2018

LVM Announces a Tender for Scientific Research "Application of Forest Biomass Ash on Gravel Roads"

LVM's previous studies have shown that burnt forest biomass or biofuel fly ash is a strong hydraulic binder and an active pucolan material that can be used in road construction, when properly applied in optimal proportions with other minerals. However, in order to make a practical assessment of the options and efficiency of using this type of ash in gravel roads in Latvia, it is necessary to construct a pilot road where the physical and mechanical properties of different types of mixtures of fly ash and gravel can be compared when using gravel roads in the routine manner, as well as to identify the management peculiarities of such gravel roads and their environmental impact.

There are two successive stages planned for the construction such a road:

1. Development of the technical design, calculation of the expected cost of works and materials for the selected gravel forest road section, rebuilding of the road pavement, incorporation of a mixture of gravel and biofuel fly ash, as well as development of environmental impact mitigation measures and a 3-year monitoring and testing programme;

2. Reconstruction of the selected gravel forest road in accordance with the developed technical design, implementation of the environmental impact mitigation measures and monitoring of the gravel forest road for a 3-year period (physical and mechanical parameters of the road surface, environmental impact), including frost resistance measurements.

On the basis of the stage 1 deliverables, LVM will decide on whether to terminate the research or continue it with stage 2: reconstruction of the selected gravel forest road incorporating a mixture of gravel and biofuel fly ash into the road pavement, as well as implementing the environmental impact mitigation measures and the 3-year monitoring programme.

Goal of the study: development of a technical design and a 3-year monitoring and testing programme for the 3.1 km-long forest gravel road Mežgaitas – Augšciems owned by JSC "Latvia's State Forests", by incorporating a mixture of gravel and ravel and biofuel fly in the surface of the gravel road.

Proposal submission deadline: 2 May 2018. Proposals should be submitted both in printed form and in an electronic data carrier (CD or flash memory).

Proposal submission place and address: To the Administrator of JSC "Latvia's State Forests", 1 Vaiņodes Street, Riga, LV-1004.

Contact information: Andris Pumpurs, Development Project Manager (e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tel. 67610015).