Month: November 2024

The year 2024 has been a significant milestone for Hatko Sound Barriers on the international stage. Collaborating with our UK distributor, Gramm Barrier Systems, Hatko completed the world’s first carbon-neutral noise barrier project at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) facility in the UK. This innovative project, utilising Hatko's patented products, represents a global first both environmentally and technologically, as recycled rubber materials were transformed into high-performance noise barriers.

Two Pollutions, One Solution: Our Eco-Friendly Approach

Hatko stands out with its innovative and holistic approach, Two Pollutions, One Solution, which offers solutions to environmental challenges. By repurposing waste tires, Hatko addresses both waste management and noise pollution. Its noise barriers made from recycled rubber prevent environmental harm caused by waste and offer a sustainable, high-performance noise control solution.

A Practical Solution to Carbon Footprint Reduction

Hatko Sound Barriers is a pioneer in providing industry-leading solutions for reducing carbon footprints. Its products, made from recycled materials, significantly lower carbon emissions. For example, in its carbon-neutral noise barrier project in the UK, the use of recycled rubber materials prevented tons of carbon emissions. Additionally, the energy savings and sustainability principles integrated into Hatko's production process further amplify its positive environmental impact.

Pioneering Projects in Türkiye and Worldwide

In 2024, Hatko launched various projects across Türkiye while achieving new successes on the global stage. From highways and rail systems to sports and cultural centres and even libraries, Hatko continued to make a difference with its noise barriers made from recycled materials. Furthermore, Hatko developed next-generation solar-panel-integrated noise barriers that combine sound insulation with energy production.

Global Recognition with IRF and ENBF Memberships

This year, Hatko's memberships in the International Road Federation (IRF) and European Noise Barrier Federation (ENBF) further solidified its international presence. Notably, Hatko's participation and presentations at the IRF World Congress in Istanbul, hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, provided a prominent platform to showcase Hatko’s innovative solutions on a global scale. In their presentations, Hatko highlighted the contributions of our sustainable infrastructure solutions and eco-friendly products.

International Dealership and Business Development

In 2024, Hatko continued its global expansion with the following achievements:

• Dealerships in the UK and Australia: Partnership agreements with Gramm Barrier Systems in the UK and Wallmark Smart Wall Solutions in Australia.
• Field Trials in Germany: Successful ongoing field trials of our products in rail systems.
• Italy: Collaboration with the Rome Advanced District (ROAD), with products shipped and discussions ongoing for projects with private road operators.

Investing in the Future with New International Projects in 2025

Aligned with its mission for sustainability, Hatko is preparing to take part in new projects in different countries in 2025. With its eco-friendly products, Hatko aims to reduce both noise and carbon pollution in more countries. These projects will contribute to the development of sustainable infrastructure solutions globally.

Patented Products and Environmental Contributions

Hatko Sound Barriers stands out in the industry with its patented noise barriers made from recycled rubber. These products transform waste tires from an environmental problem into valuable resources, contributing to carbon-neutral goals and offering high-performance solutions.

2024 Achievements:

• World’s first carbon-neutral noise barrier installation (GCRE, UK)
• Successful international implementation of the Two Pollutions, One Solution strategy
• Global recognition through IRF and ENBF memberships
• Industry-leading solutions in carbon footprint reduction
• Development of solar-panel-integrated noise barriers
• Establishment of dealerships with Gramm Barrier Systems in the UK and Wallmark Smart Wall Solutions in Australia
• Innovative projects and field applications in Germany, Italy and the UK.

Hatko Sound Barriers continues to lead the global market by combining environmental sustainability with innovation. The projects we completed in 2024 reflect Hatko's vision for the future.

We are excited to announce that Youth for Road Safety (YOURS) has been awarded the Inclusion and Diversity Award at the IRF 2024 Awards Ceremony during the IRF World Congress 2024 held in Istanbul this October. This honour celebrates their impactful work on the Belize Youth Empowerment Programme, underscoring the power of youth-led initiatives to create safer, more inclusive, and sustainable communities.

