Highway Data Systems has become the latest members of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), underlining the on-going importance of the association in helping to deliver an effective and efficient highways sector across the UK through collaboration and better working.
The company will help RSTA with its mission to be the trusted voice of the UK highways industry on road surface treatments solutions, helping to improve standards and training as well as effectively communicate the good work of its members as they deliver vital highway maintenance around the country.
This new membership, with more to follow, marks a strong start to the year for the RSTA which is making significant progress with its new three-year strategy, the Road Ahead. Road Ahead aims to build on the comprehensive body of work undertaken by the association since 2008.
Ruairi Charlesworth, Development Manager at Highway Data Systems said: “Highway Data Systems are at the forefront of innovation in highways maintenance and construction. We decided that we could adapt our already successful automated materials testing systems for asphalt construction to microsurfacing and the RSTA seemed like the best body to get guidance on how to achieve this technically and to share the innovation with the highways community. We’re delighted to be members and will look forward to participating as fully as possible”.
The company builds hardware and software systems that are used by leading contractors to provide essential quality assurance for the UK’s most important infrastructure. It is the only company dedicated to using only automated technology for achieving materials testing processes. The company is a UKAS accredited materials testing laboratory and promotes productivity improvement, better health and safety and 21st Century asset management.
“Construction is suffering from a massive lack of productivity and a skills shortage. McKinsey identified the main reason for this worldwide was a lack of investment in automated and digital technologies. In the UK, the productivity and workforce issues are going to be exacerbated by the massive programme of investment in infrastructure from the Government over the next 5 – 10 years. Highway Data Systems has identified areas that we can help improve through our technology, and we believe that the whole sector will benefit as a consequence,” added Mr Charlesworth.
Commenting on Highway Data Systems membership, RSTA Chief Executive Paul Boss said: “I welcome the company to the RSTA and look forward to working with them to help deliver our important work in the highways maintenance sector. Never has it been so important to help and support our members to deliver cost effective, efficient, safe and sustainable work in the sector, offering road operators and local authorities a high-quality service that represents value for money. A big part of this is to demonstrate and communicate how surface treatments are a vital component of any successful asset management and maintenance programme, helping keep our roads in better condition for longer as well as underpinning the massive investment in infrastructure across the UK at the moment.”
“This year, like any other, we are committed to raising industry standards in surface treatments through training, technical engagement and development of standards, guidance and specifications,” he added.
Wide-ranging research has found that keeping roads well-maintained not only saves money but reduces traffic CO2 emissions, according to the association. The RSTA now has nearly 90 members across the highway maintenance supply chain in the UK.
