ROADS PAVEMENT FORUM

CSIR CONFERENCE CENTRE16 May 2001

South African T2 Centers – UpdateP.J.Hendricks

CSIR-Transportek

Structure of Presentation

• Background– FHWA T2 Centers– South African T2 Centers

• T2 Centres operation– NDOT (SANRAL)– KwaZulu-Natal– CSIR-Transportek

• Future plans• Expectations from industry• Conclusions

Background - FHWA

• “The successful development of the road system in the United States is a story of vision, long-term commitment, cooperative organization, and the continuous search for better technology, including international exchange of road technology.”

• Robert A. Ford First African Transport Forum,Cairo, Egypt Nov 25-27, 1997

FHWA-Background

• Research by the FHWA quantifies an important relationship between transportation and economic growth. – Over the period 1950 to 1989, U.S. industries realized

production cost savings averaging 18 cents annually for each dollar invested in the road system.

• The United States drew on the experiences of other countries and combined these with its own plans, policies, and techniques.

Background - FHWA

1900

1940

1920

1960

1980

2000

Early road construction from Europe.

Mainly from France’s road and bridge lab.

Germany’s autobahns inspired the design of the Interstate System after World War II.

Today scans the world for advanced technologies, research, and best

practices

FHWA-Background

• Technology transfer has been one of the FHWA’s preoccupations since the beginning of the century.

• Technology transfer (within USA) includes five major activities:– Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) &

Technology Transfer (T2) Centers– Training, through the National Highway Institute– Research implementation and Special Projects– Demonstration projects– Experimental, Test and Evaluation Projects

FHWA-Background

• Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)– Channel through which innovative transportation technology is

prepared and delivered to both urban and rural local communities

– Activities support the operation of Technology Transfer Centers

• Technology Transfer (T2) Centers– 57 Technology Transfer (T2) Centers

– Provide training and technical assistance to local governments

– Delivery system for LTAP

– Serve engineers, supervisors, managers, and technical support staff of small cities, counties, and towns

FHWA-Background

• Technology Transfer (T2) Centers– Training is the focus of the program

– Provided through workshops, mobile training vans, hands-on training, field demonstrations, and lending of instructional training materials including videotapes, instructor manuals, and student workbooks

– Partnership effort with funding provided from Federal, State, local agency resources, universities and the private sector

FHWA - Background

PIH 1987

87 centers

21 countries

1990s

Finland, Russia

1995 SA1999 Tanzania

T2 Centers (SA)

1995 - 1 Center

FHWA/NDOT

2000 – 2 Centers

CSIR-Transportek/FHWA

KwaZulu-Natal/FHWA

Operation (SANRAL)

• 1995 – signed co-operative agreement between two NDOTs

• Purpose– Transfer and exchange of transport technology

between the two countries

• Administered by SANRAL in SA

• Significant achievements since inception

Operation (SANRAL)

• TRAC (Transportation and Civil Eng.)– Increase awareness of Transportation and Civil Eng. In

schools

– TRAC PAC 42 structured experiments

– 81 PACs in SA at schools, tertiary inst.

• Workshops– Contractor development

– US workshops• TRB and UC Berkeley

Operation (SANRAL)

• Dissemination of information– HMA guidelines– LIC manuals

• Community based safety education

Operations (KwaZulu-Natal)

• Established 2000• Purpose of the Center

– To provide Effective Technology Transfer of Industry “Best Practice” to meet the current and development needs of the Department and the people of Kwazulu-Natal.

• Objectives – Cutting Edge and Industry “Best Practice” Technology– Mentorships – Learner Development, and Professional

Registration– International Liaison, Marketing and Public Relations

Operations (KwaZulu-Natal)

• Research and Scoping activities– Departmental policy on alternate technologies to

regraveling – Scoping of high performance low cost river crossing

structures– Scoping of appropriate technology world wide for

application in the Department

• “Best Practice” Technology • Experiential training (ATE) programme

– Placed students mainly out in the field maintenance and construction

Operations (CSIR – Transportek)

• Established 2000• Purpose

– Establish center at Transportek, coordinate establishment of centers in other provinces

– Establish clearing house for transportation information

– For FHWA/Transportek to cooperatively undertake technology sharing and research projects

Operations (CSIR – Transportek)

• Progress– Clearing House

• Established library space

• Sourcing documentation

• Lending procedures (electronically)

– KZN/Transportek• Basics of road maintenance course

– Tremendous success

Future Plans

• Co-ordination of resources, centers– Linkages with AA etc

• Delivery to industry– Monitoring (advisory board)– Implementation

• Single newsletter• Clearing house activities (CSIR role)• Major role in support of regions

– In next year establishment of 1-2 further centers

Future Plans

• Information vehicle– Proven technology USA

• On-line active library access, co-ordinated training programmes

• Sustainable funding mechanisms

Expectations

• Opportunity for industry to access information, material– Training needs, demand for practical courses– Testing of technologies– Information needs– Workshops, demonstrations

Conclusions

• Knowledge age– Passive knowledge to ACTIVE knowledge

transfer and application– Open sharing of information – Promotion of ideas and innovations

• Regional collaboration• Delivering innovations to practitioners and

end users

Conclusions

• T2 centers– Track record in deployment of new technologies

– Technology and information transfer that arises from and responds to local needs and expertise

• Experience – Integration into existing transportation-related

institution enhances credibility, saves resources

– Improved transportation to support economic development

Conclusions

• T2 Centers– Delivering in provision of innovation, information

dissemination

– Work as well as the resources are utilised, supported

– Tremendous benefit to SA• Access to information, training material etc.

• Co-ordinating mechanisms for region

– Part of global community• “Not invented here”

• Limited resources in region