Optimising project delivery performance
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Australian Road authorities install thousands of new roadside items and repeatedly replace around 200,000 roadside items, creating thousands of hours of disturbance, costing billions year after year. This work continues year after year, providing no improvement, growing increasingly dangerous and costly to perform
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Optimise delivery performance of both new works and maintenance
Delivering superior developments
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Take this complex job and make it simple
"Efficiency in infrastructure investment must form a central focus for Australia’s governments, as they seek to close the infrastructure gap. After all, each dollar saved by eliminating cost overruns and inefficiencies can be invested in new, productive infrastructure.”
OPTIONS FOR REFORM REPORT DEPT TRANSPORT
Repeatedly replacing concrete footings is decidedly unsustainable
Repeatedly replacing the valuable concrete footings is not sustainable, requiring
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Hundreds of hours of heavy labour
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Dial before your Dig
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Traffic Management
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Risk of body stressing from digging & heavy labour
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Risk of hitting dangerous underground services
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Risk of serious injury working in traffic
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Expensive traffic management
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Hundreds of hours of disturbance to traffic and public
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Risk of unstable or missing items
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Creating dangerous trip factors
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Creating dangerous delays
With rapid urbanization, this workload is about to increase dramatically, growing increasingly dangerous and difficult to perform.
"The solution is so simple"
THE SUNDAY TIMES
By making concrete foundations sustainable and re-usable you greatly improve efficiency and workplace safety.
Foundations remain in pristine condition and damaged items can be quickly and efficiently replaced, using ergonomic tools from a standing position (and traffic light columns are replaced using a Hiab), greatly improving the safety of our roads and greatly reducing the risk of workplace injury
We can heal existing developments one foundation at a time
Not only brilliant for new works - we can heal existing developments one foundation at a time. Did you realise that 20% of locations are responsible for around 80% of the workload in any city? By making these locations sustainable you can reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of 80% of all future call-outs .
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No digging or heavy labour, reducing risk of body stressing (No1 cause workplace injury)
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Time working in traffic reduced, reducing risk of injury (No 1 cause of serious workplace injury)
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No disturbance to dangerous underground services
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No disturbance to traffic or general public
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No trip factors
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Items remain perfectly aligned, safe and secure
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Damaged items are quickly replaced
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
DOH&S WORKSAFE AWARD
"A resilience based approach is vital " MRWA
“A resilience based approach to infrastructure is vital so we can better adapt to change and reduce our exposure to risk. Decisions taken today, particularly those related to the redesign and retrofitting of existing infrastructure, will affect how well our network is able to adapt to change into the future. Focusing on the problem now will help avoid costly future investments and disruptions to operations.” Main Roads WA
“ Our selection is not based on price alone, we also took into consideration the safety & saving aspects" MRWA
“ Our selection is not based on price alone, we also took into consideration the safety & saving aspects. The Smart Sustainable Foundations allow quick replacement of posts with no further effort required to the base, (providing a significant cost benefit in replacing the damaged sign post by re-using the existing footing ) and reduces risk of injury to employees by reducing time spent on traffic islands exposed to traffic.”
MAIN ROADS W.A.
IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF INSTALLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Using current methods we lay the concrete foundations, install the brick-paving, and then someone comes along and digs them up to install infrastructure - destroying the integrity of the foundations and causing irreparable damage. This can cost hundreds of thousands and is extremely time consuming, taking weeks on large developments.
Now you can install the infrastructure for an entire development in a single day, preserving the integrity of the foundations and creating a perfect finish with all items perfectly aligned, safe & secure.
ZERO ONGOING COSTLY REPAIRS
Instead of repeatedly replacing valuable footings you can now make them re-usable for the entire lifespan of a development. Replacements are fast and efficient using ergonomic tools from a standing position. No digging or heavy labour, no costly delays.
OVERCOMING A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS
Instead of having to dial before you dig, organise traffic management crew and a traffic control vehicle with variable message sign, (place the entire crew at risk of injury for hours, they can now simply pop the damaged items out and replace them in seconds without disturbance to the footings or the public.
If you consider the time and money spent on every one of these issues- you begin to see just how much money can be saved
In addition to these major concerns- scroll down to see how you can eradicate a multitude of other problems that can mean the difference between success and failure of a budget or project.
BODY STRESSING
No.1 cause of injury. This issue alone is costing Australian Road Authorities millions
WORKING IN TRAFFIC
No.1 cause of serious workplace injury, costing millions every year and costing lives
DAMAGE TO UNDERGROUND SERVICES
Costing millions every year and causing major disruptions, with road workers risking their lives on a daily basis. By making foundations sustainable there is no more risk of damage to underground services
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COSTS
As the population increases so does the urban density and the risk of injury to road workers, subsequently traffic management requirements are costing millions and increasing steadily.
