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Letter from the Editor

Hello and welcome to Roads & Construct Ireland. We have a very packed first issue with a variety of articles covering a wide range of topics.

Atkins, a multidisciplinary design consultancy with offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway, has been central to assisting the TII in making its transformation over the past 5 years from road builder to road manager.

Atkins were awarded the National Roads Network Management Service Contract (NMSC) by TII to develop a strategy for the future maintenance of the 744km, generally the non-PPP element of the inter-urban motorway network. Atkins had a long history in the road maintenance sector in the UK and their experience of developing road maintenance strategies across several countries was key to their appointment to the commission. We look at the challenges faced in this transformation.

Roads and Construct Ireland Ph: +353 1 458 7672 Email: info@motorsireland.ie Address: The Loft, Main Street, Newcastle, Co. Dublin

c Roads and Construct Ireland Ltd 2018 ISSN: 2009-9746 For all advertising and marketing queries, contact Anthony on ph: +353 1 458 7672 or email: info@motorsireland.ie Sales & Marketing Director: Anthony Kelly Graphic Design: Paola Giorgetti Editorial Assistant: Emer Kelly Advertising Sales: Artur Syroka

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The M7 carries approximately 70,000 Vehicles per day and is the main network connection to M9/Waterford, M8/Cork and M7/Limerick. The M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass upgrade was always going to be one of the most significant road schemes contained in the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building on Recovery Programme. We look at the three main areas of the project and hope to follow its progress in future issues.

Commercial manager at Mobile VMS Michelle Curran was kind enough to give us some of her time and input on using Portable ITS Applications for critical road works and road weather management. Successful mobile ITS applications should include many key elements and features and this article should help to fill any knowledge gaps you may have within this key area.

Good plant machinery is key to successful project completion in a timely and efficient manner and over the coming months we hope to speak to key companies in this area.

For this issue we looked at Skipton properties in the UK who have a range of Liebherr equipment. We focus in on the R 920 compact.

Many people think we are a long way off having full autonomy on our roads network. That may be the case but as technology advances at such a fast pace this change could be closer than we all expect. We take a closer look. I hope you enjoy the issue and we would very much welcome your input so feel free to contact us if you feel your company has something to offer the roads industry and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be delighted to have a chat with you for a future issue.

Enjoy the read.

14

CONTENTS 4 NEWS Latest news from the roads and construction industry

8 PROTECTING THE ASSET From being road builder to road manager.

14 M7 NAAS TO NEWBRIDGE BYPASS UPGRADE One of the Governments most significant road schemes 18 PORTABLE ITS APPLICATIONS ITS applications have made great strides in Ireland

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22 CASE STUDY WITH LIEBHERR R 920 COMPACT Skipton Properties has a growing fleet of Liebherr machines 28 CAR REVIEW We drive the Nissan X-Trail commercial 34 GALWAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW M17/M18 MOTORWAY Scheme bypasses several towns to remove traffic bottlenecks

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38 THE DRIVE TOWARD FULL AUTONOMY Delivery of a driverless future.

44 NEW GENERATION CF AND XF TRUCKS FROM DAF A new standard in transport efficiency and driver comfort

44

4 NEWS

High Court judge designated to Infrastructure development cases The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly informed lawyers that a High Court judge has been designated to exclusively deal with all applications for permission to challenge decisions concerning strategic infrastructure developments.

From Monday, 26th February, 2018 all applications for leave to apply for judicial review in respect of permissions or decisions concerning strategic infrastructure developments must be made to Mr. Justice Barniville. They may not be made to any other judge.

Mr Justice Barniville will sit each Thursday morning at 10.30am during court terms to hear such applications.

Anyone seeking leave must file the relevant legal papers in a prescribed form with the High Court central office one week before their leave application is put before Mr Justice Barniville.

The applicant for such leave must lodge all the necessary papers in support of the application in a bound, indexed and paginated form with the Central Office marked Strategic Infrastructure Application no later than 4pm on the preceding Monday.

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Should leave be granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review Mr. Justice Barniville will give all necessary ancillary directions with a view to ensuring a fair just and expeditious hearing of the matter.

For the purposes of this Practice Direction a strategic infrastructure development is development in respect of which a direct application is made for development consent to An Bord Pleanรกla in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended.

A strategic infrastructure development is defined as a development in respect of which a direct application is made for development consent to An Bord Pleanรกla in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended.

The Cabinet also discussed and approved measures which will make it more arduous to question major infrastructure projects, large housing developments and data centres.

These measures include halving from eight to four weeks the period to seek judicial review of major planning decisions and restricting the eligibility of individuals to seek judicial review.

5

Intel Forecasts $7 trillion a year self-driving car industry by 2050 Automobile giants are in a hurry. The race to be the first to deploy autonomous vehicles is on among carmakers, emerging start-ups, and tech giants. And as per Intel, self-driving cars will revolutionize the way we travel, work and live. It will create a $7-trillion-a-year industry by 2050. The US tech giant is forecasting what it terms a “passenger economy” that will create massive opportunities for new businesses, as people transform from drivers into riders with time.

As per the recent study released by Intel, the companies that don’t prepare for self-driving cars, risk failure of business models or perhaps even extinction. New digital business models ushered in by personal computing, the Internet, ubiquitous connectivity and smartphones have given birth to a wide range of new booming economies. So autonomous driving will do the same.

The study, prepared by Strategy Analytics, predicts that autonomous vehicles will create a massive economic opportunity that will scale from $800 billion in 2035, which is the base year of the study, to $7 trillion by 2050. And it won’t be just the ease of driving. An estimated 5,85,000 lives could be saved due to autonomous vehicles between 2035 and 2045, the study predicts. Intel’s prediction is not restricted to numbers.

Some of the more outlandish predictions include what it calls “car-venience” applications such as onboard beauty salons in cars, as well as mobile health clinics and treatment pods.

It even imagines that self-driving vehicles could “platoon” together to form pod hotels. As per the study, self-driving vehicles are expected to free more than 250 million hours of commuting time per year in the most congested cities in the world.

Intel has a vested interest in rosy predictions about the future of autonomous transportation.

It has promised to spend $250 million over the next two years to develop self-driving technology and recently acquired Jerusalem-based auto vision company Mobileye for $15 billion. Intel is also working with BMW to put self-driving cars on the road later this year. Autonomous technology will drive change across a range of industries, the study predicts, the first green shoots of which will appear in the business-to-business sector. These autonomous vehicles will first appear in developed markets and will reinvent the package delivery and long-haul transportation sectors. This will relieve driver shortages, a chronic problem in the industry, and account for two-thirds of initially projected revenues.

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6

NEWS

Minister Ross welcomes over €136m funding for multiple road safety schemes and road projects The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross welcomed confirmation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland that, as a result of funding he secured in Budget 2018, it has approved road safety schemes to a value of over €136m. Minister Ross was delighted that approval has been confirmed to progress a number of long-awaited road projects, including the Ardee Bypass which will begin construction in 2018.

moving ahead with other major projects included in the Capital Plan.”

The Minister noted that funding has also been confirmed to allow the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramogue scheme to progress to statutory approval.

This scheme is 35 km in length and involves the upgrade of the N5 National Primary route in Roscommon.

Additionally, TII has indicated to the Minister that the 15km N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin scheme with Minister Ross said; “I committed to an overall investment value of €105 providing funding for road safety pro- million would now commence con grammes and I am very happy to be struction in 2018 able to confirm today that a significant number of safety schemes across Michael Nolan CEO TII said: “The country are going ahead next year. approval for funding by the Board Although road traffic collisions occur allows TII to work with our local aufor a variety of reasons, the condition thority partners in delivering projects of our roads is an important factor in that will improve road user safety preventing crashes and saving lives. I across our national road network. It is would like to stress that I am dedica- also another important step forward in ted to improving road safety for all of the National Road Safety Strategy.” our citizens in whatever way possible, whether through legislation, educa- The Building on Recovery Capital tion or road maintenance and there- Plan includes provision for a rolling fore I am delighted to see TII making programme of improvements on the this funding commitment to safety im- N56. Minister Ross noted that further provements across the country.” progress will be made on this programme next year when upgrades on Minister Ross added; “I am also happy the sections from Kilkenny to Letterilly that TII have confirmed they are and Mountcharles to Drumbeigh

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will proceed.

