Highway Engineering Australia

14/05/2025

CIMIC Group’s CPB Contractors and UGL, as part of the ActivUs Alliance, have been awarded the design and pre-construction contract for the main works package on the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project. CPB Contractors and UGL alongside ACCIONA, SMEC and WSP will work in partnership with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Rail to progress design and project planning activities.
Delivery of the LGC project will provide more frequent and reliable public transport services to address the high travel demand between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

07/05/2025

The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) is calling on the Australian Government to urgently implement measures to address persistently high road trauma rates nationwide. In 2024, 1,300 people were killed on Australian roads - the highest number since 2012 - and thousands of people seriously injured. A bold and evidence-based approach must be implemented now.
“The current road trauma rates in Australia are unacceptable and avoidable. We have evidence and tools to make our roads safer, but immediate action is needed to prioritise safety at all levels of government,” said Dr Ingrid Johnston, CEO of the ACRS.
“Designing roads to be safer, publishing safety ratings, and reducing speed limits in built-up areas are proven strategies that will save lives," Dr Johnston added.

29/04/2025

STUDY SHOWS GLOBAL EV ADOPTION FAILS TO CUT CO₂

There's little point in buying an electric vehicle if you're charging it with electricity generated by fossil fuels. In fact, when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions, your EV may be doing more harm than good.
This is according to a study by researchers from the University of Auckland and Xiamen University in China, published in the journal Energy.
The researchers analysed the environmental impacts of human activity and used a robust statistical approach to investigate what drives a nation's carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
Using data from 26 countries over 15 years, they found a surprising trend: higher EV uptake was linked to increased CO₂ emissions. The reason? In a number of countries, EVs are still being powered by electricity generated through burning fossil fuels like coal or oil.
Associate Professor Stephen Poletti and Simon Tao, a doctoral candidate at the Business School's Energy Centre, didn't observe a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions globally due to EV adoption.
“On the contrary, EV adoption is positively associated with CO₂ emissions,” says Tao. “This finding appears counterintuitive; it challenges the conventional belief that EVs contribute to decarbonisation.
“Our analysis highlights that the environmental benefits of EVs are contingent on the composition of a country's electricity generation mix.”
Take EVs charged using electricity from coal-fired power plants, says Poletti.
“In that case, they may indirectly contribute to higher emissions than modern gasoline or diesel vehicles, especially considering the entire lifecycle from production to disposal.”
The study results suggest only when the global share of renewable electricity generation reaches approximately 48 percent will electric vehicle adoption contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions.

23/04/2025

iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is doubling down on its mission to deliver impactful transport innovation for Australia, with the launch of a $2 million second round of its highly successful Impact Extension Program (IEP).
The fund is now also open to universities.
The IEP2 initiative aims to identify and support Australia’s most promising new technologies, products and services in the transport and mobility space. Grants from $100,000 to $500,000 will be awarded to a portfolio of high-potential projects, all of which must be completed by September 2026.
The new round follows the success of IEP1 in 2023, which attracted more than 75 applications and funded two standout innovations - microFleet’s OneDock and SAGE Automation’s See Me app - each awarded $500,000 to help bring their ideas to life.
IEP2 builds on this momentum, offering greater flexibility and reach.
While IEP1 awarded two $500,000 grants, IEP2 will take a portfolio approach - supporting 5-10 smaller or mid-sized projects, allowing more organisations including universities to participate.

17/02/2025

The rise of AI is transforming the engineering profession. Advancements in generative AI (GenAI) now enables creative design, idea generation, and optimization. Engineers are using these systems to develop and test solutions faster than ever. As this landscape evolves, engineers must gain the skills and awareness to harness AI’s benefits while managing its risks.
Read the full story at:

The rise of AI is transforming the engineering profession. Advancements in generative AI (GenAI) now enables creative design, idea generation, and optimization. Engineers are using these systems to develop and test solutions faster than ever. As this landscape evolves, engineers must gain the skills...

14/02/2025

Now is the perfect time to focus on your engineering career goals. Join a free member info session and explore how Engineers Australia gives you all the tools you need to thrive.
Visit: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/webinars-members

14/02/2025

SLUDGE PAVES THE WAY FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Gippsland Water is exploring an innovative way to make gravel pavement construction more sustainable. The study involves mixing alum sludge, a by-product of the water treatment process, with a traditional gravel to create pavements with a lower carbon footprint.
Alum sludge is a mixture of dirt, debris, and aluminium sulphate (alum), a chemical used to bind unwanted particles together so they can be removed from drinking water.
Managing director Sarah Cu***ng said findings of initial studies had been promising, however there was still more work to do before any gravel pavement could be constructed.
“Our first step was to engage the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) to determine whether a mixture of alum sludge and gravel could bare the weight of the vehicles and machinery,” Ms Cu***ng said.
“The study indicated the mixture can bare the same amount of weight as traditional pavement, but there is more work to do before we can test it outside a laboratory.”
The next stages involve investigating the impact, if any, alum sludge could have on the environment if it was used to create pavements.
Ms Cu***ng said that if the next stages of investigation were successful, the organisation would share its findings within the water sector and other industries.

14/02/2025

SIEMENS MOBILITY AWARDED MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
FOR KUALA LUMPUR METRO TRAINS
Siemens Mobility recently announced that it has been awarded the technical support and spares contract for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the general contractor SMH Rail. It is a planned maintenance after the line has been in operation for eight years.
Siemens Mobility will provide components, subsystems, technical supervision, and staff training to the maintenance provider SMH Rail over a 40-month period. This contract builds on Siemens' existing technology and expertise for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT Line, further strengthening the company's presence in the Malaysian public transportation market.

14/02/2025

DOLRE Low Stress Bridge Traffic Barriers are changing the face of bridge safety upgrades across Australia.
Find out more at: www.dolre.com.au

02/02/2025

As we step into 2025, the engineering profession is poised for transformation. Renowned futurist Bernard Marr’s trend forecast highlights global changes and points to the critical role engineers will play in shaping the future. From advanced digital tools to decarbonisation initiatives, these trends are set to redefine how engineers work, think, and innovate:
Read the full story at:

As we step into 2025, the engineering profession is poised for transformation. Renowned futurist Bernard Marr’s trend forecast highlights global changes and points to the critical role engineers will play in shaping the future. From advanced digital tools to decarbonisation initiatives, these tren...

29/01/2025

Roads Australia has urged Australia’s governments to keep investing in transport infrastructure, amid the release of a new Infrastructure Australia report showing a sharp decline in funding for road, rail and active transport projects.
Infrastructure Australia’s 2024 Infrastructure Market Capacity report, released in December, reveals that the investment pipeline for transport has declined by 10 per cent in the past 12 months.
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Roads Australia has urged Australia’s governments to keep investing in transport infrastructure, amid the release of a new Infrastructure Australia report showing a sharp decline in funding for road, rail and active transport projects. Infrastructure Australia’s 2024 Infrastructure Market Capaci...

29/01/2025

The Kia PV5 has won the prestigious ‘One to Watch’ Award at the What Van? Awards 2025, ahead of the production-design reveal and ultimate launch of Kia’s first electric van later this year.
The What Van? Awards celebrate the brands, businesses and organisations within the UK’s light commercial vehicle industry that have reached the pinnacle of their fields, with an appropriately business-focused event that took place during December in London.
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The Kia PV5 has won the prestigious 'One to Watch' Award at the What Van? Awards 2025, ahead of the production-design reveal and ultimate launch of Kia's first electric van next year. The What Van? Awards celebrate the brands, businesses and organisations within the UK's light commercial vehicle ind...