Smart roads in Africa could help reduce the impact of flooding and other disasters that affect rural communities.
When a stream enters a culvert, the flow can be concentrated so much that water flows incredibly fast. So fast, in fact, that small and juvenile fish are unable to swim against the flow and are prevented from reaching where they need to go to eat, reproduce or find safety.
Shutterstock
Solar roadways have been promoted as a way to fight climate change, put people to work and make driving safer. But on closer inspection the reality is less than impressive.
We need to consider why transport infrastructure is so controversial, and how politicians can ensure they have the public’s trust when making announcements for all transport projects.
There are more than 50,000 public bridges in Australia. (The Sea Cliff bridge is one Australia’s newer bridges, built in 2005).
from shutterstock.com
Bridge engineering does not end when construction finishes and traffic starts to flow.
An aerial view of Seligman, Arizona, looking west, dated March 12, 1971. Route 66 bisects the town.
James R. Powell Route 66 Collection/Newberry Library
‘The Mother Road’ is one step closer to becoming a National Historic Trail, which would allocate funds for struggling towns along the original Route 66.
The settings on traffic lights make pedestrians wait longer by giving higher priority to vehicle traffic.
Abaconda Management Group/Wikimedia
Everyone doesn’t simply wait their turn at traffic lights. Signals are set up to enable a ‘green wave’ for cars and adjust to heavy traffic, making walkers wait longer no matter how many there are.
Fractured concrete pavement slabs on a street in Canton, Mich.
Victor Li
‘Bendable concrete’ is not an oxymoron. Mimicking designs found in nature, engineers are making concrete that gives under stress without shattering – an advance that could improve US infrastructure.
In a pre-election budget, we can expect infrastructure politics to triumph over policy, yet again.
Julian Smith/AAP
Australia does need infrastructure to spur growth and support jobs - that idea comes with a big “but”.
Sydney’s WestConnex is being constructed as a “high priority” project, despite its business case failing to meet Infrastructure Australia’s stated requirements.
Ben Rushton/AAP
Analysis of the business cases for three of the biggest projects deemed “high priority” by Infrastructure Australia raises questions about the process.
People stroll along Moshoeshoe Street in Emfuleni.
Darya Maslova
By expanding our understanding of streets and enhancing their design, every street corner could become a space to socialise, to exercise, to play, or to trade.
Much of the traffic using Sydney’s Anzac Bridge and, in the distance, Harbour Bridge is travelling through the city centre, not to it or from it.
Rob Roggema
One potential benefit of WestConnex, which remains untouched, is that it could relieve Sydney’s city centre from cars and make it more pedestrian-friendly.
There is evidence to suggest there is a ‘system’ of factors influencing truck crashes.
AAP/Perry Duffin
Congrui Jin, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Adding a bit of fungus to the initial ingredient list might be one way to endow concrete with the ability to fill in any bits of damage that occur, without the need for human intervention.
Cyclists ride in memory of Alberto Paulon who was struck by a person opening a car door on a busy road in Melbourne.
Takver/Flickr
With frigid temperatures and snow in the forecast, slippery roads can’t be far behind. Salt keeps roads safe, but it’s harmful to aquatic environments.
A Chinese road-building corporation felling rainforest in the Congo Basin.
Bill Laurance
Chinese investment is driving an unprecedented investment boom in global infrastructure. But despite its claims to be pursuing green development, China’s building bonanza is harming the planet.