Roadside Vegetation Management Innovators – NCDOT, Raleigh, NC.

North Carolina has the USA’s largest State maintained highway system consisting of 78,000 miles (125,500km) of highways. This equates to over 331,000 acres (54,000ha) of rights of way maintained in three general forms: turf, natural areas, and landscape plantings.

The Project Representatives spent an extremely productive few days with the staff from North Carolina Department of Transport (NCDOT) Roadside Environmental Unit inspecting a range of field sites and some of their latest spray application equipment. Photos from the visit can be viewed on the IVMP website in the image gallery.

Everything is done a massive scale due to the size of the area that is under management, however there is a lot we can learn from their methodologies and equipment, scaled down to meet our needs in Australia.

A standout for this part of the trip would have to be the commitment NCDOT has put into better managing their roadside vegetation. NCDOT’s Roadside Environmental Unit, works in cooperation with 14 divisions statewide covering three climate zones that include multiple cool and warm season grass species, as well as varying soil conditions.

The professionalism, dedication and commitment of the team were apparent as were the results of their hard work. With strong partnerships with researchers from North Carolina State University (NCSU) and significant levels of funding allocated for research and development, NCDOT has implemented innovative roadside vegetation strategies that have not only save millions of dollars, they have also significantly improved the safety levels for road users and those who maintain these road networks.

NCDOT have taken a long term view with their roadside vegetation management strategies. They are prepared to invest significant funding in the short term knowing that in the longer term the benefits will out way the initial investment.

A number of the innovative practices and vegetation management methodologies developed by NCDOT in conjunction with NCSU would be worthy of implementation in Australia. The IVMP project will now explore a number of these innovations, with the support of both NCSU researchers and the NCDOT’ Roadside Environmental Unit.

Australia can learn a lot from the efforts of NCDOT in the management of roadside vegetation. As the costs of maintaining road networks increases, funding for roadside vegetation management is under pressure. Innovative ways to reduce the triple bottom line cost of managing roadside vegetation is more essential than ever, and funding dedicated towards this cause will pay handsomely in the future.

We would like to know what innovative practises you are using to manage roadside vegetation? Was the last innovation in vegetation management for Australian roadside vegetation the weed wiper? What other innovations are out there?

With regard to funding research and development projects for mown vegetation is anyone investing in innovation now with an expectation of reaping the rewards through future savings?

We welcome your comments, questions and feedback.

Integrated Vegetation Management in the United States

In July 2008, a research trip to the USA was completed by project representatives. The purpose of the visit the US was primarily to look at mown vegetation management in the US, specifically integrated vegetation management strategies from appropriate species selection, through to the use of PGRs and herbicides with growth regulatory effects.

The project representatives met with a broad spectrum of people involved in vegetation management in the US so as to better understand the successes and challenges faced by researchers, asset owners, asset managers, Vegetation Management service providers and product suppliers.

Over the next few postings I will give you an overview of this research trip and what was uncovered in the US. Further information on integrated vegetation management strategies in the USA can be found at our website www.ivmp.com.au.