Targeted Research Action for environmentally-friendly construction technologies
The coordinators of the EU's Targeted Research Action (TRA) on environmentally-friendly construction technologies have released information on their first year of operation. The action, which takes the form of a network, is funded within the EU's specific RTD programme in the field of Industrial and Materials Technologies (BRITE-EURAM). It brings together a total of 75 construction-related EU RTD projects funded under the BRITE-EURAM, CRAFT, SMT, Environment and Climate and Steel Research programmes. The aim of the network is provide a European forum for the exchange of information on research-related activities within the construction industry, with particular focus on environmentally-friendly activities, to facilitate the exchange of good practice throughout Europe. The projects involved in the network were grouped into nine clusters during the first year of operation, each having a cluster coordinator responsible for its functioning. Annual cluster meetings were held to facilitate the smooth and efficient operation of the whole network. Highlights during 1997 included the following: - TRA annual workshop, held in Toulouse, France, on 30 and 31 October 1997, attracting some 110 participants who heard presentations from Commission representatives on the upcoming Fifth RTD Framework Programme and its Key Actions dealing with RTD priorities for the construction industry; - The Strategic Round Table held on 12 March 1998 to debate sustainable construction issues; - The launch of the TRA Website and the publication of newsletters, annual report and market overviews. After its first year of operations, the TRA network has been restructured slightly, with completed projects withdrawing and newly launched projects joining. Some 20 projects will leave the network, leaving opportunities for new projects to join, with a total of 60 identified as possible members. Projects from other EU RTD programmes such as Transport, TMR and ESPRIT will also be invited to participate. The network therefore enters its second year with the potential involvement of up to 114 construction related projects. These will be spread over ten clusters: - Testing and quality assurance for construction; - Construction process and management; - Seismic and vibration isolation; - Improved performance of concrete in structures; - Wood properties and technologies for construction; - New technologies in geotechnical engineering; - Environmentally-friendly technologies for construction materials and components; - Steel research; - Road infrastructure; - Recycling in construction.