Short courses for stabilisation success

Increasingly accepted as a cost-effective method for improving the long-term performance of pavements in Australia, education and training involved in stabilisation for pavement construction is becoming as important as the practice itself.

“Having a full understanding of stabilisation and in-situ pavement recycling can provide significant cost savings, especially for the maintenance and rehabilitation of pavements, as well as providing construction options with fewer disruptions to the public,” AustStab Chief Executive Officer Graham Hennessy explains.

Not only can a proper understanding of recycling and stabilisation help increase cost savings, but it can also help reduce the quantity of virgin quarry material required for a project by utilising existing pavement material correctly and efficiently.

AustStab – the peak industry body for pavement stabilisation in Australia – is a strong advocate for industry education and training, and has long encouraged the road construction sector and its members to undertake the Centre for Pavement Engineering Education (CPEE) Stabilisation Short Courses.

The CPEE Stabilisation Short Course schedule for 2018 has been released, and Mr. Hennessy says the next round of sessions will address the key considerations in the successful application of stabilisation techniques and new developments in theory and practice.

“The course will briefly review the types of stabilisation before going into more detailed presentations on the types of binders, material characteristics, design and mix detailing, with sessions on specifying and case studies for practical outcomes,” he says.

With a large emphasis on practical and project-based content, the course provides practical advice on road stabilisation solutions, including binders.

Overall, the course will include discussion on the types of stabilising binders used in road construction, their properties, manufacture, and chemical reactions during the stabilisation process and safety considerations associated with their use.

“It covers a range of binders, including lime, cement, cementitious pozzolans, bitumen, chemical and synthetic polymers,” Mr. Hennessy adds.

Aimed at an array of disciplines in the wider pavements sector, including pavement designers, project engineers, construction supervisors and local council representatives, Mr. Hennessy says the courses will help attendees gain a better understanding of the stabilisation and recycling options available to them.

“At the end of the course they’ll also go away with practical guidelines for selecting the correct stabilisation process for each pavement and subgrade type,” he adds.

Mr. Hennessy says the courses hold significance not just for the next generation of pavement engineers, but established professionals looking to up-skill and increase their knowledge base too.

“These courses have been developed by experienced practitioners and provide a practical and functional approach to pavement stabilisation and recycling. They often include sessions and case studies presented by accredited stabilisation contractors, which are always well received by the participants.

“This aspect of pavements engineering is not always included in existing formal university civil engineering courses,” says Mr. Hennessy.

“These short courses provide an opportunity for a wide range of industry practitioners to get an understanding of design, construction and maintenance of stabilised pavements.”

CPEE Stabilisation Short Courses 2018

Adelaide, SA: 27-28 February

Perth, WA: 14-15 March

Brisbane, QLD: 30-31 May

Sydney, NSW: 8-9 May

Darwin, NT: 6-7 June

Campbell Town, TAS: 21 June

Albury, NSW: 18-19 September