Every edition, Roads & Infrastructure puts a question forward to industry leaders and decision makers on topics central to the road and infrastructure industry. For the June Roads Review column, we asked road construction industry leaders: What are some innovative infrastructure products that are changing construction?
MICHAEL CALTABIANO, CEO, ARRB
The increasing role of recycled materials in road Infrastructure will profoundly change the way in which we build the future mobility network. Specifications that call up minimum recycled material content requirements are forcing road engineers to challenge the norm and innovate for the future.
Recycled waste stream materials like concrete, plastic and tyre rubber have more recently been joined by energy from waste by-products, mining and refining waste streams together with new processing technologies to create a vast array of products available for use.
Our challenge as professionals in the infrastructure sector is to develop fit for purpose, value adding uses for this new stream of construction materials.
SARAH BACHMANN, CEO, NATIONAL PRECAST
With sustainability high on the agenda of Australian infrastructure projects, Master Precasters are delivering innovation with use of recycled materials and recycling factory waste, reducing site waste, improved worker safety, highly efficient installation methods, high quality, durable and long-lasting structural elements and state-of-the-art concrete mix designs and manufacturing methods. As well, modern alternative finish and coating options – such as staining and coatings that absorb CO2 and purify air – improve aesthetic and environmental outcomes. Then there are new and improved systems for stormwater management as well as innovative precast elements that protect coastlines and support biodiversity.
JACQUI HANSEN, SENIOR ASSET MANAGEMENT ADVISOR, IPWEA
Innovation and the use of emerging technologies in road construction is a rapidly evolving science. IPWEA represents many in the road construction industry. We encourage all road authorities to consider the whole of life costs when adopting emerging technologies. It is possible that the whole of life costs of roads constructed with innovative infrastructure products and processes may vary considerably. We support continued research and development into products and processes to give road authorities the information they need to make wise decisions on road assets, for their communities, in the short, medium, and long-term.”
GRAHAM HENDERSON, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, DOWNER INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES
The Hume City Council in Melbourne was the first adopter of Reconophalt, an asphalt product containing recycled asphalt, soft plastics, toner from used printer cartridges and crushed glass. Since the first trial of Reconophalt was laid in May 2018, Downer has produced over 180,000 tonnes of this innovative and sustainable product. Hume City Council, as an early adopter and a leader in the sustainability field, has placed over 22,000 tonnes of Reconophalt and in doing so saved 177 tonnes of CO2 emissions and avoided sending 19.5 million plastic bags, 2.75 million glass bottles, toner from 571,000 toner cartridges and 6,600 tonnes of recycled asphalt from going to landfill.
CHRIS MELHAM, CEO, CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION
New and emerging technologies are increasingly being used by civil construction companies to improve productivity and enhance safety for civil construction workers and their equipment. These include next generation drone technologies which are being used more widely to support enhanced visualisation of day-to-day operations, and for the preparation of project progress reports. Mobile-phone technology is also being used by companies, including augmented reality to allow the user to overlay a three- dimensional design over the built environment before dirt is moved. And more broadly across the industry, there are technological developments in machine control systems to improve efficiency and accuracy.
DR KERRY GRIFFITHS, IS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, ISCA
We are excited by the emergence of a range of different materials that are shifting the dial on embodied carbon and supporting building a circular economy. These include recycled asphalt, supplementary cementitious material in concrete and recycled aggregate. Through the IS Rating Scheme we have seen these materials help contribute to over 9.2 million tonnes of waste being diverted from landfill and 11 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from materials in FY2020.
BRANDON HITCH, CEO CICA
Safety is always a priority for the crane industry and there is a growing interest in innovative training on how to mitigate risks that come with load (i.e. what is on the end of a crane hook) transportation and placement. New high-risk workshops offered to the industry ensure people are made aware of how to assess concrete lifter compatibility between the panel insert and clutch. This helps reduce the risk of rigging failure due to an inadequately supported concrete element and will improve industry safety and efficiency.
This column initially appeared in the June edition of Roads & Infrastructure magazine. Read the magazine here.
If you or anyone in your organisation are interested in contributing to the column, please contact the editor at tara.hamid@primecreative.com.au