Austroads: Transport Research and Trends

Austroads’ recent project has updated the Guide to Road Design (AGRD) Part 4 series. This webinar is the first in a four-part series to provide an overview of the project, including the aim, research background, methodology and outcomes.

The session outlines the new concepts and content that have been included in AGRD parts 4, 4A, 4B, 4C and the Austroads Design Vehicles and Turning Path Templates Guide.

The webinar is presented by Noel O’Callaghan and Malcolm Mak.

This webinar is beneficial to consultants who may be interested in tendering for Austroads projects. The session covers new Austroads projects lined up for the 2023-24 financial year, Austroads process around research data collection and what is required to become a successful tenderer.

To find information about Austroads' current tenders, visit the tenders webpage. On that page, you can also subscribe to our Tenders newsletter to receive alerts when a new project is advertised.

Austroads has developed a set of reference architecture models, content and guidance for use by road agencies to identify, plan and improve their multimodal incident management (MMIM) capabilities. MMIM is the resolution of an unplanned incident that negatively impacts, or has the potential to impact, the normal operation of more than one transport mode. MMIM aims to maintain transport services and minimise journey disruptions in day-to-day transport operations. It involves a coordinated response from multiple road and public transport operators to resolve incidents and restore the transport network to normal operating conditions.

The reference architectures presented in this webinar covers two high-priority topic areas identified by Austroads members: Situational Awareness Tool (SAT) and a MMIM system, which are closely related. A SAT is an information system that provides road and public transport network monitoring and incident detection. A MMIM system is an information system that supports the management and resolution of detected incidents with its operational partners across the road and public transport network. Both systems are defined using a series of outputs that describe the required business architecture and information system aspects of each topic. Agencies are expected to adopt and adapt the architectures to suit their existing environments.

The webinar was presented by David Yee and Andrew Somers. There were question and answer opportunities during the session.

In this webinar, Chris Koniditsiotis, Lead Implementation Consultant and Patsy Thomas, National Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) Operations Manager provide an update on the implementation and operational commencement of the Austroads National Harmonisation of Temporary Traffic Management Practice including:

• National Training Framework for TTM
• Austroads and jurisdictional adoption
• National Registration Framework for TTM
• Austroads IT Registry system allowing online electronic management of entities, individuals, and qualifications.

Austroads has recently completed a project to identify best-practice guidance for the design, delivery and testing of in-tunnel aesthetic design features, with the aspirations to improve tunnel safety and customer experience.

Through the review of recent tunnel projects, current literature and practices, a definition was developed for in-tunnel aesthetic design features and a best-practice process through which in-tunnel aesthetic design features are designed, delivered, and tested.

This webinar with Warwick Keating and John Birch provides an overview of the findings of this project and the best practice methodology which should be considered when planning, designing, procuring, operating and maintaining in-tunnel aesthetic design features.

The Austroads mechanistic-empirical design system documented in Part 2 of the Guide to Pavement Technology uses a laboratory fatigue relationship previously developed by Shell to predict the fatigue life of asphalt layers. The Shell fatigue relationship was developed over 40 years ago based on testing a selection of asphalt mixes from Europe and the USA. The mixes used to develop the original relationship are therefore unlikely to represent the modulus and fatigue behaviour of modern mixes (including mixes incorporating recycled materials) currently being used in Australia and New Zealand.

Austroads project Asphalt Laboratory Fatigue Relationship – Stage 1 Utilisation of Existing Data benchmarked available fatigue laboratory test results of locally manufactured asphalt mixes against the fatigue performance predicted by the generic Austroads fatigue relationship. The project also reviewed some important modulus and fatigue testing parameters that may affect the design of asphalt layers, including different sample preparation methods and the minimum number of test specimens required to develop a laboratory fatigue relationship.

This webinar with Joe Grobler, Dr Negin Zhalehjoo and Peter Bryant, presents the findings of the project, including the preliminary fatigue relationships developed for locally manufactured asphalt mixes with conventional (unmodified) bitumen.

The Department of Transport and Planning Victoria has announced 30 June 2023 as the final deadline to have smart on-board mass (OBM) systems fitted to certain high productivity freight vehicles (HPFVs).

Beyond this date, the mass limits of the below classes of vehicles will be restricted if not fitted with Smart OBM:

• vehicles more than 26m in length, with a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) in excess of 68.5 tonnes
• quad-axle semi-trailers with a GCM in excess of 46.0 tonnes

This webinar, presented by Gavin Hill and Ian Mond, covers:

• the changes and how they will affect transport operators traveling in/to Victoria
• the steps required for signing up to Smart OBM
• the importance of Smart OBM for the Victorian road network
• the ways mass data from Smart OBM is being used by road managers.

Road deterioration (RD) models help in predicting future road condition and assessing maintenance needs. Austroads’ recent project updated the current Austroads RD models using the additional long-term pavement performance (LTPP) and long-term pavement performance maintenance (LTPPM) data as well as other available data, such as the traffic speed deflectometer (TSD) datasets, to improve these models’ explanatory power to support wider loading and the climate conditions observed in Australia. The updated and improved RD models can predict the impact of the wider loading and climate conditions observed in Australia.

The project produced four Austroads publications covering the updated RD models for cracking, strength (deflection), rutting and roughness. The project was managed in conjunction with the technical support of a Project Working Group sourced from industry and the road agencies. In addition, expert advice was sought from acknowledged experts in industry and academia.

Each of the reports documented a literature review of the state-of-the-art in deterioration modelling, a review of the available datasets for each of the RD models, the approach used to update each of the RD models and the validation of the rutting and roughness RD models.

This webinar with Dr Tim Martin, Ranita Sen and Tyrone Toole presents an overview of the methodology used to achieve the above objectives and the outcomes of the project.

The session covers:

• the basis for using the LTPP and LTPPM datasets for updating the RD models, including use of the TSD automatic crack detection (ACD) device data specifically for the update of the RD model for cracking
• the methodology adopted for updating the RD models
• validation of the rutting and roughness RD models.

The webinar showcases the projects recognised with the Austroads Bridge Awards. The Austroads Bridge Awards acknowledge individuals and organisations that have delivered outstanding bridge structures and design across Australia and New Zealand.

The awards were presented at the 11th Austroads Bridge Conference held in Adelaide from 15 to 18 November 2022 proudly co-hosted by Austroads and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport South Australia.

The award-winning projects are:

Excellence in Innovation: InQuik Australia, Toorale Bridge Project

Submitted by InQuik, Alluvium Consulting Australia, and Pensar Infrastructure Group. Presented by Logan Mullaney, Managing Director of InQuik.

Excellence in Asset Management: Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency Repairs

Submitted by Beca, WSP, SRG Global, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, and ASM Fulton Hogan-HEB Joint Venture. Presented by Will Pank, Technical Director – Structural Engineering, Beca.

Best Structure 35 metres or under: Hay Street Bridge Vertical Clearance Improvement Project

Submitted by BG&E, Bocol Constructions, MACA, and Main Roads Western Australia. Presented by BG&E’s Technical Director-Bridges Graeme Dundas, and WA - Bridge Lead Erica Smith.

Best Structure over 35 metres: Mandurah Bridge

Submitted by BG&E, Georgiou Group, Main Roads Western Australia, and City of Mandurah.

Presented by Boris Vujovic, BG&E’ Technical Director.