Dealing with the effects of climate change on road pavements

Climate change can have a direct impact on the performance of our transportation infrastructure. The purpose of the report is to sensitize the road sector to the likely impacts of climate change on road pavements and to provide guidance on how to go about: -Assessing the vulnerability of road pavements to the direct impacts of climate change, and; -Identifying and prioritizing possible adaptation measures for road pavements that could be applied immediately or phased in over time, so as to [...]

Road tunnels: vehicle emissions and air demand for ventilation

This report presents the data necessary for the design of the ventilation system for road tunnels in normal operation. It aims at defining the minimum quantity of fresh-air that is required to ensure adequate in-tunnel air quality and visibility thresholds. This report is a reference document for the design of tunnels and for monitoring the operation conditions. The report provides the values of admissible concentrations of toxic gases and particulate matter. It then presents the emission factors [...]

Monitoring of environmental impacts of roads

The construction, operation and maintenance of road infrastructures impact the environment in many ways. Monitoring road impacts is essential for the identification of new issues, tracking trends and implementing appropriate mitigation actions. This report clarifies what is encompassed in the concept of monitoring. It is based on the results of a survey of current environmental monitoring practice among different countries and of a literature search. Current practice of monitoring is presented [...]

The connected vehicle

The advent of Intelligent Transport Systems has provided new opportunities for improving the safety and efficiency of the road network. The development of intelligent vehicles, connected by wireless networks to the roadside infrastructure, brings opportunities and issues which are being discussed in this report produced by a joint task force of the World Road Association (PIARC) and the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA). The connected vehicle is no longer a [...]

Adaptation to climate change for bridges

Climate change has now become a global issue of concern and it is for this reason that the World Road Association has incorporated it into the strategic themes for the term 2008-2011. Higher levels of carbon-dioxide as part of greenhouse gas emissions are being released resulting in heat being trapped in the atmosphere, which over time will result in a rise in the earth's air temperature. This rise in temperature will filter into the oceans causing sea water to expand and therefore raise sea levels. [...]