and maintenance of a range of asphalt, aggregate and mining equipment used to build and restore the world’s infrastructure. Our organisation sells and services asphalt plants as well as mobile screening, crushing, earth and road construction equipment. For more information visit us at www.astecaustralia.com.au

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ASTEC AUSTRALIA.

an Astec Industries Company

PO BOX 142, ACACIA RIDGE, QLD, 4110 • 1300 278 322 • astecaustralia.com.au

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ASPHALT IN FOCUS

Ammann continuous asphalt technology can be incorporated into new plant designs or retrofitted into existing plants.

AMMANN – CONTINUOUS MIXING TECHNOLOGY APPLIED “Technologically advanced” is among the first thoughts that pop into people’s mind when thinking about Ammann plants. What if the latest technology could be retrofitted into your existing plant?

Ammann believes there is one component that is essential to a positive retrofit outcome.

It is a component that can be installed on any other continuous asphalt plant. And that component is Ammann’s continuous twin shaft paddle mixers, also known as a pugmill.

Ammann’s continuous mixers are similar to batch mixers. In fact, most of the internal parts and the geometry are the same. Both types of mixers therefore support the high shear actions that create the same outstanding mixing quality. Ammann also focuses on the mixer design to reduce wear and tear, and uses the highest quality materials to deliver the longest lifespan possible.

Another important element of Ammann’s continuous mixers is the mix discharge arrangement. This allows for variable mixing time within the mixer, typically between 24-48 seconds. This is a significant benefit for customers who need to focus on quality with mix designs that require more shearing forces and dwell time. This process also reduces the start-up and shut-down waste of the continuous plant.

“We are seeing more and more enquiries from customers with continuous drum plants that are looking for a solution to improve mix quality and to allow for a level of control in the mixing time,” says Cristian Zocchio, Engineering Manager of Ammann Australia.

“The Ammann mixer is definitely a proven system and nice bolt-on to an existing plant,” he added.

Ammann continuous asphalt technology delivers outstanding quality mixes.

52 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

Ammann continuous mixer.

How are the Ammann continuous mixers retrofitted on non-Ammann plants?

The hardware embedded in the mixer is managed automatically and independently by the provided control box, which can be easily connected to the plant’s control system.

When it is necessary, manual control can be quickly activated using a switch. Open/close push buttons and an indicator of the opening position make operation safe and easy.

Although the Ammann continuous mixer may be difficult to spot in a retrofitted plant, the quality of the new asphalt mix being generated by the plant stands out very clearly!

Continuous asphalt mixers are just one example of Ammann’s commitment to being the asphalt process technology leader that meets customers’ needs. A “Partnership for a Lifetime” is Ammann’s motto, delivered with the same enthusiasm for New Plants, Retrofit and all After Sales Services.

For further information, please visit: www.ammann-group.com

Image: © www.fotopizza.com

A SOUND INVESTMENT FOR ANY REGION ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS? UNIBATCH HAS THE ANSWERS. In today’s market you need a productive, cost-effective asphalt plant. You also need to prove to the community that you comply with or exceed the latest environmental requirements.

The Ammann ABA UniBatch Asphalt-Mixing Plant helps you do both. It leverages Ammann’s cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional output of high quality mixes. It also answers key environmental concerns through standard offerings and options that include: • Multiple noise mitigation systems • Fume extraction systems

• Full cladding to improve safety and provide aesthetic appeal

• Energy-saving software that reduces emissions and operating costs

• Most importantly, designed to Australian Standards

ABA UniBatch: the solution for happy business owner and communities.

Ammann Australia, 5 / 29 Business Drive, Narangba, 4504 Queensland Phone + 61 7 3293 1111, Fax + 61 7 3293 2222, info.aau@ammann-group.com For additional product information and services please visit : www.ammann - group.com PMP-1289-00-EN | © Ammann Group

EQUIPMENT FEATURE

END-TO-END ROAD SOLUTIONS Following the launch of the latest Cat® Road Profiler to the Australian market and the addition of the new Weiler E2850 Remixing Transfer Vehicle, Hastings Deering is now able to offer customers an end-to-end road construction solution.

Hastings Deering, traditionally known as a market leader in the mining and construction sectors, has invested heavily in the roads construction and infrastructure sector over the past seven years and the addition of the new Weiler Transfer Vehicle and PM620 Cold Planer to its fleet is a sign of their intent and future plans in the road construction industry.

Ryan Van Den Broek, Sales Manager Roads, Construction and Infrastructure at Hastings Deering, says the addition of the PM620 alone has created a real buzz for its Queensland customers in particular.

