Case Study: Smarter Road Stabilisation and Dust Control in Civil — Proven Performance on Public Roads

Delivering durable roads, cost savings, and safer conditions through innovative environmental dust management.

At Dust-A-Side Australia, we specialise in practical, results-driven dust control and road stabilisation systems that empower civil works and public road projects across Australia.

This case study highlights how our tailored approach delivered measurable improvements in road durability, reduced maintenance costs, and improved safety for both operators and the surrounding community.

The Situation

Our client was seeking a more sustainable and cost-effective method to manage road surfaces across haul routes and public access roads.

Frequent heavy vehicle traffic and weather exposure caused ongoing surface degradation, leading to:

• Increased maintenance costs
• Excessive water use for dust suppression
• Reduced road integrity and safety risks
• Visibility issues for drivers and nearby road users

The client’s goal was to find a long-term stabilisation solution to reduce dust, improve running surfaces, and extend the lifespan of both public and worksite roads, while minimising the cost of constantly re-sheeting the roads.

The Solution

Dust-A-Side Australia proposed a dual-product system to target specific road needs:

• DAS Product — for longer-term stabilisation of main haul and public roads. The product is an emulsion of bitumen in water, specifically designed and formulated to physically bind road materials together and suppress dust on road surfaces. It can be applied as a spray-on treatment for existing roads or incorporated into the wearing course layer during the establishment of new roads.
• HydroTac — for shorter-term dust control on access and internal work roads. HydroTac is a biodegradable spray-on treatment which acts as a hygroscopic crusting agent. When applied, it binds surface particles together, forming a crust that suppresses dust. This reduces the need for frequent watering and maintenance.

The strategy provided the ideal balance of durability and cost efficiency, leveraging existing on-site materials to minimise rework and disruption.

What We Supplied

• DAS Product for high-traffic haul and public roads
• HydroTac organic dust suppressant for work areas
• Supervised installation and operator training
• Technical support and performance assessments
• Cost-benefit analysis 
  

Trial Phase

Encouraged by the results, the client implemented DAS Product on a major haul route initially budgeted for full re-sheeting. The original $300K allocation was reduced to $60K — a cost saving of approximately $240,000 — by utilising existing materials blended with DAS Product.

Following this success, the client committed to expanding the application of both DAS Product and HydroTac across their operation gradually.

Implementation and Support

A Dust-A-Side Australia supervisor was present on-site throughout installation, training water cart and grader operators in correct application and maintenance methods.

Ongoing support included:

• Remote supervision and periodic site visits
• Performance monitoring and dosage optimisation
• Hands-on training for new operators and contractors, when required

This hybrid support model ensured consistent results across all treated areas while maintaining flexibility for future scaling and keeping costs down.

Maintenance and Inspections

Site inspections and technical application will be conducted by Dust-A-Side Australia when required.

The treated roads continued to perform strongly under traffic and variable weather conditions, with no major service issues reported.

Challenges and Learnings

DAS Product

In some areas, additional road base material was required to optimise compaction. Collaboration between contractors was critical to achieving uniform surface quality.

HydroTac

During periods of heavy rainfall, adjustments to application timing and dosage were necessary to maintain consistent coverage and performance.

Key Learnings

Both products demonstrated resilience across diverse materials and conditions, confirming their effectiveness for long-term civil works and public road management.

Outcomes

Within a short time, the client observed:

• Enhanced road durability and surface strength
• Reduced water use and maintenance costs
• Improved operator safety and visibility
• Fewer dust-related complaints
• Higher overall productivity and uptime
• Improved overall satisfaction of haul truck and public drivers using the road due reduced tyre wear  

Following the success of the project, not only did the client expand the application across additional road networks within their operations, but other businesses across the region have also begun adopting Dust-A-Side Australia’s solutions to improve road quality and reduce operational expenditure.

Ongoing Support and Education

Our partnership doesn’t end at delivery. Dust-A-Side Australia continues to provide:

• Site Visits – Routine checks to verify ongoing results
• Condition Monitoring – Regular evaluation of road performance
• Operator Training – On-site guidance for dosing and road care
• Preventative Maintenance – Scheduled inspections for reliability
• Product Logistics – Coordinated delivery and replenishment 
  
  

Why It Works

This isn’t just about delivering a product — our approach smarter way to manage roads:

• Autonomous: Minimal intervention required
• Cost-Effective: Major savings on materials and maintenance
• Reliable: Proven performance backed by expert support
• Adaptable: Effective across a range of surfaces and traffic types
• Sustainable: Reduced water use and lower environmental impact 
  
  

Transform Your Road Network Today

Our stabilisation and dust control systems deliver proven performance across civil works, mining, and public infrastructure projects.

Click here to request a consultation. Or give us a call on 1800 662 387.