CMA INTRODUCES PERMEABLE PAVING DESIGN SOFTWARE – 200 COPIES SOLD :

The software is authored by two Australians, world renowned concrete block paving (CBP) expert, Dr Brian Shackel, visiting professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of New South Wales, and Professor Simon Beecham, head of sustainable water resources at the University of South Australia.

The South African version of PermPave was introduced to this country by Dr Shackel and Professor Beecham in a series of seminars held in Midrand, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban during the first half of November.

Attended by over 270 civil engineers, landscape architects, paving block manufacturers and specifiers, the seminars have gone some considerable distance in convincing local professionals that permeable paving is a viable and cost-effective water management system, and an inexpensive alternative to conventional storm-water drainage.

CMA director, John Cairns, says the Australians were very impressed with the level of audience participation during the seminars and were also impressed with South Africa’s largest permeable paving project to date, a parking ground on the West Campus of the University of the Witwatersrand.

“Since the staging of the seminars we have had several enquiries from people considering the installation of permeable paving as part of their projects and thanks to the involvement of experts such as Dr Shackel and Professor Beecham, I have no doubt that this green technology is taking local hold in a responsible and sustainable manner,” observes Cairns.

PermPave offers considerable design scope and can be used with various paving products. The local version has been programmed with South African rainfall data and it allows the further downloading of local climate and rainfall information. It also guides the user in selecting paving blocks best suited to the application and facilitates designing for specified volumes of water, either for storage and re-use, or for replenishing underground water tables.

The filtering out of pollutants is another important benefit, however, Cairns says the prime driving force behind the technology is the prevention of flooding.

Copies of PermPave are available from the CMA at R500-00 each. Contact Pam on
011 805-6742 or on main.cma@gmail.com  .

Dr Shackel addresses the first of four PermPave seminars on the structural elements of PermPave. It was held on 4 November in Midrand.

Professor Beecham delivering his address on the hydraulic aspects of PermPave at the Midrand seminar.

Professor Beecham, John Cairns and Dr Shackel seen here shortly after the successful conclusion of the first PermPave seminar in November.

DATE                     November, 2008
ISSUED BY           David Beer Communication Consultants
FOR                       Concrete Manufacturers Association 
ENQUIRIES          John Cairns (011) 805 6742
                               David Beer (011) 478 0239 or 082 880 6726.  Email: bigsky@ibi.co.za