Australian standards state no traffic management required if items are replaced in less than 5 minutes
CAN REDUCE SIZE OF FOOTINGS
Main Roads WA specify posts should be installed 650 mm deep in paved areas to avoid dislodgement. This is hard work, interferes with underground services, is expensive and causes major damage when impacted.
Using Smart Sustainable Foundations signs can be installed from as shallow as 150 mm depth and foundations are re-usable impact after impact
DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG
Safety requirements such as these take time but are a necessary evil when lives are at risk. These requirements will continue to increase and failure to meet these requirements places workers at risk.
Smart Sustainable Foundations eradicate this problem as the foundations are re-usable . No digging required for the next 100 years (no other device can provide this level of sustainability)
DISTURBANCE TO PUBLIC
As the number of roadworks increases so do the delays and the growing anger from the general public.
Smart infrastructure is replaced in less time than it currently takes to erect traffic management and barriers, greatly reducing disturbance
DANGEROUS DELAYS
Delays to repairing vital traffic signage, traffic lights or bollards can cause serious injury or death. The requirements to improve turn around times will increase and failure to meet the deadlines will incur heavy penalties.
You can now ensure all work is completed on time, without disturbance
RHS POSTS BENT BY VANDALS
WA Main Roads was using RHS posts but found they can bent by hand, making them highly vulnerable to vandalism.
CHS posts up to 3.6 mm are considered by MRWA to be frangible but cannot be bent by hand, substantially reducing workload and improving safety of our roads. No risk of posts being bent by vandals leaving dangerous metal protrusions . CHS posts are now approved for use on the State road network
UNSTABLE ITEMS
Pose a serious litigation risk as signs become unreadable or loose in the footing. This cost Sydney Road authorities millions in just one case when sign fell on someone's head causing brain damage.
Posts, bollards and infrastructure secured using Smart Sustainable Foundations will not become loose or unstable, remaining safe and secure, perfectly aligned impact after impact, year after year
FADED ITEMS
When items grow old and need repainting or revamping (faded signs, reflective striping or powder coating) - instead of sending out two men plus two traffic management crew and a traffic control vehicle with variable message sign, placing the entire crew at risk of injury for hours whilst re-painting these grab rails, they could simply pop them out and replace them in seconds - taking the tired ones back for a quick touch up (rather than sitting in the middle of the road with major traffic management required for hours on location)
TRIP FACTORS
Unstable paving and trip factors create major litigation risks and devices such as these which allow the post to shear above ground level leave dangerous metal protrusions that create an even greater litigation risk.
This is really asking for trouble in this day and age. Smart Sustainable ground sockets are installed flush with the surface and are capped when an item is removed (cap has no trip factors when installed)
CARBON WASTE FROM CONCRETE
Dumping of carbon intensive concrete waste is become increasingly costly and time consuming as taxes on carbon waste increase. "Main Roads’ philosophy on materials use is to minimise life-cycle impacts, including embodied energy, and follow the hierarchy of reduce, re-use where possible, and recycle ".
Smart Sustainable Foundations are re-usable impact after impact, year after year ensuring zero carbon intensive waste for the entire lifespan of a development, laying the foundations for a truly circular economy where resources are re-used time and time again
CARBON WASTE FROM STEEL
Posts and bollards are extremely vulnerable to damage (especially in city centres). If installed directly in concrete they are not recyclable, with both the item and concrete becoming carbon waste.
Smart posts and grab-rails become recyclable and bollards even become re-usable impact after impact, relocatable and recyclable, saving millions every year.
TIPPING FEES
The cost of dumping carbon waste is rising quickly becoming a major problem for maintenance operators and using non-sustainable methods is creating an even bigger problem for future generations.
Using Smart Foundations there are no tipping fees and you actually make money from recycling the steel
TRAVEL TO TIP
Travel to dispose of waste is becoming increasingly costly and time consuming as waste facilities must be relocated further and further outside the Central Business District and fuel costs continue to rise.
By using Smart Sustainable Foundations there will be no travel to the tip as recycling companies will come to you and PAY YOU for your steel (if you don't re-use it )
ON-GOING CONSUMPTION CONCRETE
Using non-sustainable methods every replacement uses new concrete supplies, consuming tonnes of carbon supplies on a daily basis. With sand supplies quickly running out the cost of concrete is set to soar.
