AfPA is pleased to launch the Roads going full circle Symposium that will replace the AfPA International Flexible Pavements Conference for 2021 – due to the uncertainty of COVID – 19.

This event is an exciting opportunity to engage and share international leading knowledge in a new and exciting way, reaching out to delegates like never before.

In addition to the traditional knowledge sharing from the presentation of papers and addresses from keynote speakers, there will also be a series of workshops, panel sessions and  online skills training opportunities – a new stream to engage with our operational members

Streams

Sustainability

The title of the conference “Roads going full circle” refers to the need for the infrastructure sector to become circular and incentivise circular economy solutions to respond to the challenges of climate change, carbon emissions and reducing the use of virgin natural resources.
Circularity requires choices from the design stage to construction and asset management: designing for longer life, using durable and renewable materials, ensuring robust quality construction standards to reduce maintenance, waste, emissions of greenhouse gasses and optimise the use of the assets throughout their lifecycles.

In addition, we also seek Abstracts that address:

  • economic sustainability opportunities in alternative funding models for our essential transport infrastructure and services;
  • frameworks that will enhance the sustainability of our people in relation to their skills development and retention across the flexible pavements sector
Health and Safety

Continual improvement in the health, safety and wellbeing of our people is highest priority to all AfPA members. Abstracts are called for that showcase the latest developments or proposals to do business differently in the health and safety fields, relevant to our industry.

  • technology influences on road worker safety – intelligent road work sites and worksite safety, autonomous vehicle technology opportunities, funding research and whole of life benefits
  • improved delivery practices – forward moving spreaders, managing people and plant interactions
  • emerging challenges, and opportunities for funding and improving worker health and safety
  • national reporting on worker safety – encouraging and improving a reporting culture, the value of near miss reporting for incident identification and improvement.
Engineering and Construction

AfPA has 50+ years of driving continual improvement through the sharing of best practice, in particular as it relates to the technical engineering and construction of road pavements. Within Australia we are seeing a rapid change in the expectations of purchasers seeking:

  •  longer lasting roads – utilising perpetual pavement design principles and higher quality construction practices to provide innovative solutions for road maintenance and rehabilitation considering circular economy principles
  • opportunities to improve the performance of binders and shift towards performance-based specifications to unlock innovation
  • the use of renewable materials – from the waste stream into roads without compromising quality
  • the potential for energy harvesting from our roads.

The Scientific Committee encourages authors to submit abstracts early.

Abstracts are invited for two types of submissions:

  1. Paper – The Scientific Committee will undertake a review for each paper before acceptance.
  2. Presentation (without paper) – Intended for authors who would like to share practical examples. The Scientific Committee will undertake a review of each presentation before acceptance.

All accepted papers and presentations will be published as part of the Symposium proceedings.

Draft Program *

The symposium will comprise 4 half-day events covering the full suite of flexible pavement topics areas. It is envisaged, that each day of the event will focus on one of the core streams (outlined above) with content being delivered through a combination of presentations, workshops and panel session.

* Subject to change 

Date 03 August 2021 04 August 2021 05 August 2021
Streams

Opening

Health and Safety

Sustainability Engineering and Construction
Delivery format

Keynotes/presentations/workshops/panel sessions

Timeline 

 Extended deadline for abstract submission – early submission recommended  14 December 2020
 Deadline for papers (excluding presentation)  28 February 2021
PowerPoint only presentations for review 30 March 2021
 Final papers and PowerPoint  only presentation  31 May 2021
All recorded PowerPoint presentation 23 June 2021
 Final recorded PowerPoint presentation

11 July 2021