Evaluation of issues around road materials for sustainable transport

Abstract

Paper presented at the 28th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 6 - 9 July 2009 "Sustainable Transport", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

In addition to a number of other factors (social, economic, etc) sustainable transport requires the sustainable supply and use of construction materials. This includes the use of marginal materials, waste materials, novel/innovative materials and reuse of existing materials. It also includes the provision of long-lasting or perpetual infrastructure. This field, however, requires a careful evaluation of the impact of these materials on the broader road infrastructure environment. The following contributory issues are addressed in this paper: Sustainable use of non-renewable natural resources Sustainability of other material supplies - specifically the use of marginal materials and waste materials Effect of continuous reuse, recycling on the engineering properties of existing materials (i.e. grading, plasticity, etc) and perpetual roads Cost and extraneous effects of innovative novel materials Definitions of perpetual infrastructure and the economics thereof. Effects of perpetual infrastructure on material behaviour and condition and the use of specific marginal, waste, novel and recycled materials Modification of construction methods to minimise the use of natural resources This paper highlights some of the issues that need to be considered and identifies possible solutions as well as other needs that require solution to ensure sustainable and economical use of the available non-renewable and renewable resources to ensure a sustainable transport infrastructure for future generations.