We urgently need to stop buying, dumping and re-purchasing these valuable carbon intensive resources. Smart Sustainable Foundations put an end to the on-going consumption of concrete supplies
ON-GOING CONSUMPTION OF PAVING
Have you ever tried to reinstate paving- not an easy job! and the paving never looks the same, resulting in uneven or unstable paving and dangerous trip factors. We need to stop buying, dumping and re-purchasing these valuable finite resources. No expensive paving required for repairs (I absolutely hate seeing this sort of waste)
UNSIGHTLY FOUNDATIONS
We have been buying, disposing and replacing foundations for centuries which has resulted in a short term mentality and lack of pride in the job. The result is that developments remain in a state of constant decline growing increasingly unsafe and unsightly.
Smart Sustainable Foundations remain in pristine condition for decades and developments grow increasingly sustainable and efficient as the money saved can be used for further improvements
SIGNS PUSHED OUT OF ALIGNMENT
A major problem when using metal fixing devices that can be damaged upon the first impact, or installing posts around school zones vulnerable to vandalism. A Stop sign out of alignment can be the difference between life and death.
Items are installed on Smart Sustainable Foundations using friction, which ensures items are perfectly aligned, remaining safe and secure year after year
ITEMS REMOVED BY VANDALS
This is a major problem around school zones and is costing councils and road authorities millions (with one Queensland council replacing 16 signs almost every weekend due to vandalism).
Items secured on Smart Sustainable Foundations remain perfectly aligned, safe and secure year after year and cannot be removed without Smart tools
ITEMS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE
Posts and items of roadside infrastructure embedded in concrete are difficult to remove so items no longer in use are often left in the concrete footing
If a Smart item is no longer in use, you simply remove the item and cap off the ground socket. No trip factors
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Items embedded in concrete or in areas with a limestone base, require jackhammers and heavy equipment to perform repairs this is not only hard work it is disruptive and costly.
Smart tools are sold at cost and all work is performed effortlessly from standing position
DELAYS DUE TO RAIN
As concrete will not set in the rain, delays in the winter (when quickly replacing vital road-side items, is even more important) are common and pose a serious litigation risk (and when a jackhammer or cement mixer is required it is even more dangerous as using electrical equipment in the rain is, well, just asking for trouble)
No delays due to bad weather
UNSTABLE TEMPORARY SIGNAGE
Temporary signage is costly to erect, extremely unreliable (costly to erect and maintain) and dangerous, greatly increasing your risk of litigation.
Smart ground sockets can be installed when pouring concrete and items are installed in less time than it currently takes to erect temporary signage
FADED AND UNSAFE ITEMS
When inserted directly into concrete it is difficult to replace an item so old faded items become less of a priority than damaged items, consequently our roads become unsightly and unsafe..
Using Smart Foundations items can be quickly removed, and replaced and old items instead of being thrown away, can be revamped for re-use or recycled
BOLLARDS REQUIRE LARGE CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
Without any shock absorbing mechanism bollards need to be installed in massive footings to protect from being dislodged when impacted by a vehicle. This is problematic as you run into underground services and they still get damaged when impacted. .
By making bollards impact resistant you require less intensive foundations and foundations become re-usable impact after impact
DANGEROUS TEMPORARY MEASURES
Current methods are time consuming and so delays are inevitable, creating dangerous litigation risks (one bollard was damaged 6 times in one year on a school crosswalk)
Smart bollards are made from impact resistant polyethylene, wont scratch or fade and are replaced in the same time it takes to place a traffic cone over the problem - No temporary measures required, keeping our roads and footpaths cleaner and safer
ITEMS RIPPED FROM GROUND
Metal brackets are extremely unreliable (shown here is a new install already dislodged) and are growing increasingly expensive, often damaging the surrounding paving if dislodged and are expensive to replace. Even when galvanised are not rust or impact resistant - are not sustainable and every one will need replacing several times over the lifespan of a development .
Smart Sustainable Foundations cost less to buy, cost less to install, ensure items remain perfectly aligned, do not rust or corrode and keep working for the entire lifespan of a development
METAL RUSTS
Metal devices even if galvanised will rust and corrode and as metal is not impact resistant it is not suitable for this application causing downstream litigation risks and creating a major clean-up job for future generations.
Smart Foundations will not rust or corrode and continue working impact after impact
DELAYS FIXING TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Current methods of installing and maintaining traffic lights are time consuming (taking hours- even weeks on some locations) causing unnecessary disturbance, risking lives and costing millions. Yet all this work provides no future benefit so as populations grow, delays will only increase.