As well as the schemes included in Building on Recovery, the Capital Plan Review has resulted in a significantly enhanced capital investment programme in the transport sector, including a number of additional road projects. One of these projects is the 4.5 km N52 Ardee Bypass and TII will now be allocating funding to allow construction to start in 2018.

List of the national road realignment schemes announced today 1. N2 Monaghan to Emyvale Phase 3, County Monaghan 2. N52 Ardee Bypass, County Louth 3. N56 Coolboy to Kilmacrennan, County Donegal 4. N56 Kilkenny to Letterilly, County Donegal 5. N56 Mountcharles to Drumbeigh, County Donegal 6. N59 Westport to Mulranny Section 2 Kilmeena, County Mayo 7. N61 Coolteige, County Roscommon 8. N67 Ballindereen to Kinvara, County Galway 9. N70 Kilderry Bends, County Kerry 10. N80 Maidenhead, Coounty Laois 11. N81 Knockroe Bends, County Wicklow

8

PROTECTING THE ASSET

â&#x20AC;&#x153;ATKINS WERE AWARDED THE NATIONAL ROADS NETWORK MANAGEMENT SERVICE CONTRACT (NMSC) BY TII.â&#x20AC;?

I

n 2000, the network extended to approximately 350km. This increased to 1,224km by 2010 when the last of the inter-urban Dual Carriageways (mostly Motorways) linking Dublin and the other major cities was completed. The National Roads Authority (NRA) (now incorporated into Transport Infrastructure Ireland [TII]) oversaw the delivery of a massive road building programme which now provides a first class asset for the country. With this development, TII needed to transform its role from being road builder to road manager. Atkins, a multidisciplinary design

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consultancy with offices in Dublin, Cork and Galway, has been central to assisting the TII in making this transformation over the past 5 years.

Atkins were awarded the National Roads Network Management Service Contract (NMSC) by TII to develop a strategy for the future maintenance of the 744km, generally the non-PPP element of the inter-urban motorway network. Atkins had a long history in the road maintenance sector in the UK and their experience of developing road maintenance strategies across several

Protecting the asset

With Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significant economic development in the 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s came the construction of the Motorway network.

countries was key to their appointment to the commission.

Before this commission commenced, each Local Authority maintained the extent of the motorway network within their respective boundary with funding provided by TII. This included the provision of routine maintenance, winter service and incident response on these strategic sections of the network. In terms of the maintenance aspect of this service, the existing service was mostly reactive (responding to major failures) rather than proactive (planned intervention).

Another aspect of the motorway system was the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Contracts that exist on parts of the network. These are long term commissions that pass responsibility for maintenance and operation of parts of the network to private operators in return for financing and building that part of the network.

The PPP schemes were being maintained to a high standard and disparities were apparent in the visual performance of parts of the network and the active management of major incidents on the network.

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10 PROTECTING THE ASSET

Strategy TII wanted to consider all options and adopt the best possible practice at the most affordable price: Atkins were commissioned to research best practice from around the world and develop a maintenance strategy which was appropriate for Ireland. The research from England, Scotland, Holland Australia and New Zealand demonstrated that maintenance, in most developed countries, was predominantly carried out by the private sector using various forms of contract.

• • • • • • • • • •

geotechnical engineering planning services health and safety compliance and advice project management fire safety disability access interior design traffic and road safety landscape architecture quantity surveying

Based on the research and cost-benefit analysis, strategic decisions were made to: • Centralise maintenance of the motorways, with responsibility being placed with TII. This would provide consistency of performance across each of the 21 Local Authorities affected; • Privatise the maintenance function: this had the benefit of utilising the significant knowledge and experience of the road maintenance industry which private contractors had developed, mainly in other countries, but also on the PPP contracts in Ireland; • Divide the country into 3 maintenance regions which were large enough to encourage interest from the road maintenance industry; • Only permit operators to maintain a single region, thereby establishing 3 contractors and encouraging long-term competition in the marketplace; • Develop specifications which were ensured best practice and best value; • Utilise a medium term contract duration (5 years plus Client option to extend by a further 2 years), which would encourage investment by the private operators; • Consider the transition to a more effective, possibly longer term, contract at the end of the current contracts; • Develop a bespoke form of contract, based upon the Public Works Contracts, to capture the differences between ‘Construction’, which is what the existing Public Works Contracts were developed for and ‘Maintenance’, which has a whole different set of issues; • Provide strategically placed maintenance depots around the network.

As stated above, TII owned depots were a strategic requirement of the maintenance contracts. Atkins, as a multidisciplinary design consultancy, developed seven depots to planning stage and undertook detail design and provided construction administration and site supervision of four depots. The services that Atkins provided included: • • • •

civil and structural engineering mechanical and electrical engineering architecture environmental assessment

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The depots have a consistent appearance and were constructed to similar performance specifications which have been designed to last. The depots are an investment and an asset that can be transferred from one generation of maintenance contracts to the next.

Implementation In conjunction with TII, Atkins developed the new maintenance contracts, referred to as the Motorway Maintenance and Renewals Contracts (MMaRC) and TII tendered these contracts on the open market.

The contracts include the following services: • Routine and reactive maintenance;

11

• • • •

Incident support the emergency services; Winter services (gritting and snow ploughing); Asset collection and management; Renewal works.

TII, in parallel, were seeking to appoint a company to represent their interests on all motorway related maintenance operations. They developed a contract for the Motorway Contracts Audit and Administration Services (MCAAS) and tendered it on the open market. Atkins were again successful in securing this commission.

The role to date has comprised of the following: • Administration of the MMaRC contracts; • Audits of MMaRC and PPP contracts; • Design; • Contract supervision; • Inspection and monitoring; • Advice; • Project and programme management; • Cost consultancy; • Value Engineering.

“DEVELOP SPECIFICATIONS WHICH WERE ENSURED BEST PRACTICE AND BEST VALUE.” Challenges and Success Stories As with all new Contracts, challenges emerged for the operators, TII and Atkins.

All parties have worked closely and cooperatively to resolve these challenges. Some of these challenges included the existing asset condition, the collation of data across a number of data headings (asset data and inventory associated with that asset), incident data (on all incidents that occur on the network), monitoring and reporting on potential insurance claims related to Road Traffic Collisions and winter related data (such as salt usage, etc.) in addition to adopting and dealing with this new Contract type (and its associated

requirements) within this industry.

There have been many success stories associated with the MMaRC contracts such as the improved conditions achieved on the network over the past 3 years, the consistent and quick response times to incidents on the network, the completion of a number of pavement schemes as well as the rectification of a considerable number of defects across the network (particularly in relation to safety barrier and drainage assets).

In addition, the data collection exercises, while far from complete, have given TII a greater understanding of the asset that they are managing and the need for its maintenance and potential upgrade over the

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12 PROTECTING THE ASSET

coming years.

‘A new contract always brings new challenges and in this case there was a steep learning curve for the team. However Atkins has risen to the challenge and together with the Client, TII, the contractors and all of the stakeholders, we have developed an excellent product to enable the motorway assets and its users to be safeguarded.’ stated Sean McDonnell, Associate Director, Atkins who has been helping to manage this project since the beginning. Sean went on to say that ‘excellent working relationships was the key ingredient to the success of the contract. The contract was new for all parties involved and it was imperative that all stakeholders contributed effectively. Atkins spent considerable amounts of time developing the collaborations between the various parties and the contract’s implementation, as a result, has been a wholehearted success.‘

The general consensus, across TII, the Local Authorities and the industry as a whole seems to be that the services provided are key to the successful operation of the network and that the contracts have been a success to date, providing both value for money and a consistency of service across the country.

