WELCOME

Welcome to the 19 th issue of FEHRL’s Infrastructure Research Magazine (FIRM), which outlines how FEHRL provides transport infrastructure solutions for current and future challenges.

First of all, dear readers, I would like to raise your awareness about the change of the FEHRL Modus Operandi as from the 1st of January 2023. The aim is to further adapt the organization to cope with the various and complex challenges ahead in the transport infrastructure related research. FEHRL has therefore streamlined its governance and widened its inclusiveness and cooperation with its members, partners and stakeholders to embrace better the holistic approach needed in its research activities. I have the pleasure to welcome and introduce the new FEHRL Board:

• President: Aleš Žnidarič (ZAG);

• Vice Presidents: Kelly Regal (FHWA) and Tomas Svensson (VTI);

• Members: Agnès Jullien (UGE), Jānis Barbars (LVC) and Markus Oeser (BASt);

• Past President: Maria de Lurdes Antunes (LNEC).

I am also delighted to announce the election of Xavier Cocu (BRRC) as Chair of the Research Committee. This committee will be in close interaction with our three new Working Groups respectively dealing with Built Environment, Natural Environment and Social environment. The Working Groups will be the perfect place to plug-in the members` expertise with the one from the partners and stakeholders, as well as stimulate the knowledge exchange and development around transport infrastructure related issues.

The FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting (FIRM 23) that will be held on 25-26 April 2023 will also be a great opportunity to network and debate about strategic matters as well as promote current research activities. You are cordially invited to register and join us at Blue Point in Brussels.

FEHRL will also be active in skills development in 2023 through the edition of the FEHRL International Project Management Training (18-21 September, Brussels) as well as the Young Researchers’ Seminar 2023 (15-17 May, Lisbon) that is co-organized with ECTRI, FERSI, EURNEX and HUMANIST.

FEHRL has also kicked-off a very important project on CCAM. The Augmented CCAM project completes the portfolio of collaborative research that FEHRL is currently undertaking. I invite you to have a look at the Low Noise pavements activities, the development of the BD-PAVE initiative as well as the progress made in ALARTE. FEHRL is also very happy to be an active ERTRAC member and to contribute to the related Future Horizon project. Last but not least, I am happy to confirm the commitment of FEHRL to the TRA Conference and the TRA Visions activities, and I invite you to read about the success of the 2022 edition in Lisbon.

Thierry Goger FEHRL Secretary General thierry.goger@fehrl.org