ROADLETTER
October - November 2023

At PIARC we organise numerous events, such as World Road Congresses, seminars in low- and middle-income countries, conferences such as SURF or our Tunnels Conference. They are great opportunities to compare experiences and best practice, and to engage with colleagues from the road sector. 

Another of our activities is just as important: PIARC technical reports. They represent a key output for the international experts who work in our more than 20 Committees and Task Forces and who contribute so much of their time to our Association. [...]

>> Read the full editorial

Routes/Roads Magazine

The last issue “Roads and Biodiversity” is available! 

With an editorial by Luděk Sosna (PIARC's First Delegate for the Czech Republic) presenting the latest World Road Congress, the issue no. 398 tackles the challenges of biodiversity through articles by road and road transport experts. A wide range of topics are covered, including sustainable infrastructure, innovation, sustainable mobility and raising awareness [...]

>> Read it here

Technical report

PIARC International Climate Change Adaptation Framework 2023 

This report, published by the Technical Committee 1.4 "Climate Change and Resilience of Road Networks", presents the Adaptation Framework (FW) that can help organisations identify adaptation principles and increase the climate resilience of transport assets, operations and services.

>> Read it here

Technical Report

The Use of Big Data and Social Networks for Disaster Management 

The Technical Committee 1.5 "Disaster Management" carried out an international survey on the use of data and social networks for disaster management. This report contains a summary of the results of the survey and analysis [...]

>> Read it here

Technical Report

Electric Road Systems – A Route to Net Zero 

This report, published by the Task Force 2.2 "Electric Road Systems (ERS)", presents the ERS systems that will make decarbonising the road transport sector possible, and and consequently help to achieve the Paris international agreement on climate change.

>> Read it here

The success of the 27th World Road Congress is still echoing! 

From 2 to 6 October, Prague was at the forefront of international discussions on roads and road transport. Under the theme "Together on the road again", the Congress brought together more than 6,000 participants from 120 countries!

>> Back at the Congress

PIARC statutory meetings 2023 

This year, PIARC's National Committees and Council met in Prague before the 27th World Road Congress opened its doors. A wide range of topics were discussed, including the excellent progress made by the Technical Committees and Task Forces over the period 2020-2023 with more than 80 reports published.

The host of the next World Road Congress has been chosen: congratulations to Canada, and see you in Vancouver in 2027!

>> Read more

PIARC Global Road Safety Knowledge Exchange 

As part of this PIARC project, John Milton, President of the Technical Committee 3.1 "Road Safety" and Ingo Kaundinya, President of the Technical Committee 4.4 "Road Tunnels", present road safety issues related to infrastructures and road tunnels.

>> Watch now

PIARC welcomes its two new member countries!

At its recent meeting, held on 30 September in Prague in conjunction with the World Road Congress, the Council accepted the applications of two new member countries: the Republic of Georgia and the Republic of Djibouti. With 126 member countries now, our Association has confirmed its attractiveness throughout the world. We can be sure that these two countries will soon be appointing experts to our Technical Committees and hosting seminars on their territories. We wish them a warm welcome to the PIARC family!

The Austrian National Committee celebrates its 50th anniversary!

In 1973, the National Committee was founded by a group of committed experts from administration, engineering, education and business, at the suggestion of the then Federal Ministry of Public Works. On 14 November 2023, a party was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Committee, and to celebrate Austria's continued participation within PIARC.

The Spanish National Committee organised three workshops in October and November!

Since the last World Road Congress held early October, the ATC organised three technical activities:

• Workshop on "Sustainable Pavements" where the document "Guide to design bituminous mixtures at low temperatures" was delivered,
• Workshop on "Improvements in Road Safety - Cycling",
• Workshop on "Placement and removal of lane closure signs for works - New recommendations".

The Polish National Committee visited Kazakhstan

From 13 to 17 November 2023, a delegation from the Polish Road Congress as the PIARC National Committee took part in the Kaztraffic exhibition, an opportunity to celebrate the new National Committee of Kazakhstan. "This is a great honour for us, as it was as a result of the discussions we started with the Kazakh side in 2019 that this organisation was created and became fully involved in cooperation with PIARC. Our cooperation will continue, as Kazakhstan is very interested in the road construction guidelines and standards currently being prepared in Poland and the opportunities for Polish companies to enter the Kazakh market." Aleksandra SKORUPSKA, PIARC Technical Advisor and Member of the Polish National Committee.