The expertise delivered by the Atkins team on this commission across a range of services and areas of expertise is indicative of the services similarly offered to a wide range of public and private sector clients across all areas of the engineering and architecture spectrum. Clients continue to return to Atkins as they know that they will get a first class service and approach that has the confidence of being backed up by industry experts in their field to ensure successful project delivery. This is the approach that is taken on the MMaRC project and with a number of years remaining on this commission it is hoped to continue this level of service to ensure its continued successful delivery.

“TII OWNED DEPOTS WERE A STRATEGIC REQUIREMENT OF THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS”

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14 M7 NAAS TO NEWBRIDGE BYPASS UPGRADE

The award of a contract with SIAC/Colas JV commences one of the most significant road schemes contained in the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building on Recovery Programme.

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15

M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass upgrade

T

his contract consists of three major elements and is scheduled for full completion early 2020: 1. Widening the existing M7 motorway from two lanes to three lanes both eastbound

and westbound for approximately 14km, between Junction 9 Naas North, at Maudlins (Perpetual Motion Ball) and the M7/M9 interchange at Junction 11.

2. Replacing and relocating the existing ramps at Junction 10 Naas South Newhall to the main Naas Newbridge dual carriageway, the R445. Also to include the construction of a new interchange at Osberstown between Junctions 9 and 10 which will be designated Junction 9a.

3.The Sallins Bypass which includes approximately 1.7km of new Type 2 Dual Carriageway and 2.0km of single carriageway, together with a 1.2km single carriageway link road from the Bypass to Sallins town centre.

Peter Carey CE Kildare County Council said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We welcome contract award which will not only underpin economic recovery in this country, but also represents a tremendous investment in our local economy, improving the attractiveness of Kildare as a location for business and Tourism opportunities. It is a critical piece of infrastructure linking the National Road network to the Regional and Local Road network for Naas, Sallins and environs allowing expansion for development and creating significant value for the region. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our employees in the Kildare National Roads Office in Naas,

The scheme includes six new structures. www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

16 M7 NAAS TO NEWBRIDGE BYPASS UPGRADE

TII and the DTTaS for their professionalism in bringing this strategic project to such an advanced stage.”

The scheme includes 6 new structures, including two bridges over the River Liffey, a bridge over the Grand Canal, the new Osberstown Interchange bridge over the M7 motorway and a minor road bridge carrying Osberstown Road over the Sallins Bypass. The Sallins Bypass bridge under the main Dublin Cork railway line will be constructed by Irish Rail under a separate but parallel contract.

Traffic Management will be in place along the M7 from junction 9 Naas North to junction 11 M7/M9 at various phases during the term of construction. 2 lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times between 6am and 10pm. For the duration of active construction works there will be a special speed limit in place. An emergency lane will be available through the works at all times.

The M7 carries approximately 70,000 Vehicles per day and is the main network connection to M9/Waterford, M8/Cork and M7/Limerick.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross, T.D. said, “I’m delighted to see this significant scheme progressing to contract award stage. This will be the first of the major road upgrade projects included in the “Building on Recovery” Capital Investment

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Also to include the construction of a new interchange at Osberstown.

Plan to go to construction. While the M7 Naas road widening will improve traffic flow on the main Dublin to Cork corridor, the Osberstown Interchange and the Sallins Bypass will enhance connectivity between the M7 and the towns of Naas and Sallins supporting transport planning for the area.”

Michael Nolan CEO TII said, “TII is pleased with today’s announcement. Improvements to traffic flow along the M7 corridor offers regional and national benefits. It will enhance safety and reduce traffic delays for all road users travelling to and from Dublin, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. TII looks forward to working the Kildare County Council and DTTaS in delivering this project.”

18 MOBILE ITS APPLICATIONS

Using Portable ITS Applications for Critical Road Works and Road Weather Management

Words: Michelle Curran (Commercial Mgr -Mobile Variable Message Signs Ltd) Pics: Mobile VMS

P

ermanent intelligent Transport System (ITS) applications have made great strides in Ireland over the past decade.

However, when it comes to applying proven ITS technology on a mobile temporary basis within critical road work areas or regions where severe weather conditions, such as poor visibility (fog) or flash flooding (water film thickness) adversely affect driving conditions, the industry still has much to do.

Road works areas are often the most critical, due to their unpredictable, non-recurrent congestion and reduced capacity but seasonal weather conditions can strike quickly, wreaking havoc on driving conditions with deadly consequence.

Mobile ITS systems have been widely implemented in the U.S. market for the past 5-10 years and offer virtual traffic management centre resources across multiple jurisdictions and agencies. The motoring public are not concerned with who owns and manages the roadway, just in having real-time information to better plan their trip, prepare for travel delays, unanticipated

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queues or hazardous conditions. Ireland needs to do more in terms of specifying these systems during roads planning and design. Adverse weather warnings aside, roadwork schemes are often the most critical areas on our network, due to their unpredictable, non-recurrent congestion and reduced capacity. There is clearly an environmental impact resulting from increased fuel emission due to queuing, congestion and increased acceleration. Mobile VMS believe the use of advanced real-time mobile ITS technology reduces the impact of roadworks on network performance and the environment also.

Mobile ITS is a greener, safer, more efficient approach to traffic management at roadworks and areas affected by adverse weather. By treating the motorist as a customer and providing timely journey information, we encourage them to drive more efficiently, therefore reducing carbon emissions and the resulting environmental impact. Journey time information is widely available across the road network but this does not give real time traffic updates at specific roadworks.

Another point to note is that road worker safety has been at the forefront of recent appeals by Road Safety Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Yet, if we are to improve safety and environmental impact on the road network and provide the most reliable driver information for more efficient journeys and productive road works, with all the associated cost savings, the use of accurate ‘real time’ traffic data should become more of a focus.

Mobile ITS System Features Successful mobile ITS applications should include many key elements and features to help promote better safety and mobility, whether that is for journey information or an adverse weather warning. These systems need to offer real-time information for multiple types of applications utilizing the same overall system hardware. They should also utilise any proven sensor technologies and blend multiple types of sensor data / traffic information and third party data sources like TomTom, Google, Datex11, ect. The equipment needs to be capable of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each device should be equipped with a high speed modem that has GPS for asset management

and control. Integration with existing road weather stations is also possible and combined with traffic sensor data on speed and volume of vehicles, vital roadway information is transmitted to a ‘Smart’ server capable of processing xml feeds and reacting to predefined thresholds in order to automatically transmit key warning messages to motorists ahead of any incident.

For example, MVMS are currently working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Colas Roadbridge to integrate data from visibility sensors with our JamLogicTM traffic management software which in turn triggers automated alerts via our variable message signs on the M18 Cloneen, Ennis. information is transmitted to a ‘Smart’ server capable of processing xml feeds and reacting to predefined thresholds in order to automatically transmit key warning messages to motorists ahead of any incident. For example, MVMS are currently working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Colas Roadbridge and Vaisala to integrate data from visibility sensors with our JamLogicTM traffic management software which in turn triggers automated alerts via our variable message signs on the M18 Cloneen, Ennis.

Mobile ITS is a greener, safer, more efficient approach to traffic management.

Mobile ITS for adverse weather warnings MVMS have taken an innovative approach and applied mobile ITS in the management of adverse weather situations such as reduced visibility due to seasonal fog and water film thickness (surface water).

It is widely agreed that visibility and other roadway weather situations can adversely affect driver behaviour. Portable, easily deployed ITS applications play an integral role in the operational framework for roads where adverse weather conditions have a direct impact on motorists. Employing mobile ITS technology along a designated route can have a dramatic roadside impact, informing motorists of adverse weather conditions, such as low visibility due to fog and surface water thickness, and the subsequent effect on braking distance. A simple real time warning system can dramatically affect driver behaviour and actively encourage motori sts to reduce speed by providing timely information on the situation further downstream.

