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
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