In 2014, Belize faced a road safety crisis, with young people representing 30% of road fatalities. In response, YOURS partnered with the Caribbean Development Bank, the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Education, and with Youth to launch the Belize Youth Empowerment Programme. This initiative empowered 35 young leaders to address road safety in their communities, transforming them into change-makers.

The success of this initiative demonstrates the power of multisectoral collaboration—combining the investment of a multilateral bank, the strategic vision of government ministries, and the leadership of youth.

The National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) recently sent a delegation to the International Road Federation (IRF) World Congress in Istanbul, Türkiye. This gathering of transport professionals was an excellent forum for NTRO to share Australian perspectives on innovative transport solutions and learn from international counterparts.

NTRO experts engaged in various technical and special sessions throughout the week and had the opportunity to connect with like-minded innovators from around the world. 

Their NTRO experts made significant contributions in several gatherings throughout the week: 

• Melissa Lyons shared expertise on next-generation technology and asset management, as well as strategies for incorporating sustainable materials in transport infrastructure. 

• Javad Yaghoubi presented on advances in new material science for road infrastructure, with a focus on recycled materials. He also shared insights on using locally available marginal materials for road pavement applications in rural development contexts. 

• Petar Davcev discussed innovations in sustainable roads and extracting value from end-of-life tires, contributing to the dialogue on climate-resilient and decarbonised road infrastructure. 

The congress's format of technical and special sessions provided an ideal environment for in-depth discussions and knowledge exchange. NTRO experts not only shared their insights but also gained valuable knowledge from international case studies and emerging technologies presented by researchers and industry experts from around the world. 

The insights gained will inform NTRO's ongoing research and help shape innovative, sustainable transport solutions for Australia's future. 

ORIS was bestowed with the IRF award in the “Decarbonisation and Circular Economy” category for its collaboration with Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, the federal government company responsible for the management, planning, construction, and operation of highways in Germany. 

This is another milestone in considering sustainability at the early stages of conception to improve infrastructure.

Autobahn and ORIS are steering the wheel toward carbon neutrality

Managing and operating Germany's highways, Autobahn GmbH des Bundes is committed to providing users with a more sustainable transportation network. Especially with laws and regulations enforcing the need to consider sustainability and the impacts of climate change.

This means minimising environmental impacts while steering towards carbon neutrality. To do that, Autobahn needed a solution to assess the lifecycle of its infrastructure projects. This is where our all-in-one platform steps in. 

ORIS collaborates with Autobahn on two specific projects: the A92 highway expansion and the A62 rest area enhancement project. ORIS anticipates that both pilot projects will achieve double-digit reductions in carbon footprints, showcasing the effectiveness of the integrated framework they have developed.

Overall, ORIS evaluated 13 projects. They identified a potential optimisation potential of approximately 8.000 tons of CO2 equivalent, which corresponds to an average of 17% of the carbon emissions of the optimised projects - taking into account the currently applicable regulations.

The collaboration between Autobahn and ORIS aims to deliver immediate environmental benefits while setting a precedent for future projects. This initiative fosters a culture of sustainability and innovation in the transportation sector. The systematic approach ensures long-term positive impacts on the environment and the industry.

ORIS innovative and integrated framework to decarbonise Autobahn’s highways

Through its collaboration with Autobahn, an integrated framework emerged that synergises transparency, control, and innovation within the life cycle of infrastructure projects, integrating advanced data analytics and lifecycle assessment tools to reduce carbon emissions and promote a circular economy. 

This integrated framework relies on three elements: transparency, control, and innovation.

Transparency in environmental impact

It represents the cornerstone of the framework, advocating for adopting a standardised methodology across projects to assess the ecological effects comprehensively. Core competencies include visibility and comparability, crucial for establishing a baseline for subsequent years.