Across the UK and Ireland, Fog is a common and recurrent phenomenon causing a sudden reduction in visibility conditions on highways. The international definition of fog is a collection of water particles that reduces visibility below 1 km (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1995). Heavy surface water can cause similar problems in relation to visibility and, in addition, breaking distance. These factors can lead to an increase in crash levels (Abdel Aty et al, 2010). Effect of fog on driver safety and related crashes was studied in great detail in the UK by Moore and Cooper, 1972. They found that even though traffic reduced by 20% under foggy conditions, the total number of crashes leading to injuries increased by 16%. Crashes occurring under foggy conditions frequently involve multiple vehicles (Summer et al, 1997). One of the most obvious factors concerning fog is that it is frequently more prevalent during the winter months so a temporary ITS application is an effective way of controlling fog related incidents during key winter months when visibility is worst.

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19

20 MOBILE ITS APPLICATIONS Quite often, visibility is worst on roads which do not have a suitable fog detection and warning system.

Ireland has numerous rural roads across the network with no permanent infrastructure even though these stretches of road are often particularly affected by adverse weather. The use of mobile VMS and speed sensors for pilot projects enables road engineers or consultants to choose the best location based on specific site needs. Trailer based mobile variable message signs (Mobile VMS) can be placed upstream of existing weather stations equipped with visibility sensors as demonstrated in previous trials with TII. Fog sensors can even be mounted on traffic sensor trailers or VMS. The distances between signs and warning devices should be based on road speed limits or alternative routes available and be sufficiently in advance to allow drivers time to take the appropriate action. For example, if the normal action is to just reduce speed, then the advance warning distance is less. This can all be determined on a trial basis using Mobile VMS and an operating system like Mobile VMS JamLogicTM software which supports information from visibility sensors. The addition of mobile speed sensor trailers provides a secondary method to detect a problem and also monitors traffic flow during a fog event to help traffic control engineers tweak the logic applied to better tune the system. The report following a trial can then be used as a cost efficient model to evaluate whether motorists reduce their speed as a result of being informed of fog and if effective, to promote deployment of permanent ITS technologies.

Mobile ITS should be capable of providing real-time automated traffic email / SMS text alerts to key personnel when speeds and / or journey times or other traffic incident data exceeds acceptable user-defined thresholds. Although ANPR is widely used, it does have limitations in the ability to provide real-time data.

ANPR uses historical journey time information as it is dependent on a vehicle passing through defined points and then calculating the time taken to travel that distance. It is more important to evaluate the system needs / goals and then use the type of sensors which best accommodate the desired outcome. For example, if real-time traffic data is required through road work’s, then using mobile traffic sensors (Doppler, Microwave, Bluetooth, ANPR) ideally placed every 750 – 1000m in areas of concern, alongside mobile VMS and mobile CCTV trailers, will allow the evaluation of a roadway system and whether sensors will become part of the future permanent infrastructure. Mobile VMS should be placed at key upstream decision points and be placed often enough that the real-time information is relatively current for the next 4 – 6 miles +/- downstream. Mobile CCTV trailers should be placed in areas of concern to allow for visual verification of automated system alerts. Project managers can then evaluate if the system data should be integrated into the local Traffic Management Centre (XML / API data stream) or if a virtual TMC software approach is desired, or both.

The ability to push / pull real-time traffic data with one or multiple Traffic Management Centres utilizing different formats is a key feature of a successful mobile ITS system. This allows sharing and integration of system information with permanent ITS systems, in road works areas that may have insufficient sensor coverage or that may require additional message signs to convey key traveller information in areas not covered with overhead Variable Message Signs (VMS). Mobile VMS variable message signs are all UTMC compliant so can easily integrate with agencies like Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII); Transport NI; Transport for London and local authority traffic control centres as we recently demonstrated by our collaboration with Siemens to deliver journey information in central London.

Although ANPR is widely used, it does have limitations. www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

21 Mobile ITS System Applications Mobile ITS systems need to be easily scalable to fit the needs of a specific project and each phase of that project. Adding, subtracting or relocating devices should be easily accomplished. One deployment can serve multiple purposes, thus delivering more benefit for the cost. For example, a Journey Time system could also be programmed to provide vehicle-specific high speed warnings to only those entering the road works at a user-defined unsafe speed. Equally, when congestion builds, the journey time messages could switch to queue warning messages letting motorists know they are approaching slow/stopped traffic. This same system could be used in areas where visibility is reduced at times due to fog, surface water etc. and automatically change Variable Speed Limit signs in advance of the area. Mobile VMS are currently embarking on the UK Smart Motorway scheme projects with Highways England (HE), having recently completed HE schemes on the A40 Walham (Skanska) and A21 Pembury Dualling (Balfour Beatty), providing accurate journey information to motorists through the roadworks. The Smart Motorway schemes will see the integratation of Datex 11 third party data feeds with JamLogic TM for automation advance journey information on the motorways during large scale upgrade works. This will reduce congestion and provide increased road capacity during the Smart Motorway schemes, on what are strategic sections of the road network with the associated economic benefits.

Most road work related crashes are rear-end accidents (30-40%), Queue Warning systems are often the most cost-effective and can reduce rear-end type incidents by 20-60%, which not only reduce delays for all other approaching motorists but also makes the works area safer for motorists and workers.

Another variation of a Queue Warning system is a Dynamic Merge system, which encourages early merges when free flow traffic exists and then alters messages when the area is congested, to direct motorists to utilise all lanes until the merge zone. Studies have shown this type of system actually allows 10-15% more traffic flow compared to un-directed traffic flow.

Advancement of Mobile ITS Systems For mobile ITS systems to become more widely utilised, the industry and leading professional organisations need to encourage and provide guidance on when mobile ITS systems are recommended / cost justified.

They also need to provide sample specifications that can be utilised for commonly deployed systems, such as for Automated Queue Warning systems and Journey Time systems. These specifications should only include proven system providers and should be performance based and focused on the system goals/needs and not on specific hardware or technologies. An example of this would be to require 10 metre camera trailers with cameras that can provide at least 1 fps (frame per second) over a digital cellular network, 360 degree continuous panning and provide a minimum of x18 optical zoom etc. Historically ITS professionals have simply and incorrectly cut and pasted CCTV specifications from permanent projects with no consideration

Another variation of a Queue Warning system is a Dynamic Merge system. for power efficiencies and minimising bandwidth (both of which are important considerations for longer duration mobile deployments).

We in Ireland should benchmark with the US and Canada. For example, the U.S. FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) published the “Work Zone ITS Implementation Guide” in January 2014 and provided guidance for such efforts. This document details all possible considerations for those planning to implement these type of systems and most importantly provides a Work Zone ITS feasibility score sheet to aid in determining when this type of system should be considered for use. This report identifies a 6 Step Process: 1. Assessment of Needs 2. Concept Development & Feasibility 3. Detailed System Planning & Design 4. Procurement Methods 5. System Deployment Considerations 6. System Operation, Maintenance & Evaluation The U.S. FHWA has also implemented advanced initiatives and special funding to encourage additional utilization of “Smart Work Zone” (ITS) systems for the following specific applications: • Automated Queue Warning Systems • Variable Speed Limit Systems • Dynamic Merge Systems This program is part of the FHWA’s “Every Day Counts” (EDC-3 Initiative) Conclusion The Highways Industry, particularly in Ireland, has gone through huge changes, with ITS now very much at the forefront and finally part of the vocabulary. Our involvement in schemes like the road weather warning projects for Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson in Northern Ireland demonstrate this surge in ITS integrations at roadworks. Ultimately mobile ITS systems are designed and intended to provide detection and automated alerts to increase safety and mobility in advance of and through a road works area or parts of the network frequently affected by adverse weather conditions. These areas are the most critical in each agency’s overall network or extended network and thus deserve more attention and effort utilising ITS technologies that are proven and cost-effective when properly designed and procured to provide safer roads and more efficient traffic flow.

For further information on specific projects and trials or for details on any of our VMS or ITS products please contact Michelle Curran Tel: 042-9375637 / email: Michelle@mobilevms.ie Mobile Variable Message Signs Ltd. See us on stand 10.501 at Intertraffic Amsterdam 20-23 March 2018. www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

22 LIEBHERR R 920 COMPACT

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

23

Skipton properties has UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first R 920 compact in service Builder and property developer Skipton Properties has a growing fleet of Liebherr machines, including an R 922 crawler excavator and a PR 736 crawler tractor.

