Recognizing Exemplary Research and Education...

Since 1980, the international conferences and workshops on concrete block paving have been held in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Israel, Colombia, Japan, and South Africa. The triennial conference draws international experts that participate in the technical sessions who research, design, specify, construct, and maintain segmental concrete paving. Many experts are from nations whose industries provide five to ten times the area of concrete segmental paving per capita than North America. Such international experts plus those from North America provide a rich forum for technology transfer. The result is state-of-the-art information on research and application of concrete block paving, and on the family of segmental paving including interlocking concrete pavements, permeable interlocking concrete pavements, precast concrete paving slabs, and concrete grid pavements.

Since "Sustainable Paving for Our Future" is the conference theme, the purpose of the conference is to recognize exemplary research and continuing education on sustainable family of segmental concrete pavements. There are no other pavements that can contribute as much to environmental design. Examples of applications that achieve amore sustainable future include:

• Traffic calming and reduced braking distances
• Reduction of runoff and water pollution
• Center city and business district revitalization
• Use of recycled materials
• Design for the disabled
• Reduction of the urban heat island through increased albedo
• Addressing the full range of elements of architectural style