2009 IRF Student Essay Competition - Call for Papers
For Immediate Release: October 16, 2008
The International Road Federation - WPC (IRF-WPC) has officially announced the opening of the 2009 IRF Student Essay Competition. IRF will be accepting submissions from now until May 31, 2009.
This year, IRF will be accepting essays in five categories with three topics to choose from under each category. A winning essay will be selected from each theme and awarded a $1,000 prize.
This year's themes and topics are:
Road Safety
- What low-cost initiatives are available to make roads safer for vulnerable users? Evaluate their effectiveness.
- How can we improve temporary traffic control and/or traveler information during incidents?
- As an intersection is, at its core, a planned point of conflict in the roadway system, what measures can be taken to improve intersection safety?
Sustainable Roads
- How can road design/development help reduce pollution and congestion?
- How can we maintain an energy efficient perspective in future road designs?
- How do we develop the less-developed countries while maintaining high environmental standards?
Innovative Financing
- How can we implement innovative road maintenance and operations budgeting to achieve a safe, clean, satisfactory level of customer service?
- How can innovative road pricing be used to reduce congestion, pollution and injury accidents?
- How can Innovative financing of road projects help improve performance outcomes?
Intelligent Transportation Systems
- How does ITS contribute to economic growth?
- How does ITS contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection?
- At a time of financial difficulties and facing many competing and alternative investments, how can Governments find and secure funding for ITS infrastructure?
Pavement Technology, Maintenance and Management
- What are the advantages/disadvantages of mechanistic-empirical design?
- What cost-effective solutions can be implemented to extend the service life of deteriorated pavements?
- Evaluate the role of recycling in current and future pavements. What other methods and/or technologies can be implemented to improve sustainability?
To see complete details, read the official rules, and submit your essay, please visit the IRF website
Founded in 1948, the International Road Federation (IRF) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization with members from both the public and private sectors in 90 countries worldwide. IRF promotes the development and maintenance of better, safer roads and road networks throughout the world, using technological solutions and management practices that provide maximum economic and social returns from road investment.
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