Point8 Pty Ltd

Described simultaneously as terrifying and magical, this complex series of intersections known as ‘The Magic Roundabout’ in Swindon, England, was constructed in 1972 and consists of five mini-roundabouts arranged in a circle. The mini-roundabouts travel in the usual clockwise direction, while the inner circle they revolve around travels anticlockwise. While it has been included in the ‘10 Scariest Junctions in the United Kingdom’, its safety record may surprise many – the combination of geometry, conflict minimisation and driver caution results in slow speeds meaning most collisions avoid any serious damage. While at first appearing confusing and intimidating to many, the junction efficiently supports an ever-increasing volume of road users. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for the consideration of vulnerable road users. While some additional improvements have been retrofitted, the design’s complexity and size introduce safety concerns and delays for active transport users.

Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSI) are raised studs or bars placed on the ground and positioned at key decision-making points within public spaces and buildings. Their purpose is to provide guidance of a change in direction, an obstruction or a hazard in any location where insufficient ‘natural’ warnings exist. TGSIs provide visual, sensory and textural cues to persons who require assistance to make decisions when walking un-aided in public spaces. This may include persons with a range of visual impairments, the elderly, and small children. In addition to being installed in accordance with AS 1428.4.1, these devices should contrast in colour to the surrounding surface and be designed and constructed to be durable. While AS 1428 outlines the design specification of TGSI, the site specific application of these devices is referenced in a wide range of standards, standard drawings and guidance documents.

Meet Liam! As a Senior Traffic Engineer and Project Manager at Point8, Liam has extensive experience in delivering projects involving traffic engineering, transport planning, temporary traffic management, and road safety. He is a qualified Traffic Management Designer (TMD) and TMR-accredited Senior Road Safety Auditor (SRSA), highlighting his commitment to road safety. Working with a variety of clients including RoadTek, Brisbane City Council, and the City of Gold Coast, Liam works closely with his clients to understand each organisation’s specific challenges to ensure delivery of pragmatic and fit-for-purpose solutions in a timely manner. His career highlights include being involved in the Eastern Transitway Stage 1 upgrade at Carindale, which is one of the busiest intersections in Southeast Queensland! More recently, Liam has travelled throughout Queensland to provide advice on temporary traffic management practices. Outside of the office, Liam plays AFL for the Morningside Panthers, and in the off-season, you will generally find him enjoying the outdoors camping or hiking. Being 7’ tall, his special skill is being exceptionally good at reaching things on the top shelf! 

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World is the Great Wall of China. While we refer to it as a continuous piece of infrastructure, the walls were built by various dynasties over a 2,000 year period, with the longest continuous section being 8,800km. All sections of The Wall stretch over 21,000 kilometres, and walking the entire length would take around 18 months! While it may be intuitive to think of the Wall as also being transport infrastructure, the paths at the top were mostly only travelled on foot by guards who were posted at watchtowers helping oversee trade routes such as the Silk Road. Some sections of the Great Wall have since been removed to build roadways through China. Today, it is a famous tourist attraction with over 10 million visitors annually who can walk and tour the iconic structure.

A desire line is the path or direction that pedestrians are more likely to prefer when traveling between two locations, regardless of whether any formal path or infrastructure exists. While often the desire line is the straight line representing the shortest route, this is not always the case. Desire lines can also be winding or curved, or even longer than that provided by formal infrastructure, as pedestrians are likely balance their route choice by selecting a combination of most efficient and convenient as well as safe, secure and comfortable. Examples of indirect desire lines include avoiding physical obstacles (such as steep hills), improving personal comfort (such as shade from trees), minimising travel delays (such as at waiting at traffic signals), or avoiding unsafe/undesirable places (such as a dark tunnel). Failure to identify desire lines and design to accommodate or alter these desire lines can result in unsafe, underused, and inequitable infrastructure for pedestrians.

How well do you know… construction vehicle slang names? Test your transport knowledge in our quiz series, ‘How well do you know…?’ Pictured below are a variety of vehicles used in construction. If you have spent time on a construction project you have probably heard these called by their slang names. How many do you know? Answer in the comments below – we will reveal the answers later in the week so you can see how many you got right!

Last week, we released the latest edition of our Communic8 eNewsletter. In case you missed it, here is the link below. Have a read and please feel free to share with others! https://buff.ly/4dU1oxR If you would like to receive future additions of Communic8, please subscribe here: https://buff.ly/3EMxc9p

Today is R U OK? Day which is a national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that any day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and start a meaningful conversation with someone who might be struggling with life. A place where asking “Are you ok?” can really work is in the workplace. As employers or staff, we can all create a culture where people feel comfortable both asking and responding to this simple yet critical question. R U OK? has developed four conversation steps to give everyone the skills and confidence to navigate a conversation with someone you’re worried about. 1. Ask 2. Listen 3. Encourage action 4. Check in Looking to ask R U OK? in the workplace? Click the link below to find some practical guides to help you ask the question in a safe and supportive way. #RUOKAnyDay

Last Friday, Point8 hosted another emerging professionals lawn bowls event – a big thank you to everyone who attended! We were joined by other industry professionals from CUSP, Roesner and Hamilton Consulting Engineers, and Mott MacDonald. The event provided a great opportunity for younger staff to network with our industry collaborators. We plan to continue hosting these events regularly, so if your organisation is interested, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We’re excited to share that we’ve recently received a commissioned artwork from local artist Kylie Harber of Tiny Giraffe. Collaborating closely with Point8, Kylie created a design that reflects where Point8 began 13 years ago and continues to grow today. We are thrilled with the result, now proudly displayed in our office. If you’re looking to enhance your space with artwork or wall murals, we highly recommend Kylie from Tiny Giraffe.