Much of the media focus on automation concerns conventional vehicles with some autonomous functions, truck convoys and low speed autonomous pods in urban areas. Full or partial autonomy of construction plant, along with operator assistance is one area where immediate improvements in safety, quality and productivity can be realised. A 2017 report by the McKinsey […]
Whether generation of renewable energy from within the road authority estate is now a feasible option was the question that Maple and three associates from ITEN* (Helen Viner of Enodamus and independent experts Vijay Ramdas and Bill McMahon) have recently addressed in a project for the World Road Association (PIARC). Transport accounted for 23% of […]
In 2010, FEHRL launched the Forever Open Road initiative, aiming to reimagine how roads would be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in the future. Addressing global challenges such as ageing infrastructure, congestion, safety and carbon targets, it became apparent that other modes, and particularly rail, faced many of the same challenges. As a response, FEHRL […]
Good quality roads are a vital part of the European transport network, enabling access to employment, education and leisure activities. Despite the large and generally well-maintained network within Europe, there are estimates that daily congestion causes a loss equivalent to 1% of Europe’s GDP, or around €200 billion annually. Coupled with this, future projections suggest […]
FEHRL and Maple Consulting recently organised and participated on a scanning tour to the USA focussing on energy efficiency in transport. Eight European organisations and a partner in the USA visited a range of research institutes, State Departments of Transport and operators to get an understanding of the research, development and implementation of technologies, policies […]
There are approximately 5,000,000 km of paved roads in the European Union, of which around 65,100 km are motorways. The gross investment spending in road infrastructure in the wider 34 European countries in 2009 was over €82 billion[1] (at current prices and exchange rates). Whilst this represents a tremendous asset, there are numerous challenges; road […]
Well-functioning and efficient roads and other transport infrastructure are essential for society to enable the delivery of goods and transport for work and leisure. With modern logistics chains based on just in time deliveries, this is more important still. Yet, roads and other transport systems do not cope well with extreme weather, whether through significant […]
The pace of innovation is changing rapidly, with innovations such as autonomous driving that, whilst still some distance away from full deployment, would have seemed the stuff of science fiction ten to fifteen years ago. Considering the challenges of creating a transport system that is safe, efficient, environmentally sustainable and affordable, most would agree that […]
Roads have been in existence for the duration of human history, originating from animal tracks, through stone roads, smooth roads surfaced with tarmac and eventually modern roads, motorways and ‘smart’ roads containing ICT. We all therefore are extremely familiar with what a road is and what is used for; it is a surface on which […]
With a transition required from fossil to renewable energy and recognising the role that transport plays in generation of carbon dioxide, there are a number of transport authorities and private companies looking to use the road surface to generate energy in one form or another; either heat or electricity. On the one hand, there is […]