SMaRT team at fieldwork in the desert. From left to right: Roberto Nuca (ESR2, Optiflow Company), Patrizio Politdori (Railways and Roads Design Manager, Astaldi Headquarters), Marko Horvat (ESR1, Politecnico di Torino), Ciaran Nash (ESR3, University of Oxford), Rabah Aoudia (Railway Expert, Astaldi Algeria)
The SMaRT ESRs visited Astaldi company in Algeria from 19th to 26th January 2018. Thanks to the valuable support provided by Astaldi, ESRs were able to assess condition of complete railway line stretching from Redjem Demouche to Mecheria. They were also able to visit the northern segment of the line from Mecheria to Bechar, at the gates of Sahara desert. This was a great opportunity to introduce ESRs to railways in arid areas, create a database on sand induced problems along a 140 km long railway line, strengthen the fruitful collaboration with Astaldi, Partner Organization of the SMaRT project.
