With road budgets more constrained than Australia, and with years in which the country was barred from access to international technology and new products, the South African pavement sector has developed quality local expertise. The South African road network has the advantage of was very few subgrades less than CBR10, whether by design of by access to good quality materials. This influences, not only the depths of pavement structures, but types and options available as well This has resulted in a more nationally focused road sector, driven at national level with funding to ensure a commercially aware method of investing in, and managing, the road asset and network. SANRAL, the national road authority is constituted on commercial lines and collects toll funding and receives allocations from the Transport Department. This business awareness is driving the development of a pavement design system more linked to reality and based upon actual material properties and long term pavement performance data. The approach is one of modeling and managing” allowing for a knowledge based “measuring, response to changes in traffic demand, funding or load increases. The approach, linked to service related KRA’s, has assisted the Provinces in having maintenance funds ring-fenced and pavement management tools used as the basis of allocation. Maintenance funds are aimed at for asset “best preservation” which will allow sections of the network to enter terminal states if inadequate funds are allocated for their maintenance. The country has developed skills and expertise ranging from APT and long term pavement performance data collection to comprehensive modeling for pavement design systems. There is encouragement for innovation and new products are subjected to structured evaluation with the goal of achieving a good outcome. In more recent years useful and appropriate international technologies have been identified, such as warm mix asphalt and high modulus asphalt, with the technology jointly transferred by road authorities, researchers, consultants and the asphalt and binder industry. To facilitate the introduction of non-standard products a system similar to the French Avis Technique and the UK HAPAS has been developed to manage and certify the introduction of “fit for purpose” road products. This system has allowed for the development and use of Ultra Thin Friction Courses some of which has been in use for its full product cycle. . Recommendations: Maintain contact with SANRAL on the development of the SAPDM to identify possible advantages for Australia Drive to have road network asset management run on commercial lines or at least on business principles where KRA’s are designed to provide service to the road user and inadequate funding can result in road deterioration or closure.
With road budgets more constrained than Australia, and with years in which the country was barred from access to international technology and new products, the South African pavement sector has developed quality local expertise. The South African road network has the advantage of was very few subgrades less than CBR10, whether by design of by access to good quality materials. This influences, not only the depths of pavement structures, but types and options available as well This has resulted in a more nationally focused road sector, driven at national level with funding to ensure a commercially aware method of investing in, and managing, the road asset and network. SANRAL, the national road authority is constituted on commercial lines and collects toll funding and receives allocations from the Transport Department. This business awareness is driving the development of a pavement design system more linked to reality and based upon actual material properties and long term pavement performance data. The approach is one of “measuring, modeling and managing” allowing for a knowledge based response to changes in traffic demand, funding or load increases. The approach, linked to service related KRA’s, has assisted the Provinces in having maintenance funds ring-fenced and pavement management tools used as the basis of allocation. Maintenance funds are aimed at “best for asset preservation” which will allow sections of the network to enter terminal states if inadequate funds are allocated for their maintenance. The country has developed skills and expertise ranging from APT and long term pavement performance data collection to comprehensive modeling for pavement design systems. There is encouragement for innovation and new products are subjected to structured evaluation with the goal of achieving a good outcome. In more recent years useful and appropriate international technologies have been identified, such as warm mix asphalt and high modulus asphalt, with the technology jointly transferred by road authorities, researchers, consultants and the asphalt and binder industry. To facilitate the introduction of non-standard products a system similar to the French Avis Technique and the UK HAPAS has been developed to manage and certify the introduction of “fit for purpose” road products. This system has allowed for the development and use of Ultra Thin Friction Courses some of which has been in use for its full product cycle. . Recommendations: Maintain contact with SANRAL on the development of the SAPDM to identify possible advantages for Australia Drive to have road network asset management run on commercial lines or at least on business principles where KRA’s are designed to provide service to the road user and inadequate funding can result in road deterioration or closure.
2011_AAPA_Study_Tour_Report_v5-1_master.docx