Toward Establishment of Industry Associations to Represent Nontraditional Road Stabilizer Suppliers

Millions of miles of unsealed roads around the world are managed by a variety of agencies and owners. Unacceptable levels of dust, poor riding quality, impassability in wet weather, and unsustainable gravel replacement practices are experienced on much of this global unsealed road network, and although it is generally acknowledged that these roads are fundamental to the economies of almost every country, many of the management practices for these roads leave much to be desired, with programs for dust control, chemical stabilization, low-cost upgrading, and the like largely overlooked. Although considerable experimentation on a variety of chemical additives has been carried out since the early 1900s, little wide-scale implementation has taken place. There are many reasons for this, including the absence of national authorities, a fragmented and sometimes dishonest industry, poor-quality research, and a lack of funding for programs among agencies and owners operating unsealed roads. The formation of industry associations that represent additive manufacturers and suppliers is suggested as a means to overcoming some of these barriers to implementation. The potential roles of such associations include, but are not limited to, that of provision of a formalized platform to organize and lobby for wider use of chemical stabilizers in management of unsealed roads, establishment of criteria for additive characterization–categorization, development of testing protocols, formulation of specifications, establishment of fit-for-purpose certification systems, enforcement of a code of conduct for its members, development of guidelines for marketing of additives, and provision of outreach.