“With the PM620, I feel like we’ve got a new quality of machine – it’s highly technical, more efficient, safer and quieter,” says Mr. Van Den Broek.

“We’ve been doing demonstrations over the last few months with all the major players in southeast Queensland. We’ve had clients come along because they’ve heard from other customers that it’s great, and they want demos now too.”

He says many of their civil customers have also opted for the new profiler, given that their experiences with other Cat machines have been positive.

The efficiency and significantly reduced noise levels on the new machine have been two major improvements that customers have noticed, according to Mr. Van Den Broek.

“Our customers love features such as the retractable canopy, and overall, the machines are smaller and easier to transport,” he says.

One of the first PM620 profilers sold by Hastings Deering in Australia, is being used

54 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

as part of tunnel works on the WestConnex project in Sydney, because it’s compactness makes it suitable to go below ground.

“We demonstrated it cutting through Sydney sandstone fairly quickly and we sold the first profiler to the tunnel contractor based on that experience.

“Because it’s so compact it can easily be dropped down into the tunnel site without having parts disassembled and then reassembled - making it a more efficient and cost effective alternative to other machines.”

The introduction of the PM620 has also put Hastings Deering in good stead to enter a corner of the market traditionally dominated by competitors, according to Mr. Van Den Broek.

“There was always going to be trepidation with customers because one of our competitors has been in this space for a while but creating healthy competition and providing alternatives is good for the customer.”

Mr. Van Den Broek says the same fuel, noise and efficiency benefits are embodied by the Cat F-Series pavers, which were

launched in Australia at the Australian Asphalt Pavement Association International Flexible Pavements Conference in September 2015.

“Noise levels and fuel efficiency have been a focus for Cat, especially on the new F-Series asphalt pavers,” he says.

“We’ve had some really good feedback, especially from some of our big customers like Brisbane City Council. The council selected one of the Cat pavers to support its other machines, and it’s now their flagship machine within its fleet.”The new Cat road construction machinery range is already proving its worth for the team at Hastings Deering, and the inclusion of the new Weiler product is bolstering its market offering even more.

“We were the first in the industry to become a Weiler dealership in Australia and the first to offer material transfer vehicles and road wideners to the market,” says Mr. Van Den Broek.

The US-based manufacturing firm is the same company that builds the screeds for Cat pavers and works quite closely with Cat in its home state of Iowa.

Mr. Van Den Broek says the Weiler products really complement Cat’s own machines, especially in helping to create an end-to-end solution in road construction.

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June/July 2017 | Highway Engineering Australia 55

EQUIPMENT FEATURE

The E2850 material transfer vehicle, which was launched November 2016, provides non-contact, non-stop and offset paving while producing reduced particle and thermal segregation. It keeps the material temperature even, reduces cold spots, and when we compact the material there’s a nice even heat across the whole mat.”

With a new range of products and some major road and infrastructure projects on the horizon in Queensland, Mr. Van Den Broek says Hastings Deering is well positioned to provide a complete end-to-end service to its customers in 2017.

“One of the big things we’ve really got going for us is our dealership footprint,” asserts Mr. Van Den Broek.

“We’ve got 23 business centres across our territories, which makes it very easy for our customers to get the service they need, when they need it.

“For our national customers who are coming from interstate, we are able to provide unmatched facilities, service & equipment expertise.”

That after-sales support is what Mr. Van Den Broek says the Cat brand and its dealerships pride themselves on.

56 Highway Engineering Australia | June/July 2017

“Because it’s so compact it can easily be dropped down into the tunnel site without having parts disassembled and then reassembled ...”

“We make sure that when we’re dealing with a paving customer, for instance, we have the technology and parts in holding to help the customer when needed,” he says.

Not only does Hastings Deering ensure there are parts on-hand at local business centres for its customers across its territory, but it provides extensive after sales service to ensure even critical engines are easily sourced or on-hand for replacement.

“At Hastings Deering we are committed to helping our customers succeed. We work with all our customers to provide solutions that reduce operating costs, increase productivity and reliability.”

“Hastings Deering is not only leading the way in after sales support but also ensuring they can offer customers increased reliability and reduced costs. One example is their Fuel Edge Program that guarantees if you burn more fuel than the committed threshold, you will get a credit.”

As for the immediate future, Mr. Van Den Broek is excited about the new product innovations set to hit the market.

“The PM620 is just the first in a full product suite coming out over the next few years.

Cat is introducing a full range of rollers and pavers, which will give us a real edge in the road construction market.”

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