Innovative solutions to African challenges

The 7th Regional Conference for Africa, hosted by the South African Road Federation (SARF) – in collaboration with the International Road Federation and the World Road Association – will explore challenges and solutions for local and global road networks.

Under the theme ‘Connecting Africa through Smart, Safe and Resilient Roads: Stimulating Growth and Trade on the Continent’, the three-day event takes place from 18 to 20 October 2022 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

“While many of the papers presented will no doubt be of global value to international delegates attending, we are placing a strong emphasis on how to preserve and develop Africa’s own road assets,” says Basil Jonsson, operations director for SARF, adding that rural road optimisation is a prime example.

“Low-volume, rural roads play a hugely significant role in low-income countries, providing critical connectivity to agricultural operations. However, financial constraints often place the upgrading of these roads on the back-burner,” Jonsson elaborates.

“What solutions can we offer to both the financial and physical constraints of improving these all-important rural networks? What have other countries across the globe done to tackle these challenges? How do we assess the use of these roads and ensure that they are both safe and fit for purpose? A number of the planned presentations will address these questions,” he explains.

Basil Jonsson, operations director, SARF

Climate change, technology and transportation

Other presentations will tackle sustainability, including the impacts of climate change on road networks, as well as technological and other advancements made to optimise road transportation.

“Nanotechnology is increasingly playing a role in the development of cost-effective and sustainable road and pavement construction materials,” says Jonsson. “We are seeing an escalation in the development of alternative materials to those traditionally used in road pavements.”

As examples, Jonsson cites the trials commissioned in Ethiopia by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (in terms of High Volume Transport). These trials examine the use of long-life epoxy modified asphalt and fibre mastic asphalt road surfacing.

Other independent trials conducted closer to home in KwaZulu-Natal have investigated the use of asphalt manufactured with recycled waste plastic. The findings of both studies are scheduled for presentation at the conference, as are innovative approaches for the assessment of bridges, and the collection of road traffic data.

Safety and efficiency

Safety and efficiency will also play a key role at the conference, with comparative work being presented. This includes research on skid resistance versus surface texture, as well as possible proactive solutions to South Africa’s high road fatality rates. The latter includes the assessment of driver crash risk factors, road safety audits, and setting credible road speed limits.

Asphalt surfacing between Hermanus and Stanford, Western Cape (Credit: Imile van Rhyn, EFG Engineers)

International financing and economics

Capacity development will also feature high on the conference agenda, as will financing around infrastructure. In terms of the latter, Jonsson notes: “We will hear from leading experts in international financing and economics about the comprehensive and systemic approaches other countries have adopted to identify, appraise and implement road rehabilitation projects – some of which have even developed successful public-private partnership models.”

Delegate registration

Registration to date confirms participation from Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, EU, North America, Middle East and UK. The event is anticipated to draw more than 420 delegates in total, and ECSA accreditation has been secured by SARF with 1 CPD point in Category 1 for each of the three days of the conference.

Delegate registration is currently open. Special accommodation rates for out-oftown delegates have also been secured at a number of Southern Sun Hotels close to the conference venue.

For more information, contact SBS Conferences & Exhibitions on +27 (0)71 348 1780, email info@sbs.co.za or visit sbs.co.za/sarf2022.