Background
Australasia and Sprayed Seals
In the 1950s, Norman McLeod, the Canadian 'grand master' of North American asphalt technology, spent five years travelling the world to study road construction practice. His findings on sprayed seals were considered so important that the U.S. Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists published a special supplement to their 1960 proceedings. In this supplement, Dr McLeod referred to the surfacings placed by the then Country Roads Board of Victoria, Australia (now VicRoads) as 'the most consistently excellent surface treatments and seal coats that have been built anywhere in the world'.
This tradition of excellence has been continued by Australian and New Zealand Road Authorities. The latest versions of their design procedures and sealing practices have been published in consolidated form by Austroads, based extensive field trials over many years in diverse field conditions.
ARRB has been associated with research into sprayed seals for over forty years. Developments include a durability test for bitumen and a seal life model. ARRB acts as a focus for research and information exchange bringing road authorities and industry together through an Austroads committee system to discuss materials, practice, specifications and innovation.
Aims of the Conference
Sprayed seal type surfacings serve a number of functions, depending on where they are used. Applications range from the provision of enhanced surface properties on primary routes to delivering all weather access on low volume roads. Seals provide good value for money, ensuring the most cost effective use of road funding.
Seal performance depends on the skills and experience of practitioners in design, material selection and construction techniques. Road authorities in many parts of the world are being challenged with the loss of experienced personnel through rationalisation and the retirement of experienced workers.
This conference aims to promote the continuing use of seals by:
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Who should attend
This is the first major international conference on sprayed sealing. It will be of interest to:
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