High volume transport: Rapid assessment of research gaps in road engineering and technical aspects

Abstract

Evidence on Demand has been commissioned by the Department for International Development (DFID) to conduct a rapid desk based study on research gaps in road engineering and technical aspects of high volume transport in Low Income Countries (LICs). The objective of the study is to inform DFID’s thinking and scoping of future work. The methodology adopted to address the study needs has been to: Develop a framework for structuring and presenting the research needs based on an understanding of current strategies in the sector Contact with key experts to identify gaps they perceive in research Perform a desk based scan of publicly available information Collate identified research gaps and present within the proposed framework Publicly available strategies for research have been reviewed including those of the World Road Association (PIARC), the Organisation of Economic Cooperation for Development (OECD), the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR), the European Commission and the Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL). Generic drivers of research needs specific to LICs have been identified. Following informal contact with various experts and a brief scan of key themes, research gaps have been identified in all areas of technical engineering and transport services as follows: Road planning, design and construction Road maintenance and management Road operations Road safety Road traffic and transport services Road financing and fund allocation For each theme, a summary of the key issues relevant to LICs is given to show the area of the gaps and specific examples are given where applicable. This report has been produced by TRL for Evidence on Demand with the assistance of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) contracted through the Climate, Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods Professional Evidence and Applied Knowledge Services (CEIL PEAKS) programme, jointly managed by HTSPE Limited and IMC Worldwide Limited