LIEBHERR R 920 COMPACT www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

24 LIEBHERR R 920 COMPACT

I

ts latest purchase is the first R 920 Compact excavator to enter service in the UK and the company’s first task for its new machine has been on a large housing development in Haworth.

Builder and property developer Skipton Properties has returned to Liebherr for its latest purchase: the first R 920 Compact excavator to enter service in the UK. Founded in 1986 by current Managing Director Brian Verity, Skipton Properties is a multi-award-winning developer with over thirty years’ experience and a mission to create homes that are sympathetically designed and woven into their natural surroundings but also energy efficient and sustainable.

The family-run company develops distinctive residential properties built with quality materials and prides itself on the quality of workmanship from its teams of long-serving craftsmen.

Unlike many developers, the company owns and operates a mixed fleet of earthmoving and civil engineering plant to undertake quarrying, landfill and property development throughout the Yorkshire region and into Lancashire. Skipton Properties has recently purchased a number of excavators and a dozer from Liebherr-Great Britain. The company’s fleet now includes a Liebherr PR 736 dozer, an R 922 excavator and its new R 920 Compact.

Launched at the end of 2016, the R 920 Compact complements the popular R 914 and R 926 Compact excavators that are already in the range and the soon-to-be-launched R 936 Compact crawler excavator.

With an operating weight between 19 and 21 tonnes, depending on specification, the R 920 Compact is powered by a Stage IV / Tier 4f emission standards compliant 150 HP diesel engine that is longitudinally mounted to the offside of the upper structure.

The R 920 Compact packs a lot into its small frame. www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

The mounting of the engine, hydraulic pump and cooling system allows for the reduction in the rear overhang, which is only around 600 mm in the specification chosen by Skipton Properties.

Constructed around a tried and tested X-frame undercarriage that can be specified with an optional dozer blade, the R 920 Compact packs a lot into its small frame. In common with reduced tail swing machines from a number of manufacturers, the Liebherr cab has seen a reduction in depth to accommodate the internal mechanics of the excavator. This reduction

25

The controls are intuitively laid out, easy to reach and operate. diesel engine has been developed to be extremely fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

The R 920 Compact has been supplied in a basic ground works specification with a long undercarriage sitting on 700 mm pads, a 5 m mono boom and a 2.65 m dipper.

A Hill TEFRA lock and Hill TITAN buckets complete the package. Perfectly balanced and producing almost 100 kN of breakout force, the R 920 Compact excels in both excavation and lifting operations, thanks to the powerful 300 litres / min hydraulic pump, and with the refined hydraulic system, control of the excavator’s functions is precise and intuitive. Capable of a maximum dig depth of almost 6 m and a reach of over 9 m, the machine can compete with any other machine within this class.

LIEBHERR R 920 COMPACT has enabled Liebherr’s designers to install an access panel that gives service personnel safe access to the top of the upper structure. The height of the upper structure has been kept to a minimum to increase the view to the rear of the machine from the operator’s seat. The offside of the excavator is dominated by the large gull-wing canopy that covers the engine, hydraulic pumps and cooling pack, all of which are safely accessible from ground level.

All daily checks can be made from the ground or via the operating system within the cab. The four-cylinder

Skipton Properties’ first task for its new purchase has been on a large development in Haworth where the company is constructing a selection of detached homes and retirement apartments adjacent to the heritage railway line, which is a huge draw for the area.

The well dimensioned, well specified and economical excavator has made a good impression at Skipton Properties and joins a growing fleet of machinery from Liebherr.

Roger Sadler, Plant Manager at Skipton Properties, said: ‘Even with the compactness of the R 920 Compact, the lifting power is excellent and the cab is really spacious.

The controls are intuitively laid out, easy to reach and operate.

Our operators and ground workers are very surprised by how quiet the machine is in operation both inside the cab and working with the machine externally. But the Liebherr really shines when it comes to maintenance: all service points are accessible with ease from ground level so that daily checks can be quickly and safely carried out with minimum downtime.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

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28 NISSAN X-TRAIL

DOWN and

DIRTY The Nissan X-Trail is an oldie but a goodie and a well-proven mid-sized SUV

T

he Nissan X-Trail is one of Nissan’s best-selling vehicles globally. The latest update includes a freshened look inside and out, extra specifications and improved safety.

The third-generation X-Trail is based on the same platform as the Qashqai and has evolved into more of a compact crossover. A facelift for 2017 has sharpened the X-Trail up a little.

The front end has a new V-shaped grille that aligns it more with the design ques of other vehicles in the Nissan range including the new Micra and Qashqai for example.

There are new bumpers front and rear, the obligatory “shark fin” antenna and some interior tweaks including an optimistically sporting flat-bottomed steering wheel.

The driving position is good and high and you have a great command of the road from behind the wheel making it easy to manoeuvre the X-Trail. This is also helped by its nimble and light steering.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

29

Words: Anthony Kelly Pics: Road & Construct

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

30 NISSAN X-TRAIL I drove the X-Trail on motorways, light off-road terrain but also on fairly rough roads where your literally dodging deep potholes and while I did hit a few, they were absorbed very well and this is down to a good suspension setup. Nissan is not new to the area of off-road vehicles with it’s very capable Navara a clear example and you can’t help but feel comfortable knowing the X-Trail would get you out of some awkward situations should it be required. Bear in mind I was in the front-wheel version and on loose surfaces and semi off-roading and it handled itself well. The 1.6 litre engine certainly does the job but you have to be realistic in your demands. It has enough power to get the job done but don’t push it. The manual gearbox helps to compliment the engine so you can gauge accurately to lower or higher the gear as necessary if off-road. The X-Trail comes with a decent 2,000kg towing capacity.

Front-wheel drive comes as standard on the X-Trail, but diesel buyers can have 4WD if desired. The X-Trail comes with an all-wheel-drive set-up that’s an adaptive 4x4 system. It can be switched between fuel-saving front-wheel drive, an automatic mode, which only sends drive to the rear wheels under hard acceleration or in slippery conditions, or a 4x4 lock mode, which is ideal for the worst weather and off-road situations. The X-Trail is aimed at the family friendly market when you add seats unlike our commercial version which has just driver and passenger seating and it’s a pleasure to drive. Majority of sales won’t be for the 4x4 variant as many buyers are likely using it as family vehicle on road. If visiting sites and using the X-Trail both on and off-road I’d recommend getting the four wheel drive. It’s peace of mind and you’ll no doubt find it saves you at some stage down the line.

It’s worth noting the slightly smaller Qashqai has a simple torsion beam rear axle in two-wheel drive guise and a multi-link set-up on the 4x4, while all X-Trail models get the sophisticated multi-link rear suspension.

If looking for an advantage over rivals like the CX-5 or the Kia Sportage the X-Trail does have a clear advantage over its obvious rivals in terms of size.

It’s at least 140mm longer than a CX-5 or Sportage and it does have the feel and look of a larger SUV. Interior styling feels a bit dated if being honest but we were driving the entry level X-Trail Van XE so move up to the SV or SVE and you can expect some refinements that go some way to offset any negative. The material and switchgear are dependable and durable and I don’t expect you to have any issues but would be nice to see a revamp on the interior of the X-Trail just to match the rest of the positive aspects of this capable SUV. Our XE version came as standard with Bluetooth Connectivity to Phone, 5” Advance Drive-Assist Display, Hill Start Assist and a Suede Tricot Trim.

“The X-Trail does have a clear advantage over its obvious rivals in terms of size.”

