The 9th Conference on Asphalt Pavements
for Southern Africa
Chairman''s Invitation
CAPSA 04 is now a distant memory and we are now full steam ahead in the planning for CAPSA 07 which has been organised as an interim conference to bring CAPSA in line with the 4-yearly global calendar of conferences. As Chairman of the CAPSA 07 Steering Committee it is my great pleasure to invite you to register to attend the Ninth Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa (CAPSA 07) to be held at The Gaborone International Convention Centre, at the Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort in Gaborone, Botswana from 2 to 5 September 2007.

As an interim conference, the style of CAPSA 04 has been changed from the traditional CAPSA conferences in that this conference will focus on unresolved issues that have been raised in the past rather than posing more questions for resolution.

Hence, the programme has been structured to provide plenary presentations of commissioned best-practice papers by local and international experts on prescribed topics in the respective conference focus areas to stimulate resolution by the structured participation of delegates through debate and discussion in parallel workshop sessions. The focus areas for the conference are:

Hot Mix Asphalt
Surface Seals
Bituminous Stabilisation
Component Materials
Structural Design
Asset Preservation
Construction & Delivery
Occupational Health, Safety and the Environment

In addition, we have reduced the length of the conference to 3 working days and attempted to keep the costs of the conference at reasonable levels to attract younger practitioners to participate in what is expected to be a unique industry learning experience. As you will see, three years later, we have managed to price the conference at a lower rate than that of Sun City in 2004.

While the main focus will be on the technical programme, we have still attempted to retain a comprehensive social programme to encourage the networking and camaraderie for which CAPSA conferences are renowned. The programme begins with an icebreaker cocktail around the swimming pool of the Walmont Ambassador Hotel on the Sunday evening; an exhibitors braai/barbeque will be held on Monday evening; and the conference gala dinner with special entertainment will form the climax of the social programme on Tuesday evening allowing delegates the freedom to leave the conference after the closing session on Wednesday afternoon.

A stimulating companions’ programme is also being organised as part of the conference and I hope that many of you will bring your partners to share in the CAPSA 07 experience. Pre and post conference tours to explore Botswana and other parts of southern Africa can also be arranged through the linkages on this web site and through an agent who will be resident at the conference.

I look forward to meeting you all in Gaborone in September 2007.