EDITORIAL
Dear reader,
I’m very pleased to present to you the very first issue of the IRF CROSSROADS for the year 2022. There’s always some sort of magic at the beginning of a new year, as it is that moment when we realise that there’s always an opportunity to start something new. A new way of looking at things, a new way to build commitment, a new way to act.
The climate challenge, the road safety challenge, the inequalities we have built in our systems, they all require a new course of action. They require true innovation, and “Innovation” in all its forms will be central to IRF work this year. It will be our guiding light as we step up our efforts to bring our industry together and to work collectively for a mobility that is able to meet the expectations of people, of the planet and that leaves no one behind.
We look very much forward to walking this journey with you.
We will be finally meeting in person at Intertraffic Amsterdam end of March, but in the meantime, take a look at what is in the pipeline already for the next weeks…
I wish you a good reading!
Susanna Zammataro
Director General
IRF & Michelin to Lead the New SuM4All WG on Safety
SuM4All celebrates its fifth anniversary this year and will celebrate this important milestone at the 12th Consortium meeting to be held on 15 February 2022. The meeting will offer a unique opportunity to discuss sustainable mobility and to kick off the partnership’s work programme for 2022. IRF & Michelin will be leading SuM4All efforts on safe mobility.
Webinar on A Digital Twin to Predict Roads Deterioration
IRF, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham (UoB), the University of Nottingham (UoA), and the University of Manchester (UoM), is pleased to present a webinar with the theme “A Digital Twin for Roads: A combined physics and data-driven approach to predict roads deterioration”. The webinar will be held on 24 February 2022 from 14:00 to 15:00 CET. Registrations are open.
IRF at Transforming Transportation 2022
IRF Director General, Susanna Zammataro, will be joining a group of high-level speakers for a panel discussion titled “Resilient Mobility: Future-Proofing Transport Against Crisis” taking place at Transforming Transportation on 17 February 2022. This year, this leading transport event will take post-COVID recovery and post-COP26 commitments as a starting point to reimagine sustainable transport and mobility.
Valerann Wins IRF Start-up Label
Valerann – an innovative cutting-edge Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) SaaS company that empowers control centres and road operators around the world – is the recipient of the IRF Start-up Label in the framework of the partnership between IRF and the FIA Smart Cities Global Start-up Contest which foresees the assignment of an IRF Label to one of the 18 finalists.
Upcoming Webinar on Delivering Inclusive Public Transport
Join IRF and the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme on 8 February 2022 for a webinar focusing on the challenges the transport sector faces in ensuring that people with disabilities are not only beneficiaries of development, but more importantly that they are agents of change driving that development. Registration is free, but places are limited!
ITF Pre-Summit Research Day 2022: Call for Abstracts
The ITF Pre-Summit Research Day 2022 on “Transport for Inclusive Societies” will be held in person in Leipzig (Germany) on 17 May 2022. Abstracts addressing the theme of the Research Day are welcome till 7 March 2022. More information on the topics and how to submit an abstract is available online.
Private Sector Road Safety Coalition Launched in Morocco
Coordinated by the IRF, a group of leading private sector companies active in Morocco have entered into a partnership to use their combined knowledge and expertise to reduce road deaths and injuries in the country. The initiative is the result of the partnership between the TotalEnergies Foundation and the IRF, aiming at establishing private sector road safety coalitions in a number of countries around the world.
Successful TRB Workshop on Assessing TMSs Capabilities and Performance
IRF was pleased to support again this year, together with other key TRB Committees, IBTTA, ERTICO, and ASECAP, the annual workshop on Traffic Management Systems (TMSs) organised by the TRB ITS Committee. The workshop was held in person on 9 January 2022 in the framework of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 101st Annual Meeting staged on 9-13 January 2022 in Washington, D.C.
Road Safety Pledge for a Better India
Under the theme “Sadak Suraksha – Jeevan Radsha” the 30th Road Safety Week was held on 11-17 January 2022, as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India. The IRF India-Chapter has already joined the Road Safety pledge and encourages other organisations worldwide to do so as well and to help raise more awareness regarding Road Safety.
ICT Receives the Industry Excellence Award 2021
The Institution of Engineers (India) has recognised ICT – an esteemed IRF Member – with the Industry Excellence Award, under the category “Engineering Services and Consultancy”, for demonstrating High Order of Business Excellence. IRF President Emeritus and ICT’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr K. K. Kapila, attended the ceremony to receive the award.
Can Waste Paint be Used in Building Roads?
The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) is researching whether unwanted paint can be successfully used in road construction. The Australian research is investigating the use of waste paint in rejuvenation-type products involving bitumen emulsions, the stabilisation of granular materials, dust suppressants, and non-structural concrete for low-risk road applications.
Serbia: Large Infrastructure Projects Delivered
In Serbia, the construction of large infrastructure projects and over 1,200 kilometres of highways and expressways is currently underway. PE “Roads of Serbia” rehabilitated 682 kilometres of State roads and 547 kilometres of local roads in 2021. Key projects include the construction of a bypass around Belgrade and the construction of highway 3-763 connecting Belgrade with the South Adriatic.
Turkish Road Association Co-Hosts Major Event
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the General Directorate of Highways, in cooperation with the Turkish Road Association and the Turkish Asphalt Contractors Association, the 8th National Asphalt Symposium and Exhibition was held on 8-9 December 2021 with the theme of “Asphalt 4.0 for Digital Transformation and Mobility”.
Ecogest North America Inc. is a Canadian company providing summer and winter maintenance services along transport infrastructures in the green sector (landscaping and drainage system management) operating in Canada and the United States. After fifty years of experience gained by its holding company in Europe, the company wishes to export its valued know-how and innovative studies in the field of climate change to North America. Ecogest North America combines scientific studies with working practices and the ability to support the potential customer through working methods tailored to the environmental context, that can be a valid alternative to the traditional practices allowing cost savings in maintenance planning.
Meet the team:
From left to right: Marco Zambon (Director), Valerio Molinari (Main Shareholder), Pietro Torchi Lucifora (Director), Paula Poniatowaska (Board Secretary).
Webinar “Delivering Inclusive Public Transport”
08 February 2022 – Online
12th SuM4All Consortium Meeting
15 February 2022 – Online
Transforming Transportation 2022
16 – 17 February 2022 – Online
Webinar “A Digital Twin for Roads“
24 February 2022 – Online
2nd International Traffic Safety Conference
21 – 22 March 2022 – Doha, Qatar
29 March – 01 April 2022 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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