The PIARC Prizes are intended to encourage innovation, recognize professional competence, highlight topics of particular interest, promote the interests of developing countries and stimulate long-term reflection on the future of transport systems.

As part of the XXVIth World Road Congress, an important call for papers on 41 themes complementary to the Technical Committees' themes was launched. More than 600 authors responded to this call and presented their work during the Congress. Eight papers received a PIARC prize, recognizing the most outstanding papers in each of the following categories:

• Young professionals (under 35 years old), prize sponsored by Switzerland

• Developing countries (low- and middle-income countries), sponsored by Malaysia

• Best innovation, prize sponsored by Belgium

• Safety of road users and workers, sponsored by Australia

• Sustainable development, awards sponsored by Germany and the Czech Republic

• Road design and construction,sponsored by U.S.

• Road maintenance and operation, sponsored by the United Kingdom

The international jury was composed of the General Secretariat, the Strategic Theme Coordinators and a representative from each country sponsoring a prize: Andreas Heller (Switzerland), Annick De Swaef (Belgium), Ir Haji Zulakmal Bin Haji Sufian (Malaysia), Peter Ellis (Australia), Peter Schmitz (Germany), Václav Neuvirt (Czech Republic), Derrell Turner (USA), Lila Tachtsi (UK), Ernesto Barrera (Chile), Roberto Aguerrebere (Mexico), Jean-François Corté (France), Patrick Malléjacq (PIARC Secretary General) and Miguel Caso Flórez (Technical Director at the PIARC General Secretariat).

The winners received their awards from PIARC President Claude Van Rooten and Marie-Claude Petit, President of the International Jury of the PIARC Prizes, in front of thousands of delegates at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

• • Safety of road users and workers: "Efforts in Mexico to implement road safety Audits" by Alberto Mendoza Diaz, Maria Cadengo and Carlota Andrade (Mexico).

  • Young Professionals: "Which roads resurfacing strategies for sustainable development? Case on a French highways section" by Anne de Bortoli (France).  

  • Best Innovation: "Alternative secondary raw materials for road construction based on pulp and paper industry reject. Paperchain Project" by Adriana Martínez, Hani Baloochi, Diego Aponte, Marilda Barra, Rodrigo Miró, Juan José Cepriá, Roberto Orejana and Asier Oleaga (Spain).

  • Developing Countries: "Economic growth through effective rural road asset management" by Robert Geddes, Presley Chilonda, Emmerentian Mbabaz and Tamba Amara (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Sierra Leone).

• • Sustainable Development 1: "Creating biodiversity and improving the landscape by building a freeway interchange at the heart of the city of Québec" by Martin Lafrance and Jérôme Guay (Canada-Québec).

  • Sustainable Development 2: "Adapting road guides, standards and legislation to climate change" by Marie Colin and Fabien Palhol (France).

  • Road Design and Construction: "Opportunities and Challenges with Automation in Road Construction and Condition Monitoring in England" by Iswandaru Widyatmoko, Giacomo D'Angelo, Yi Xu, Robin Hudson-Griffiths, Arash Khojinian, Malcolm Simms and David Giles (UK).

  • Road Maintenance and Operations: "Replacement of asphalt with expanded polystyrene residues" by Eloy Parra Melgar, Teresa López Lara and Juan Bosco Hernández (Mexico).

Find out more:

- See interviews with representatives of PIARC Prizes sponsor countries

- PIARC Prizes 2019

- Relive the opening and closing ceremonies, the ministers' session and the opening speeches:

• Opening ceremony
• Ministers sessions
• Keynote speeches october 7th
• Keynote speeches october 8th
• Keynote speeches october 9th
• Closing ceremony

- Website of the XXVIth PIARC World Road Congress

- Congress photo album

- The Congress in video

- The Congress on Twitter

- PIARC World Road Congresses

- Website of the Congress pre-proceedings