Conclusion The X-Trail is one of the world’s biggest-selling SUVs, Over 400k sales in the US alone. They are figures car brands can only dream of and you don’t sell that many vehicles without good reason. As a commercial vehicle I found the X-Trail delivered. You have the look of a modern SUV along with the ability to tow a decent capacity at 2,000 kg. I think the interior is a bit dated but very durable and won’t cause you problems. I was in the front-wheel drive version and found it handled very well, was comfortable on rough road surfaces and even felt like it could handle itself and I wasn’t even in 4WD. If on and off sites regularly get the 4WD version. I had the XE version so I’d explore the SV or SVE depending on your budget to get a few extra options. Nissan has informed us of a 2.0-litre diesel option if you find the 1.6-litre option is not enough for your needs and there is also a 1.6 litre petrol to choose from.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION Model Nissan X-Trial Commercial

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1.6 XE

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120hp

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185 km/h

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€333 per year

€33,100

32 KILSARAN INTERNATIONAL

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This program will benefit all construction professionals who want to have a better understanding of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complex construction industry standards. It will examine the roles, responsibilities and perspectives of all parties. It will provide an overview of current industry standards, identify common issues and considerations, and offer practical tips and information for standard adherence and implementation. Topics covered in the suite include Bituminous Materials, Masonry Products, Aggregates, Masonry Rendering & Plastering Mortars and Ready Mix Concrete.

For more information on seminar dates and to register your interest, please visit: www.kilsaran.ie/learningseries or email learningseries@kilsaran.ie

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34 GALWAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW M17/M18 MOTORWAY

The new road will take thousands of vehicles away from the centres of Clarinbridge, Claregalway and Tuam every day and form part of the Atlantic Corridor along Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s west coast.

It is designed to accommodate national through traffic flows and significantly improve safety. www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

35

Galway’s New M17/M18 Motorway

M

any motorists in the west of the Country shudder at the very mention of Claregalway and Clarinbridge – both notorious bottlenecks on the N17/N18 route between Sligo and Limerick

made famous by the Tuam-based Saw Doctors song N17.

The N17 / N18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme forms part of the Atlantic corridor outlined under Transport 21.

The scheme involved the design and construction of a new road to replace the existing N17 and N18 between Gort and Tuam.

The existing N17 and N18 will now be reclassified as regional roads. The scheme bypasses several adjacent towns to remove traffic bottlenecks. It is designed to accommodate national through traffic flows and significantly improve safety and reduce journey times for traffic travelling north-south along the West of Ireland. The new road aimed to improve connectivity between the Western Region and Dublin and will significantly assist in the economic development of the BMW (Borders, Midlands and Western) regions.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport at the time was Leo Varadkar and Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform was Brendan Howlin. They signed a contract with a consortium to construct the M17/M18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme which hoped to create up to 450 jobs, boost local economies in the west and ease congestion.

The overall cost of the scheme was estimated at €550 million and the road would be toll-free.

“This is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to improving transport infrastructure outside of the Greater Dublin Area,” Minister Varadkar said with Minister Howlin commenting: “I am very pleased that we have achieved sign-off on the latest roads project to be delivered using the Public Private Partnership model and indeed the first, and largest, project of our new PPP Stimulus Programme.”

The project commenced at the northern end of the N18 Crusheen to Gort scheme which opened to traffic in November 2010. The route will be of motorway standard from Gort to the junction at Kilmore, just south of Tuam, a distance of 53.2km.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

36 GALWAY’S NEW M17/M18 MOTORWAY The alignment then continues with a dual carriageway Type 2 cross section, following a route to the west of Tuam town centre, to its end point on the N17 north of Tuam at Mountpotter, a distance of 4.2km.

Here are the junctions, from north to south: • Mountpotter R/A on the existing N17 and N83 • Ballygaddy Rd Jct at Tuam • Kilmore R/A – connecting to the N17 south of Tuam • Annagh Hill Jct – connecting to the N63 Galway/Roscommon Rd • Rathmorrissy Jct – connecting to the M6 Galway/Dublin Rd west of Athenry • Kiltiernan Jct – connecting to the existing N18 • Gort Jct on the existing M18

This new motorway is a huge boost for the western seaboard area.

After a decade of planning and three years of construction, the new M17/M18 motorway between Tuam and Gort was finally opened at 4pm on Wednesday 27th September, ahead of schedule. Laid out on a largely greenfield route, the 57km stretch of motorway should shave at least 20 minutes from journey times from one end to another, depending on traffic conditions and will allow traffic to bypass Tuam, Claregalway, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Ardrahan and Gort.

A spokesman for Transport Infrastructure Ireland at the time of launch said: “The new road will significantly improve safety and reduce journey times for traffic travelling north-south along the West of Ireland. It will also improve connectivity between the Western Region and Dublin and will significantly assist in the economic development of the BMW (Borders, Midlands and Western) regions.”

It was a new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD who had the pleasure to finally officially open the M17/M18 Gort to Tuam scheme on Wednesday 27th 2017.

The Gort-Tuam Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme is one of three road PPP projects included in the Government’s Financial Stimulus Package 2012.

Speaking at the opening Minister Ross said: “This is my first major road opening as Minister for Transport so I am delighted that the M17/18 road scheme has been completed two months ahead of schedule and on budget. This new motorway is a huge boost for the western seaboard area. It will enhance employment opportunities, benefit tourism and help address traffic bottlenecks at Tuam, Claregalway, Oranmore, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan and Gort. I look forward to using it.” The Minister added; “In more good news there will be no tolls on the motorway.”

Commenting on the opening Michael Nolan CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said: “Todays’ opening marks a significant milestone for TII in delivering on our remit to provide a safe and efficient network of national roads. The M17/M18 Gort to Tuam motorway enhances connectivity along the Atlantic corridor and also provides a strategic national link across the Country through the M6 Rathmorrissy junction.”

Main contractors were Sisk, Roadbridge and Lagan Construction. The M17/M18 is a credit to all involved. From government ministers pushing for the project to the teams that worked on the completed scheme, managing to finish both on time and on budget. Perhaps the famous N17 song regarding those emigrating can now be about those returning emigrant children being collected by parents travelling to Shannon on the new M17.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

continental-tyres.ie facebook.com/ContinentalTyresIreland

38 THE DRIVE TOWARD FULL AUTONOMY

The drive toward full autonomy ADAS partnerships and products propel the drive toward full autonomy

S

peaking on the topic of autonomous driving at CES 2018, Mobileye CEO Professor Amnon Shashua explained that millions of cars hitting the streets this year, simply equipped with a front-facing camera and Mobileye’s new fourth-generation EyeQ® system-on-chip, will play a crucial role in the delivery of a driverless future.

These cars from BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen will harvest low-bandwidth data packets, which will be aggregated in the cloud, thereby enabling creation of high-definition maps through Mobileye’s Road Experience Management (REM™) program.

These high-definition maps will eventually play a key role in delivering safe and affordable Level 4/5 autonomous cars, but in the near-term are creating an entire new category called Level 2+.

Advanced consumer-targeted systems, which take over the driving tasks under many conditions (on-highway and beyond), have gained significant momentum. Many were included in Mobileye’s 30 ADAS design wins in 2017 and are among Mobileye’s 15 program launches in 2018. The ability to deliver precision maps at scale and low cost by leveraging the proliferation of camera-based safety systems on cars takes these systems to a new level at an affordable price. Overall, Mobileye has design wins for advanced L2+ and L3 autonomous systems with 11 automakers who collectively represent more than 50 percent of the auto industry – designs that will launch this year and in 2019.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

CARS ARE POISED TO BECOME THE GREATEST DATA CONDUITS ON THE PLANET.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

40 THE DRIVE TOWARD FULL AUTONOMY

THIS YEAR, MOBILEYE WILL BEGIN COLLECTING ROAD EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT DATA Through ADAS technology today, and fully autonomous technology tomorrow, cars are poised to become the greatest data conduits on the planet. As Intel CEO Brian Krzanich noted in his keynote address and Professor Shashua echoed, the ability to leverage the coming flood of data is critical to the eventual deployment of driverless cars at mass scale.

Together, Intel and Mobileye have the strategy, resources, products and design wins to address this coming data challenge.

Other progress markers highlighted during Professor Shashuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk include: Combined Intel-Mobileye Solution Disclosure: Using a camera-first approach to AV system design, Professor Shashua described a combined Intel-Mobileye platform that is power-performance optimized to enable economically scalable L4/L5 autonomous vehicles. This platform is comprised of two EyeQ5 SoCs, one Intel AtomÂŽ C3xx4 processor and Mobileye software.

