TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING PIARC (the World Road Association) has asked HDMGlobal to continue technical support, training and sales for the Highways Design and Maintenance (HDM) software, which is used to appraise investment in road networks across the world.
A section of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project in South Africa
The quest for low-carbon and resilient road transport systems
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his extension is within the framework of the current concession from PIARC and precedes a major upgrade, which will be led by the World Bank Group. This upgrade comes at a time when countries are considering the necessity of transport networks that will improve resilience, enable economic recovery, and support the switch to low-carbon transport. “Effective road networks can be the lifeblood for regions and entire continents. They are essential for connecting communities, enabling access to education and healthcare, and for trade and economic development,” explains Dr Eric Stannard, CEO of HDMGlobal. Now in its fourth iteration (HDM-4), the software was initially developed at the University of Birmingham as part of the International Study of Highway Development and Management, which was supported by UKAid. “UKAid is further supporting the upgrade of HDM4 to provide improved climate resilience
South Africa
and road safety capabilities, to ensure it remains a relevant and valuable tool to help countries assess the full costs and benefits of road investments and make the software more accessible on modern tech platforms,” says Anne Joselin, infrastructure advisor: Transport Research at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Far-reaching benefits The influence of the HDM software is immense. It is regularly used in decisions over the funding of major infrastructure projects such as the 8 600 km African NorthSouth Corridor Road network, and emerging transport corridors in South America. Its regular users include the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, as well as governments and other organisations involved in roadbuilding. “The World Bank Group has been involved in the development of the HDM suite since its gestation and through its development, and
we look forward to leading the upgrade of the HDM software,” comments Richard Martin Humphreys, lead transport economist for the World Bank. “We will work in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Asian Development Bank, PIARC and other key stakeholders to ensure the HDM-4 model remains fit for purpose in 2022 and onwards.” Adds Patrick Mallejacq, secretary general of PIARC: “PIARC is proud to support HDM-4 as it has done since the 1990s, as it is convinced that this tool is essential to ensure that road projects are well planned and that proper maintenance needs are identified. “Since road transport usually represents about 80% of all inland transport, all advances that are made on that transport mode contribute to good service for users, to better allocation of funds, and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mallejacq concludes.
