National Reports
TS1 - Challenges for the Sustainable Development of Road Systems
The aim of the TS1 Strategic Direction Session was to discuss two major issues:
- the policies adopted in the different countries to achieve sustainable development of the road system
- how road administrations can maintain leadership, in particular with the coordination of the different stakeholders.
In relation to this session, National Reports were called for that provide inputs on the following issues in particular:
- identification of efficient funding allocations for road investment and quantitative project evaluation,
- measures for securing financial resources,
- measures for administrations to improve governance and performance indicators,
- network-wide operations from the users point of view and reflection of public opinions.
TS2 - Sustainable roads - part of the transport chain in a globalised world
In the whole world, economic relations are changing very rapidly. There are quick development processes in various regions of the world which are connected with economic growth and increasing trade relations. Intensive competition leads to a relocation of production sites and, thus, to new traffic flows in the world. At global level, there is an increasing number of intercontinental and international transport corridors involving all transport modes.
In all parts of the world the demands on the sustainability of the infrastructure will rise. From the point of view of sustainability, the influences of the road on the quality of life and the environment will become more and more the focus of attention. In consideration of these aspects it is therefore necessary for the road construction administrations to face the discussion of this subject. Investments, innovations and also fiscal instruments have to be used in such a way as to make mobility more efficient and reduce the transport intensity of our economic processes.
This reduces congestion, saves valuable time and fuel costs, enhances road safety and at the same time reduces environmental burdens and shows that economic, ecological and social objectives in the transport sector do not exclude each other. Moreover, in many states of the world demographic changes emerge which will have some influence on the transport infrastructure. These include the high birth rates in many developing countries but also the increasing aging of the population in some industrialized countries.
Against this background, National Reports on the following subjects were welcomed:
- Transport chains and corridors in a world of globalisation (Integrated planning of the infrastructure network, etc.) (Combined transport, etc.) (Cross-border transport, etc.)
- Consequences of the demographic process on the road infrastructure (Impacts on regional planning and road infrastructure, etc.)
- Impact of roads on the quality of life (Urban integration of the main road network, etc.) (Rural roads and accessibility, etc.) (Elderly persons and road traffic, etc.)
TS3 - Risk Management: New Approaches to Improving Safety
Strategic Direction Session 3 was committed to exploring how risk management was being used to achieve the goal of managing overall safety and its future potential for helping save lives and prevent crashes.
National Reports were invited which should highlight:
- research,
- implementation,
- training,
- policy development within the field of risk management
TS4 - Road asset management: integrating best technical and management practices with political responsibilities
Road asset management requires technical data on the nature and condition of different components of the infrastructure, management systems to organize the data and provide economical and functional information to assist decision making and lastly, decisions made by political decision makers. The roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders should be well defined in order to ensure optimum service to community, i.e. a road network that is safe, functional and in good condition.
National Reports were called for which focuses particularly on:
- the political decision makers' perceptions of the role of asset management systems;
- integration of technical inputs into the decision process