Smart Road Technologies: Changing Road Construction, Communications and Safety

Technology is changing the shape of many industries, like many others projects, road and highway construction is also evolving with new innovations in the mix. A series of smart road innovations are poised to transform the approach we have for building roads and highways.

To boost road-building practices, automation like virtual reality, machine learning, and cloud computing are progressively being adopted.

This results in cleaner, less crowded, and better environmentally efficient roads and highways.

The idea of the smart road is being guided by several technologies.

Material Control Systems in Transit

Through handling the mix of products when in transit, the Internet of Things (IoT) is boosting quality assurance – and minimizing job time.

Sensors on the corners of trucks track the density and characteristics of cement, bitumen, and prepared concrete naturally.

Even as the material is moved from the factory to the worksite, these sensors allow the required modifications. These modifications can be made on used industrial equipment as well.

The sensor-collected data analytics is sent to the server, where it is assessed over equipment and overtime to enhance mix and logistics procedures – and save money.

Durakerbs

Hundreds of km of curbs and sewage networks have been built in the U.K using reprocessed polymers obtained from plastic water bottles.

Up till now, the Durakerb Corporation has made use of the recycled equivalent of over 70 million plastic water bottles that would have otherwise ended up in the ocean.

The Durakerb is the key element of the equation when used in combination with plastic road surfaces. Waste material is now being used to build sustainable roads and highways.

Integrated Road development

The QSBW 4.0 road building network, which was unveiled in Germany, is based on the blend of complex logistics, machine control, mobile communication, and advanced analytics.

Data is constantly exchanged between computers, operators, and scheduling departments.

Procedures are recorded electronically. More advanced machines can adapt to changing environments, improving efficiency and lowering carbon footprint. They can even reduce resources like water, and diesel consumption.

Solar-powered roadways

Solar-powered roadways are environmentally friendly road structures that use the sun's energy to significantly boost visibility and protection.

Throughout the day, heat is produced to dissolve built-up ice and snow. During the nighttime, LED lights installed in the exterior are lit. Car drivers are alerted to possible hazards by caution signs embedded in the roadway.

There are three layers to the road:

#1. a layer of photovoltaic solar cells that absorbs the sun's energy

#2. a base plate that supplies the energy to the incorporated protective components

#3. A top layer of solid, reliable, and heavily textured glass to give the required traction for vehicles.

Solar-powered roads are only in their early developmental phase, but the advantages they offer are already revolutionary.

Interactive Lights

Interactive lights are lights powered by solar energy that light up the path on their own as vehicles drive by.

Each light is linked to a miniature windmill-like system that detects air movement. Through which for a split second, the beam is activated.

These lights help you save money and resources. In cities like Houston heavy machinery drivers need all the extra help to navigate the roads. They're also important for users of old run-down roads who don't have access to traditional electricity.