Automation is vital in mitigating calculation discrepancies by employing advanced dashboards for real-time tracking and identifying critical emission sources. This granularity facilitates strategic targeting and the establishment of quantifiable carbon reduction benchmarks. 

The framework ensures compliance with statutory reporting, using results and analysis dashboards to provide clear, actionable insights. 

Control in reducing carbon impact

It encompasses a strategic reduction of the carbon footprint through meticulous activity management, focusing on the core competence of optimisation. 

This includes: 

• Adopting low-carbon materials
• Enhancing design and material efficiencies
• Optimising production and construction methodologies
• Refining sourcing frameworks

Multidimensional data supports better decision-making, promoting best practices to ensure that carbon emissions reductions are achievable and allowing informed choices that drive sustainability. 

Innovation toward carbon neutrality

It drives ORIS beyond traditional carbon neutrality thresholds. By integrating new technologies, the framework highlights the opportunity for automation in process optimisation. 

Advanced analytics enable precise forecasting and optimisation. This approach leads to carbon neutrality by continuously adapting to new technologies.

The framework for carbon neutrality can also be applied to areas such as Circular Material Flow, Resilience to Climate Change, Adaptation/Mitigation, Land Use (ground sealing), and Biodiversity. 

As the platform grows, it will incorporate additional parameters, allowing for a comprehensive, holistic assessment of all sustainability factors, including the CO2 price effect for monetisation. 

The crucial role of innovation in the infrastructure industry

ORIS' collaboration with Autobahn showcases innovation by integrating advanced digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence in the road construction sector. The ORIS platform's capabilities in data analysis, scenario modelling, and life cycle assessment represent a significant leap forward in infrastructure project management. 

This innovative approach allows for precisely identifying carbon hotspots, optimising materials and processes, and informed decision-making. The concept of the systematic approach across a public organisation project, as it has been tested on a portfolio of pilot projects with Autobahn, further exemplifies how digital tools can transform traditional practices, leading to substantial environmental and operational improvements. 

The infrastructure industry is responsible for leading the way in decarbonising the sector. This can only be achieved through the use of digital and advanced technologies. It represents a new way of working, meaning that change is ongoing, but it is worth it as climate change impacts the entire industry and the communities relying on it to get around daily.

Winning the award for “Decarbonising and Circular Economy”

ORIS is proud to have won the International Road Federation (IRF) award in the “Decarbonising and Circular Economy”. The IRF is an active player in the road sector, committed to the sector’s transformation towards a low-carbon economy.

This category highlights “initiatives or projects that contribute to the decarbonisation of the transportation sector and promote the principles of the circular economy. This category recognises efforts to reduce carbon emissions, minimise waste generation, and maximise resource efficiency throughout the lifecycle of road infrastructure projects”.

This award recognises ORIS work and its mission for sustainable infrastructure.

It is not about winning awards but about acting now for sustainable infrastructure. 

ORIS decarbonises the infrastructure industry by providing a reliable, all-in-one platform for the entire infrastructure ecosystem: material suppliers, contractors, engineers, and public authorities.  

At the International Road Federation (IRF) World Congress in Istanbul held from 15 to 18 October 2024, the IRF Awards were presented at the closing ceremony. Austrian traffic technology corporation SWARCO is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Technology and Innovation Award for the SWARCO GoGreen Initiative project – a proactive approach to climate neutrality.

SWARCO representatives Richard Neumann and Itir Coskun, who have promoted the GoGreen initiative across Europe, accepted the award from IRF President Dimitris Mandalozis.

This is the second recognition of SWARCO's commitment to the European Green Deal cities to become carbon neutral by 2050, following the ITS Hall of Fame Industry Award in Dubai in September. SWARCO's virtual reality experience, which underpins its solutions to reduce congestion and air pollution and promote the safety of vulnerable road users, is an innovative approach to engage all stakeholders and convince them of the benefits of ITS in mitigating climate change.