Objective
The project aims to improve the design of road pavements to make roads in LICs/LMICs more affordable, more efficient, and more resilient to climate change by updating and disseminating a new online Road Note (RN) 31. The primary beneficiaries of this research will be road design practitioners, transport authorities, and research institutions in LICs/LMICs, and multi-lateral development banks, multi-lateral and bilateral donors.
Potential impact
An updated online RN 31 that will include available technologies and automate certain pavement design processes. and extend the design traffic range in ORN 31 to beyond 30 million equivalent standard axles (MESA) based on engineering evidence, other gaps such as impacts of climate change and increasingly prevalent premature pavement failures.
Approach
The project will be conducted in three phases as shown below
Phase 1
- Launch meeting — TRL shall update the schedule of activities to incorporate the actual start date and any adjustments deemed necessary.
- Stakeholder onboarding — This is critical for the project and TRL will assist by preparing draft ToRs for the PAG and other stakeholders as may be necessary, followed by continual engagement.
- Review of ORN 31 and other Relevant Documents
- Preparation of the Draft Online RN 31 and Dissemination Guide
- Consultation, Workshops, and Preparation of Phase 1 Report
Phase 2
- Field Investigations
- Laboratory Testing
- Analysis of the Field and Laboratory Data, and Data from Past Studies
- Preparation of the Phase 2 Report
Phase 3
- Updating of the Online RN 31 and the Guide Document
- Dissemination and Training
- Preparation of the Final Report
Phase 4
- Drill down into design models, how applied within climatic regions and how road authorities can access the Road Note 31.
- Run a series of webinars in Zambia, Uganda and Ghana to develop better understanding of how to use and apply the tool.
- Work with an established international organisation such as the International Road Federation (IRF) and/or Commonwealth Engineering Council (CEC), and run a series of webinars that reach out through IRF and CEC networks and offer an opportunity for audiences to ‘ask the expert’ about the update.
- Presenting Road Note 31 at a conferences suited for African audiences.
Outcome
This research has created an updated guide which is fit for purpose for practitioners in LICs and MICs. The creation of an online version which will contain some automated processes such as determination of alternative pavement structures for inputs of traffic and subgrade values as well as some updates.