This week SANRAL will participate in a high-level annual meeting about the Transportation Research Board in Washington D.C.

The meeting will cover topics on transportation modes and will attract more than 12,000 delegates and 5,000 presentations with 800 sessions from key players in the transport industry, including policy makers, administrators, researchers, practitioners, government and academic representatives.

Accompanied by SANRAL CEO, Nazir Alli, the delegation will include the renowned incumbent of the SANRAL chair at the University of Stellenbosch’s Civil Engineering Department, Professor Kim Jenkins, who will showcase the transport agency’s efforts and latest technological developments on pavement engineering.

The new innovative South African Pavement Design Method (SAPDM), developed by specialists on the roads and the South African Pavement Engineering Manual (SAPEM), which is the flagship initiatives aimed at best practice in designing pavements in South Africa, will be presented to the international community key initiatives that the delegation has undertaken, such as the development of methodologies and solutions through pavement engineering for supporting the local economy, material testing, quality and laboratory management and the different methods used in the construction pavements.

According to Jenkins, the Pavement Design Method has pushed research boundaries to incorporate relevant, advanced technologies that will provide robust and refined pavement structures that can incorporate innovative initiatives.

In addition, the Engineering Manual is a reference and best practice guide for all aspects of pavement engineering. It provides explanations of the basic concepts and terminology used in pavement engineering and stands to benefit the young practitioners as well as experienced engineers who seek to explore new technologies.

SANRAL will also align itself with the conference’s theme: Corridors to the Future: Transportation and Technology, by demonstrating how it integrated technology as one of its core pillars into South Africa’s roads system.