Austroads: Transport Research and Trends

Innovation and Best Practice in Performance Measurement and Transport Outcomes

‘What gets measured gets managed’ (Drucker, 1954). Performance metrics, indicators and benchmarks describe how our road assets (and transport systems) are functioning and operating within the context of the road users’ (and societal) expectations. This enables agencies and authorities to manage investment and resources to address the areas of greatest need.

Austroads first developed National Performance Indicators (NPIs) in 1993 to promote consistency in reporting of road performance across state transport agencies. Over time, however, the uptake of NPIs has diminished due to a misalignment with state agencies’ own performance reporting needs, concurrently with the advent of new datasets and the increased value that these datasets provide.

This webinar, presented by Simon Latham, Scott Benjamin and Robert Kane, explores the current performance reporting practices used nationally and internationally including the type and application of urban road network performance indicators and metrics. The webinar highlights challenges and opportunities related to existing performance indicators and reporting and discusses the recommendations which look to support consistent and commonly agreed performance indicators (revised NPIs) for urban road-based transport performance measurement.

Pedestrian Planning and Design for Activity Centres

This webinar, presented by Ann-Marie Head and Jeanette Ward,  focuses on the planning and design considerations that contribute to walkable activity centres - vibrant places where people shop, work, meet, relax and often live. The session also explains where this information can be found in Austroads’ guides.

The webinar covers the following key topics:

• what data to collect
• planning/network considerations
• examples of applying walkable characteristics
• design considerations
• types of shared space streets
• best practice examples.

This session is the fourth in the series of webinars held by Austroads to step practitioners through the updated pedestrian planning and design information.

Austroads’ review of the pedestrian planning and design guidance in the Guide to Traffic Management (AGTM) and Guide to Road Design (AGRD) identified a total of 120 planning and design gaps. Recommended changes to the AGTM were published in April 2020 followed by a series of exceptionally popular webinars.

Recommended changes to the AGRD have been reviewed and approved by the Road Design Task Force and will find their way into the AGRD as part of its update and restructure planned by the Road Safety & Design program in FY20-21.

Pedestrian Planning and Design at Intersections

This webinar presents how to ensure intersections are planned and designed appropriately for pedestrians, and where to find that guidance in Austroads’ guides.

The webinar covers the following key topics:

• what data to collect
• types and how they impact pedestrians
• selection process
• design of each type to improve walking outcomes
• best practice examples.

Presented by Ann-Marie Head and Jeanette Ward.

This session is the third in the series of webinars held by Austroads to step practitioners through the updated pedestrian planning and design information.

Austroads’ review of the pedestrian planning and design guidance in the Guide to Traffic Management (AGTM) and Guide to Road Design (AGRD) identified a total of 120 planning and design gaps. Recommended changes to the AGTM were published in April 2020 followed by a series of exceptionally popular webinars.

Recommended changes to the AGRD have been reviewed and approved by the Road Design Task Force and will find their way into the AGRD as part of its update and restructure planned by the Road Safety & Design program in FY20-21.

Road Space Allocation for Pedestrians

Austroads’ review of the pedestrian planning and design guidance in the Guide to Traffic Management (AGTM) and Guide to Road Design (AGRD) identified a total of 120 planning and design gaps. Recommended changes to the AGTM were published in April 2020 followed by a series of exceptionally popular webinars.

Recommended changes to the AGRD have been reviewed and approved by the Road Design Task Force and will find their way into the AGRD as part of its update and restructure planned by the Road Safety & Design program in FY20-21.

This is the first session in the series of webinars to step practitioners through the updated pedestrian planning and design information. It presents how to ensure pedestrians are catered for appropriately in road cross sections, and where to find that information in the Austroads guides.

The webinar is presented by Ann-Marie Head and Jeanette Ward on 9 February 2021.

Opportunities to Build Capacity in Traffic Management

An Austroads study of Australian and New Zealand roads capability (AP-R574-18) identified capability/learning gaps amongst graduates and novice practitioners in traffic management. The 2018 study also confirmed that road agencies are experiencing skill shortages and the existing roads workforce will be under threat from rising activity in other sectors.

To address this recognised lack of traffic management knowledge and skills, a series of ‘short and sharp’ learning modules were developed on a range of fundamental traffic management topics.

The learning modules were developed in collaboration with Austroads member agencies and informed by user testing with young practitioners.

Designed for practitioners entering the field and anyone who wishes to increase their knowledge and improve their capabilities in traffic management, the learning modules cover 21 topics and contain supporting quizzes and tutorials. The units include an Introduction to Traffic Management, Traffic Theory, Studies and Analysis, Network Operations Planning and Management, the Safe System Approach and Intelligent Transport Systems.

This webinar discusses the selection of traffic management topics covered in the learning modules and the processes involved in their development and testing. It demonstrates the learning modules and shows how to access them from the Austroads website.

Presented by Paul Bennett and Graham McCabe.

Classifying, Measuring and Valuing the Benefits of Place on the Transport System

This webinar, held on 13 August 2020, presents the findings of Austroads’ recent research project that explores the many different ways in which place is being measured both locally and internationally, and how transport practitioners can practically and effectively classify, measure and value the place function of our streets.

Presenters Will Fooks and Ed Zhao talk about the experiences and challenges shared by more than 130 participants across Australia and New Zealand, navigate the subjectivities and complexities and establish a framework by which the benefits of place can be captured, communicated and, ultimately, inform transport planning, design and investment decision-making.

Transport Modelling for Project Managers

This webinar, presented by Bryan Li on 9 July 2020, provides an overview of a resource designed to equip practitioners who may not have specific technical experience in transport modelling with clear and practical guidance to help make informed decisions when procuring modelling services or communicating the associated processes.

Measuring Pedestrians: Survey and Audit Methods

This webinar presented by Ann-Marie Head and Jeanette Ward on 3 June 2020 focused on why and how to measure walking activities. The webinar highlighted the Guide to Traffic Management series which was recently updated to incorporate international good practice pedestrian planning and design guidance.

Integrating Safe System with Movement and Place with for Vulnerable Road Users

This webinar, presented by Dr Bruce Corben on 26 March 2020, demonstrates ways to integrate Safe System design and operation with Movement and Place for vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians and cyclists.

Improving the Reliability of Heavy Vehicle Parameters to Support More Accurate Traffic Modelling in Australia and New Zealand

This webinar provides an overview of ways to more accurately model heavy vehicle movements during interrupted traffic flows in Australia and New Zealand.

It covers:

• background and results of the Austroads project
• heavy vehicle characteristics relevant to intersection capacity such as length and width, clearance space, acceleration and deceleration
• heavy vehicle parameter development for traffic modelling software - SIDRA, LINSIG, VISSIM and AIMSUN, based on video survey and calibration.

The webinar presented on 9 December 2019 by Dr Young Li and TK Kim.