Level 4/5 Partnerships: In parallel to ADAS and L2+/ L3 development for consumer-owned vehicles, most automakers are also in the development stages for L4/ L5 technology to support fleet-owned networks of fully autonomous vehicles. www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

Today Mobileye announces a new collaboration with large Chinese automaker SAIC* Motor to develop L3/L4/L5 autonomous vehicles as well as bring REM mapping to China. Deep R&D engagements with a number of other major automakers are ongoing and additional announcements are expected soon.

41

Progress in ADAS: Mobileye shipped nearly 9 million chips in 2017 and launched multiple programs including the Audi* A8 L3 system. Thirty new design wins from 27 separate automakers in 2017 ensures Mobileye-powered ADAS solutions will grow substantially beyond the 24 million vehicles already on the road today. Of note: Automaker demand for L2+ and L3 systems gained momentum as a way to go beyond safety and use vehicle automation to provide convenience value to consumers in the near term. NIO*, the first of four automakers expected to launch an EyeQ4-based system this year, recently launched an excellent example.

Road Experience Management (REM) Mapping: • This year, Mobileye will begin collecting Road Experience Management data, enabled by software embedded on EyeQ4, Mobileye’s latest system-onchip, which began volume production in late 2017.

Two million vehicles in multiple regions from BMW, Nissan and Volkswagen will contribute low-bandwidth data packets. This data will be aggregated in the cloud and result in a RoadBook™ of drivable paths, lane/ road boundaries and stationary landmarks that are used as reference points.

• New today: relationships with NavInfo* and

SAIC Motor will bring REM to China.

• The first use of RoadBook will be as a valuable input to L2+ and L3 systems to be launched by several automakers in 2019. The category of L2+ is created by leveraging RoadBook’s low-cost and low-bandwidth footprint (which is crowdsourced through front-facing cameras on millions of L1/L2 ADAS vehicles using only 10 kilobytes of data per 1 kilometer of driving) to enable a major leap in both lateral (i.e., lane keeping support) and longitudinal (i.e., adaptive cruise control) control features at affordable cost.

Dynamic Data Collection: REM is not only about mapping. Front-facing cameras on ADAS-equipped vehicles are intelligent agents that can also be used to collect dynamic data, such as road and environmental conditions (hazards, construction, traffic density and weather), infrastructure, and parking availability.

Mobileye recently signed a next-step agreement with Volkswagen* to formalize the collection and marketing of this data. Dynamic data can also be collected through Mobileye’s new EyeQ4 -based aftermarket

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

42 THE DRIVE TOWARD FULL AUTONOMY

MUCH OF THE REGULATORY WORK TO DATE HAS FOCUSED ON FOSTERING THE DEPLOYMENT OF TEST FLEETS product called Mobileye 8 Connect™. Recent partnerships with the city of Dusseldorf, Spain Directorate-General of Traffic, Gett Taxi Limited, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Company, and Buggy TLC Leasing* represent landmark agreements for the use of this data.

Level 4 Test Fleets: The first car in Mobileye’s 100 vehicle test fleet was shown during Krzanich’s keynote.

This fleet will use the development and validation platform described above for a fully integrated Mobileye/ Intel solution that Professor Shashua described as “a highly scalable and cost-effective L4/L5 platform, benefiting customers and supplier partners alike.” The fleet will showcase Intel and Mobileye’s full suite of safety-minded and economically scalable software, including surround-view computer vision, crowdsourced REM-based mapping and localization, several levels of sensor fusion, efficient, semantic-based artificial intelligence (AI) for driving policy (decision-making), and a formal safety layer (described below) This will all run on one of the most efficient silicon platforms on the market, which has already benefited greatly from integration of Intel engineering talent since the August 2017 closing.

www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

Standards for Safety: Much of the regulatory work to date has focused on fostering the deployment of test fleets, which is a positive development. Now the industry’s stakeholders must come together to prepare the landscape to move from today’s experimental phase to mass production. Mobileye took the first step toward an industrywide discussion by publishing a Responsibility Sensitive Safety framework, a set of mathematical definitions to formalize what it means to drive safely.

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MODEL NEW VOLVO XC40 D4 FWD MOMENTUM. ON THE ROAD PRICE† €44,285.00.

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Includes delivery & related charges. Model is shown for illustrative purposes only. ††The Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV) is payable if you renew or retain the vehicle at the end of the agreement. Further charges may be applied by your Volvo Dealer subject to kilometre limits/condition of the vehicle. *Lending criteria and terms and conditions apply (>18s only). Fixed APR 2.9% which is inclusive of a documentation fee of €63.49. To qualify for this finance offer a minimum deposit of 10% applies. Rate quoted is correct as at 20th October 2017 and is subject to change. Offer available on New Volvo XC40 D4 FWD Momentum models ordered from 20th October 2017 to 31st March 2018, at participating Volvo dealers only. This is a Consumer Hire Purchase agreement provided by Bank of Ireland t/a Bank of Ireland Finance. Ownership remains with Bank of Ireland until the optional final payment is made.

Fuel consumption for the Volvo Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 35.3 (8.0) – 68.9 (4.1), Extra Urban 58.9 (4.8) – 85.6 (3.3), Combined 34.4 (8.2) – 156.9 (1.8). CO2 Emissions 215 – 48g/km.

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44 DAF CF AND XF TRUCKS

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efficiency gains. The new generation CF and XF also feature lower weight for increased payload and an updated interior and exterior design for the highest driver comfort and greatest appeal. These excellent new trucks provide customers with the lowest operating

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cost and the highest uptime.

“Building on the excellent reputation for fuel efficiency, reliability and driver comfort the current Euro 6 product range has earned in Europe, DAF has developed a new generation of CF and XF trucks offering the best possible solutions for both the customer and the driver”, shared Preston Feight, DAF Trucks president.

“Backed by industry leading services and a highly professional dealer organization, the new CF and XF trucks - entering production in summer 2017 - embody

New Generation CF and XF trucks from DAF

The new generation CF and XF trucks, which set a new standard in transport efficiency and driver comfort. an owner’s delight and the driver’s dream.” We at roads and construct are primarily interested in the DAF CF480 FAD pictured on these pages. The exterior design and efficiency of these new trucks is definitely going to interest those updating their current fleet.

Improved fuel efficiency, along with more power and torque at lower revs.

Class-leading fuel efficiency is the result of the fully integrated and innovative driveline that achieves optimum interaction between engine, after-treatment

system, transmission and rear axles, for lowest total cost of ownership, fully aligned with the DAF Transport Efficiency philosophy.

The air management of the PACCAR MX engines has been further improved by applying a new and even more efficient turbocharger, a new EGR system and a new valve actuation design. Thermal efficiency has been enhanced by developing a new combustion system, including new pistons, injectors and injection strategies, while higher compression ratios are employed.

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46 DAF CF AND XF TRUCKS

New highly efficient variable speed cooling-, steeringand oil pumps are used to achieve the lowest fuel consumption.

A key principle when developing the new drivelines was to reduce engine revs for best-in-class fuel efficiency. Maximum torque of the PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines has been increased significantly and is already available from 900 rpm to allow down speeding of the engine. The top-of-the range PACCAR MX-13 engine produces 390 kW/530 hp and 2,600 Nm of torque at 1,000 rpm.

Highly-efficient rear axle designs Rear axle designs have been further developed and reductions of down to 2.05:1 can be specified for driving at cruising speeds of 85 km/h at only 1,000 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1,040 rpm, depending on driveline choice. The new generation of rear axle differentials features a completely new design of crown wheel and pinion, aimed at highest durability and efficiency as well as extremely low noise levels.

Application of low viscosity oils, lower oil levels in the rear axles and low friction wheel end bearings also enhance fuel efficiency.

Efficient TraXon gearbox as standard The latest generation of TraXon automated gearboxes are standard on the new CF and XF series with the 12 speed being standard and a 16 speed optional. Less friction losses, even faster upshifts and the extended use of EcoRoll contribute to lowest fuel consumption.

