The Australian road network consists of over half a million kilometres of unsealed roads representing 60 per cent of the total network. Approximately one billion dollars is spent annually on maintaining the network incurring high maintenance cost per kilometre as well as being the largest consumer of natural materials in the infrastructure industry. Therefore, any contribution to reducing these two prime factors will have a significant effect on triple bottom line considerations (i.e. cost, environment and social factors). This paper describes the development in Australia of a synthetic polymer stabilisation binder and its field evaluation over the past five years and its potential to contribute to an improved triple bottom line. An economic 'whole of life' analysis using quantitative engineering assessments has been used to illustrate the potential for achieving 'Best Value Management of Unsealed Road Networks' together with estimates of reduction in consumption of natural materials. (a).
Samenvatting