Features

While tunnels are often more expensive than bridges, they can offer environmentally attractive options for transport schemes. Tunnels offer environmentally attractive options for a range of transport infrastructure schemes, but in many cases high construction costs may restrict their use.

Novel safety barrier solutions are coming to market, writes Mike Woof The safety barrier market is a focus for innovative products designed to meet a range of different applications. The diverse range of vehicle types on the road poses numerous technical challenges to barrier manufacturers. At the same time, different applications such as motorcycle safety, end treatments, bridge barriers and roadside obstacle protection require novel solutions. Although motorcycles account for only a small proportion of ve

Light and illumination equipment supplier Thorn Lighting, part of the Zumtobel Group, is to add a basic version of Lighting Reality's design and calculation simulation software to its products, initially for those sold in France and potentially across Europe.

Savoy Computing in the UK has been quick to launch a new version of its AutoTrack swept-path analysis software to take advantage of the latest AutoCAD 2012 platform.

British scanning company 3D Laser Mapping is hoping to benefit from a £3 million ($5 million) fund announced recently by the UK government for police forces to purchase laser scanning technology for accident recording and investigation.

New advanced software is being released for use by those involved in highway design as Adrian Greeman reports. The growing importance of BIM, building or project information modelling, as a design and construction process, and not just 3D modelling, is the driving force for the latest 2012 versions of Autodesk's comprehensive range of software for civil engineers. This is reflected in a new packaging of its various software tools into suites (along the lines of Microsoft's office suites) tailored to variou

New US-style pavers are coming to market, writes Mike Woof. Paving Techniques for the North American market focus on productivity, with manufacturers offering new machines specially for this sector. The US paving market is very different from Europe, with manufacturers having focussed on productivity so as to be able to surface the country’s long distance highway construction projects.

The building of Italy's highway system just over four decades ago led to the formation of a testing equipment company. It is now among the world leaders. Just over 40 years ago a big surge in construction of the Italian highway system presented an opportunity to a team of local entrepreneurs.

Everyone connected with the highway industry is involved in the efforts to cut down the number of work zone accidents. Patrick Smith reports. A few months ago, as road work resumed on America's highways and bridges, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called on drivers to use extra caution in work zones. At the same time he commended the success in reducing overall roadway fatalities in each of the last seven years.

More efficient and productive compaction solutions are coming to market shortly, Mike Woof reports. Several key trends are emerging in the asphalt compaction market with the development of the latest generation machines. Performance and productivity remain key issues for compactor manufacturers with firms keen to maximise output from their latest units.