Driver comfort is enhanced thanks to its quiet and smooth operation and precise clutch control. The increased ratio spread allows excellent maneuverability, even when faster drivelines are applied.

Advanced powertrain software features The new CF and XF feature a completely new electric and electronic architecture. It introduces a new vehicle

NEW DAF XF

MX 11 ENGINE

The latest generation of TraXon automated gearboxes are standard on the new CF and XF series. control unit for dedicated driveline integration, featuring enhanced EcoRoll and Cruise Control functionalities, such as Dynamic Cruise. Dynamic Cruise adapts the character of the cruise control to the different driving circumstances. Thanks to a further integration of Predictive Cruise Control (PCC) and EcoRoll, PCC can now activate EcoRoll sooner, when both technologies have calculated that vehicle momentum is sufficient to carry the vehicle in neutral gear over the top of the hill within a set speed bandwidth.

Industry-leading PACCAR Engine Brake performance Next to engine performance, the performance of the PACCAR Engine Brake has been enhanced. Maximum braking power of the PACCAR MX-11 engine has grown from 320 to 340 kW. Braking power has increased 20% between 1,000 to 1,500 rpm. Maximum braking power of the MX-13 is no less than 360 kW and in the important 1,200 to 1,500 rpm range, braking power has increased up to 30%.

Aerodynamic Optimizations In order to achieve lowest possible fuel consumption, vehicle aerodynamics have been improved thanks to a new sun visor design for the CF and XF. In addition, the new XF features wheel bay extensions and flow

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47

Service intervals of the new DAF CF and XF can be extended from 150,000 to 200,000 kilometer. guides behind the grille for optimal aerodynamics around the truck and through to the engine bay. New grille closures reduce drag, and new gap closures between the headlight and corner deflector realise the best possible aerodynamics.

Up to 100 kilogram higher pay load For the new CF and XF, DAF has developed a completely new and compact Exhaust After-treatment System (EAS), which results in more chassis space for components such as larger fuel tank, compressors, tool boxes or crane legs.

An advanced substrate technology allows for a 40% reduction in overall volume in the EAS unit. This is done without compromising backpressure, ash cleaning intervals or DeNOx efficiency. In fact, the compact box heats up faster allowing the engine to operate quicker and even more frequently in its most efficient fuel map.

The compactness of the EAS units also means that for special applications, DeNOx catalytic converter and Diesel Particulate Filter donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be splitanymore,

which contributes to excellent overall efficiency.

Another advantage of the new ultra-compact EAS unit is that it is some 50 kilograms lighter. Thanks to additional measures like engine and chassis weight optimisation, the new CF and XF offer 100 kilogram more payload.

Maximum uptime Service intervals of the new DAF CF and XF can be extended from 150,000 to 200,000 kilometer. Despite the compact dimensions of the new EAS unit, its capabilities are unmatched, resulting in ash cleaning intervals of up to 500,000 kilometer, which contributes to maximum customer uptime.

The enhanced Body Attachment Method supports the shortest configuration time, as the new design at the rear end of the chassis allows easy fitment of, for instance, tail lifts and dedicated prepared installation plates for boxed bodies and cranes.

New temperature and climate control The new DAF CF and XF feature a completely new automatic HVAC system which is very easy to operate.

The system also contributes to the best fuel efficiency as the new smart controlled air-conditioning system consumes less energy by cooling the air down only as much as is needed to reach the desired temperature.

Intelligent control of the evaporator is also used to avoid unnecessary air cooling.

The new fully automated HVAC system uses residual heat from the engine for heating the cab during shorts breaks, which adds to fuel efficiency. The new temperature and climate control systems can also be operated using the new rear wall panel with temperature display for highest driver comfort.

DAF XF 530 FAN www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

48 DAF CF AND XF TRUCKS

DAF CF 480 FAD New Exclusive Line The summit of luxury and comfort is the new Exclusive Line, available for both the new CF and XF. The top-ofthe range Exclusive Line is distinguished by the cognac coloured dashboard, door panels (XF) and leather seats, as well as the stylish bright vents (CF). A leather steering wheel is standard on the luxurious CF and XF versions.

Enhanced Driver Information and user-friendliness The instrument panel has been redesigned with new characters for a more modern and attractive appearance and enhanced clarity. The enhanced Driver Information Panel includes a tachograph countdown, displaying remaining driving and resting times.

This contributes to enhanced comfort and efficiency, as do the driver configurable switches (MUX), which allow the driver to position dashboard switches according to his/her preference. MUX-switches also allow optimal positioning of controls and switches for the operation of the superstructure or components like aggregates and crane leg supports.

Drivers will also benefit from the new interior light www.roadsandconstructireland.ie

switch, positioned in the central part of the dashboard, while DAF’s great sliding table and unmatched storage space remain untouched. The new interior light switch stands out in user-friendliness with possibilities of dimming for ‘night drive’ and ‘relax’ modes. All speed related functions, including cruise control, predictive cruise control and adaptive cruise control are perfectly and logically grouped at the right side of the steering wheel.

Great looks DAF has enriched the exterior styling with subtle and stylish elements, like the identity plate in the doorstep which welcomes the driver to the luxurious interior (XF). A new DAF nameplate with a redesigned DAF logo featuring chrome letters symbolize the trucks’ quality. Accents in the bumper and sun visor give the exterior an extra touch of richness, as do the decorative strips in the grille and the new grill mesh for the XF. Start of Production The new CF and XF entered production in the summer of 2017.

SHELL LUBRICANTS TOGETHER ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

UNLOCKING COST SAVINGS IN CONSTRUCTION BYIN CONSTRUCTION UNLOCKING COST SAVINGS UPGRADING LUBRICATION

!"#$%&'()#$&)*+$,&',-'./%00'1+*&)2"3$#'-,&'4&%0"35

BY UPGRADING EQUIPMENT LUBRICATION COMPANIES UNDERESTIMATE POTENTIAL PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS FROM EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT LUBRICATION

Only

32

41 %

%

understand how improved wear protection can result in cost savings

believe effective lubrication can help improve equipment availability

67

THE BENEFITS OF HIGHER QUALITY LUBRICANTS ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED

%

do not expect they can help reduce unplanned downtime

54

%

28

%

do not expect they can help cut maintenance costs

LACK OF LUBRICANTS EXPERTISE CAN BE A BARRIER TO SAVINGS

67

%

Only

think they do not conduct staff training on lubricants as regularly as they should

47

%

consider lubricant product performance an important purchase consideration

have all the correct lubrication management procedures in place 1

THIS IS HAVING A FINANCIAL IMPACT

87 %

have experienced unplanned downtime in the past 3 years

60

25

%

admit this was due to their incorrect selection and /or management of lubricants

%

believe costs exceeded $250,000 2

EFFECTIVE EQUIPMENT LUBRICATION CAN HELP REDUCE UNPLANNED DOWNTIME AND LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS CONTRIBUTING TO LOWER TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP (TCO)*

,

SHELL LUBRICANTS WORK WITH CUSTOMERS TO HELP DELIVER TCO SAVINGS

At least $139 million savings delivered to customers worldwide (2011-2015) 3 $$$

Shell Lubricants Services to help upgrade lubrication management:

260 Shell Lubricants technical specialists help customers reduce TCO through effective lubrication

260

OEM and customer collaborations enable Shell Lubricants to develop products that help improve equipment reliability and productivity

Helping identify and seize savings Expert advice on-site Lubricant monitoring Staff training

This survey, commissioned by Shell Lubricants and conducted by research firm Edelman Intelligence, polled 406 decision makers in the construction industry in 8 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Russia, UK, US) from November to December 2015. * Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is defined by Shell Lubricants as the total amount spent on industrial equipment, including cost of acquisition and operation over its entire working life, including costs of lost production during equipment downtime.

1. Shell recommended procedures include delivery and storage, oil change, oil dispensing systems, efficient grease lubrication systems, oil analysis and training employees in lubricant selection or management.

2. $ figure based on converting local currency into equivalent $ amount.

3. Based on savings delivered to Shell Lubricants customers from 2011-2015.