Smart traffic light columns are replaced quickly and efficiently, without disturbance or waste
CORROSION
Steel posts installed directly in concrete rust out quickly and become dangerous litigation risks.
As the post is protected from the concrete and moisture by the self-healing ground socket, you eradicate this risk and also make posts removable, reusable and 100% recyclable. NB: New FRP posts can now be used to further reduce this risk.
DAMAGED METAL DEVICES /POSTS
As metal posts and fixing devices inserted directly in concrete are not impact resistant, they can be damaged upon the very first impact and create dangerous protrusions .
Smart Sustainable Foundations are impact resistant, will not rust or corrode - lasting decades with no trip factors
DISLODGED BASES
Because many road-workers consider concrete to be disposable (and until now- it was) they install posts in bases that are easily dislodged- simply creating more work and waste and posing further litigation risks.
As Smart foundations are re-usable it is cost effective to use a little more concrete which ensures the entire concrete base is re-usable impact after impact, year after year and cannot be dislodged
DANGEROUS PROJECTILES
Using methods such as this, the entire base can be ripped from ground or easily removed from metal ground sockets or upon impact from a vehicle with posts, grab-rails and bollards becoming dangerous projectiles.
Smart Sustainable Foundations ensure items remain safe and secure year after year and can only be removed using tools provided
ENTIRE TRAFFIC ISLANDS MUST BE REPLACED
As a result of the constant battering entire traffic islands must be replaced, creating unsightly mess, litigation risks, unnecessary waste and costing road authorities millions every year.
Smart sustainable Foundations greatly improve the potential lifespan of traffic islands and pavements reducing replacement costs and long term maintenance costs
SPECIFICATION CHANGES
Items embedded in concrete become immovable and unable to quickly adapt to changing requirements. Specification changes, events, disasters, or roadworks require temporary measures.
Smart Signposts can be replaced in seconds, removed, replaced or relocated and the socket capped. Smart electronic signage also available controlled from base
ONE BOLLARD COSTING THOUSANDS
As a result of the constant battering this one bollard was replaced six times (and by the end of the year the entire island had to be replaced) imagine the carbon waste and what it is going to cost over the next 50 - 100 years!.
Smart sustainable Foundations protect the bollard and traffic island from damage impact after impact - Zero ongoing costs for decades
BARRIERS EXTREMELY VULNERABLE
Grab-rails, bike racks and barriers are vulnerable to damage and extremely costly to maintain.
Smart sustainable Foundations ensure rails remain perfectly aligned, safe and secure, and are replaced quickly and efficiently keeping our roads safe.
METAL POSTS STUCK IN CONCRETE
This creates dangerous litigation risks, creates a lot of unnecessary work, carbon waste of both the metal and concrete and reduces the lifespan of the footpath, creating more downstream costs and waste.
Smart items are removed and replaced quickly and efficiently, Zero waste and posts become recyclable
RHS POSTS REMOVED BY VANDALS
As many RHS posts are installed using rapid-set concrete they can be easily removed from paving creating additional damage and workload, creating litigation risks, unnecessary costs and landfill.
Smart posts cannot be removed without the Smart ergonomic tool
RHS POSTS DANGEROUS
RHS posts are light-walled, so are easily bent by vandals. When bent create dangerous litigation risks, as the edge is like tin can and rusts very easily (as you can see they are very dangerous).
CHS posts cannot be bent by hand and when impacted they have no dangerous protrusions. UPDATED MRWA SPECS
CRUDE TEMPORARY FOUNDATIONS
Because foundations are replaced on a regular basis the concrete footing is regarded as disposable and consequently standards are often crude, reducing the aesthetics and safety of a development
Smart footings create a perfect finish, remaining in pristine condition for decades
WAITING FOR CONCRETE TO CURE
Concrete takes time to cure adding time on location (especially necessary when installing large signs, heavy items or in windy conditions) - and in rainy conditions it is impossible so delays are inevitable.
Reducing time on location is critical to improving the safety and sustainability of future roadworks
SITE CLEAN-UP
It takes longer to remove the broken paving and concrete, sweep up the mess, and remove the traffic management, than it takes to remove and replace a Smart item.
No mess, no waste . Reducing time on location is critical to improving the safety and sustainability of future roadworks
LACK OF PRIDE
This is the finished product of a new replacement by main Roads WA . Using temporary foundations provides workers with little incentive to do a good job, resulting in very unsightly footings.
We urgently need to improve standards - would you be happy if someone did this to your property?
TEMPORARY MEASURES - METAL PINS
Inserting a metal pin to realign a post is becoming common practice (this work was performed by MRWA maintenance staff) and is unsafe and unsatisfactory.
