Dr Cheryl Desha, Lecturer in Sustainable Development, Queensland University of Technology, Australia,
Prof Arun Kumar, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Emeritus Professor RMIT University,
Mr Charlie Hargroves, Research Fellow, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Perth, and
Prof Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute.
Introduction
In the coming decades the design, construction and maintenance of roads will face a range of new issues and as such will require a number of new approaches. In particular, road authorities will be required to consider and respond to a range of issues related to climate change, and associated extreme weather events, such as the extensive flooding in January 2011 in Queensland, Australia Figure 1). Coupled with diminishing access to road construction supplies (such as aggregate), water scarcity, and the potential for increases in oil and electricity prices, this range of challenges bear little resemblance to those previously faced. In Australia, state and federal authorities face further pressures given the variety of needs resulting from the country's geographical and population diversity, expansive road networks, road freight requirements and relatively small population base.
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