Practical qualifications in road engineering
Many may not appreciate that Australia relies more on road transport than any other nation in the world, on a per capita basis, and is challenged on critical fronts like few others, given its size, its climatic and geological diversity, and a low population base (but high road length km/head).
For most developed countries more and more use of allocated funds for roads will be spent on the maintenance of the road, as distinct from their construction. Limiting the deterioration rate of the road pavement is therefore an essential goal as typically pavement maintenance is the largest single component of a road agency’s recurring costs.
The challenge however comes also at the start when proper design is undertaken, then ensuring proper construction to provide optimum performance thereafter. Then follows the development of optimum maintenance strategies, understanding maintenance and rehabilitation requirements, and the implementation of the most appropriate strategies thereafter.
Why has this great significance for you? Well, future improved performance is being threatened by the continuing loss of experienced road and pavement engineers, and supervisors, resulting in the evaluation of pavements and the selection of the most appropriate maintenance and rehabilitation being undertaken by less experienced and knowledgeable persons. Today’s roads and pavement engineers and supervisors however need to be more skilled and knowledgeable, and this is a priority issue in Australia.
The Centre for Pavement Engineering Education (CPEE) is accepting applications for its roads and pavement engineering postgraduate programs including the Graduate Certificate of Pavement Technology and Master of Technology in Pavements in 2012.
The application of learnings to problems in the workplace is facilitated by the distance education format which does not require attendance at a university or attend face-to-face lectures.
To receive further information, email info@pavementeducation.edu.au or visit www.pavementeducation.edu.au
*Copy supplied by CPEE