We urgently need to improve standards and pride in our roads
DELAYS REPLACING TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Delays to repairing vital traffic light columns can cause serious injury or death. The requirements to improve turn around times will increase and using current methods if the damage increases (which it will) authorities using these methods will struggle to cope .
You can now secure traffic light columns on sustainable foundations and replace columns less time than it takes to wrap a traffic light column in warning tape
BOLLARDS TO STOP A VEHICLE
Until now the only way to stop a vehicle was to install a steel bollard in a concrete foundation at least 1 metre deep and fill it with concrete. This is expensive and despite all this hard work- either the bollard or the foundation is going to give way when impacted! Replacing both the bollard and footings every time they are impacted can cost hundreds of thousands over the life of a development.
We have developed a means of making bollards impact resistant and a bollard that will stop a passenger vehicle, whilst also preserving the foundations
BENT BOLLARDS
When a bollard installed directly in concrete is impacted either the bollard bends or foundations are damaged, there is no good outcome - something's got to give!
Using the Impact Recovery System you can make every-day bollards self-recover from impact saving hundreds of thousands over the life of a development
SURFACE MOUNT BOLLARDS
When a surface mount bollard is impacted either the bollard bends, the base plate bends or foundations are ripped up - either way both the bollard and foundations need replacing every time one is impacted.
Smart Surface Mount bollards become re-usable impact after impact
TIRED UNSAFE BOLLARDS
Instead of digging up the bollard and entire concrete footing when a bollard is old and unsightly (but the foundations are still good) - you can save money by covering them with bollard covers. (He's got the bollard cap on his head, in case you were wondering).
Smart Bollard covers are available in poly (stone look) rusted finish laser-cut or stainless steel
UNSAFE BARRIERS & TEMPORARY ITEMS
Temporary items for events (bins, bollards, barriers, signage, seating, tables) are often unstable and unsafe especially barriers, creating costly maintenance during events and creating dangerous litigation risks.
Now you can install all of these items on Smart Sustainable Foundations so they remain safe, secure and easily removable, replaceable and relocatable by authorised persons
CONSTANT DAMAGE TO BOLLARDS
City of Perth had a major problem with bollards in the city centre. They were replacing not only the foundations but also the bollards on a daily basis, costing hundreds of thousands a year.
We developed a means of securing both in-ground and surface mount bollards making both the bollard and the foundations re-usable impact after impact (no springs)
DANGEROUS BIKE PATH BOLLARDS
Solid steel bollards have no place on a bike path and create dangerous litigation risks. Even worse are unstable removable bollards that leave dangerous trip factors when removed. Along the coast this is a major problem as rust causes metal sockets to become extremely unreliable. MRWA came to us for a solution.
The Smart Low Impact Bollard (no dangerous springs) remains rigid but absorbs impact reducing risk of injury and is secured on Sustainable Foundations - no risk of rust or corrosion and no trip factors when bollards are removed
CHANGES AND UPGRADES
Changes to specifications and infrastructure upgrades are time consuming and costly, creating unnecessary disturbance, unnecessary waste and unnecessary delays.
Smart Sustainable Foundations make changes to specifications and future upgrades, a breeze! An entire development can be upgraded in a single day! (concrete bases can also be made relocatable)
ALTERNATE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EVENTS
At last a simple way to make better use of infrastructure and space as items become removable, replaceable, relocatable and even interchangeable for events or if needs change throughout the day, week, from season to season, or even from decade to decade.
Instead of being static environments subject to constant damage they become Smart dynamic environments that quickly change to meet changing needs and conditions.
DISASTER RECOVERY
The latest problem – clean up after cyclones, events and floods is time consuming and becoming a more regular occurrence as our weather is changing.
Emergency signage can be quickly and efficiently installed for flood zones or barriers to block entry to an area following an accident, event or disaster, and if damaged, the infrastructure for an entire development can be replaced in a single day! Greatly simplifying events and clean-up following disasters
REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF PAVEMENTS IS UNSUSTAINABLE
Using non-sustainable methods is consuming tonnes of carbon supplies on a daily basis with 100% of the concrete going to landfill.
This is what is considered "Singe-use" concrete and is far worse than "Single use plastic for the environment, creating a major problem for future generations facing even scarcer carbon resources and increased urban densities- by not repairing the foundations, you are creating a major problem for future generations.
Future generations will look back in disbelief that (despite having signed the Paris Agreement and having the technology to repair our roads), we chose to repeatedly dig them up, year after year sending thousands of tonnes of valuable resources to landfill!
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