PreScouter

Smart Road Technologies Shaping the

Future of Transportation
Research Support Service

January, 2019

Prepared by: PreScouter

Paula Hock l Project Architect
Vijetha Mogilireddy l Researcher
Anil Vishnu l Researcher

PRESCOUTER
 Intelligence Brief Question

What smart road technologies are shaping the

future of transportation?

Roadways are constantly in flux, either through repairs and construction or continual improvements.
With recent developments in smart technologies, companies and research groups alike have been
hard at work devising ways to make the roads safer and more driver-friendly, and enable the use of
developments coming from the automotive sector.

This report discusses a wide variety of these technologies and how they will continue to be
developed in the near future.

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 Executive Summary

Key Driving Trends:

Evolving technologies from a variety of industries are enabling smarter and safer roadways. These
are the major driving factors for advancements included in this report:

1. Electrification Infrastructure Improvements

2. Safety and Improved User Experience
3. Renewable Energy Generation

Discussion:

With large pushes toward electrification across the automotive sector, smart roads are striving to
accommodate and enable widespread adoption of electric vehicles. In previous years, this has been
primarily the addition of more and more charging stations, which continues to date (The Ray, p. 32).
The most recent advancements utilize electric fields and/or induction coil technology to create
electric charging lanes that enable charging while vehicles are in motion (ElectReon p. 16, The Ray p.
32). These lanes would empower drivers of electric vehicles to drive longer without the need to stop
and charge while also utilizing existing real estate without the need for added stations.

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 Executive Summary

Perhaps the most significant driving factor for smart road technologies is increasing driver and
passenger safety while also improving the user experience. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and
vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications have yielded driver alerts and road monitoring
technologies to aid in safe driving. For example, HP Lubricants and Leo Burnett India have developed
“honking road” technology that alerts drivers coming into tight turns about oncoming traffic (p. 11).
Additionally, weather, traffic, accidents, and other roadway information can be communicated both
to vehicles on roads and to central processing hubs or emergency response teams (p. 23, 32, and
42).

Beyond these technologies, new technologies are also improving more rudimentary road issues. The
Ray has incorporated a tire safety check that lets the driver know if their tires are properly inflated (p.
28). Additionally, to minimize construction and maintenance delays and prevent potential road-based
vehicle damage, researchers have been developing self-healing concrete (p. 20).

Finally, a major advantage of roadways around the globe is the sheer amount of space they
encompass and number of people they reach. If roads could be utilized for energy generation along
with transport, it could bring renewable energy to vast portions of the world’s population. In fact, this
is a development goal for several companies and has already been piloted with in situ testing in
progress (Wattway p. 34, The Ray p. 30), both on the roads themselves and on barriers along
roadways.
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The Smart Road Technologies Covered

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 An Introduction to
Interactive Communication

PRESCOUTER +1.872.222.9225 • info@[Link] 6

 Introduction

The past decade has been a game changer for the automotive industry with the rise in electric
vehicles and their manufacturers. Now, smart city technology has opened up another possibility for
connecting and communicating with vehicles on the road. Here are some of the top technologies in
both autonomous driving and smart infrastructure that are opening the way to the future.

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 Introduction

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication: V2V systems use dedicated short-range communications

(DSRC), which are two-way wireless channels that enable V2V-equipped cars to communicate with
each other at roughly 300 meters and whose broadcast updates ten times per second. DSRCs accrue
and share basic safety messages (BSMs) about a vehicle’s speed, direction, braking status, and
position to determine whether an alert needs to be sent to the driver.

The two most prominent safety applications using V2V technologies are:

◆ Intersection movement assist (IMA), which

warns drivers of unsafe intersections (i.e., a
car runs a red light).

◆ Turn assist, which helps drivers avoid

collisions by monitoring oncoming traffic.
For example, in countries that drive on the
right side, left-turn assist (LTA) helps a
driver during an unprotected left turn
across traffic.

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 Introduction

Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication: This type of communication refers to the wireless

exchange of knowledge between vehicles and road infrastructure. Enabled by a system of hardware,
software, and computer code, V2I communication is often wireless and bi-directional, meaning that
infrastructure elements like lane markings, road signs, and traffic lights can wirelessly provide
information to the vehicle, and vice versa. With so much knowledge being captured and shared, rich,
timely information can be used to enable a wide range of safety, mobility, and environmental
benefits.

On top of reducing collisions with other vehicles, V2I communications will support safety
applications, such as:

◆ Warning drivers about traffic jams, accidents, slippery patches of road, sharp turns, etc.

◆ Merging assist

◆ Intersection safety

◆ Alerting drivers if they veer too close to the road’s edge

Vehicle-to-network (V2N) communication: V2N systems connect vehicles to the cellular

infrastructure, and therefore the cloud, so drivers can take advantage of in-vehicle services like traffic
updates and media streaming.

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 Smart Road Technologies

PRESCOUTER +1.872.222.9225 • info@[Link] 10

 Electromagnetic
“Roads thatInduction
Honk” System
Specialists

In a quest to improve safety on highways, HP Lubricants and Leo Burnett India

have come together to develop a system that involves roads that honk. The first
prototype of the system is currently being tested in India on NH1, the highway
connecting Jammu and Srinagar, which is known for being one of the most
dangerous roads in the world.

Overview

The “Roads that Honk” system uses SmartLife poles

just before sharp turns and hairpin bends. These
poles wirelessly communicate with each other and
exchange data on incoming traffic. They gauge the
speed of the vehicles and alert the drivers of
approaching traffic by sounding a horn, as shown in
the figure aside. The product is called SmartLife
Pole.

11
“Roads that Honk” System

Technology

India ranks high in the list of countries with the largest number of road fatalities. Driving conditions
on mountain roads are especially risky, as there are few who follow traffic rules. According to
reports published by the government, more than 140,000 people were killed in road accidents in
2015, and this risk is especially increased around hairpin bends.

This is where the SmartLife Pole technology comes into play. It monitors the incoming traffic on
both sides of the hairpin bend, and if it sees that there is are vehicles approaching from both ends,
the poles on both ends of the bend communicate with each other and send out sound signals in
the form of a horn to alert both vehicles. Thus, alert signals are sent out to prevent a collision from
happening.

12
“Roads that Honk” System

Technology

RoadsThatHonk adopts SmartLife poles at sharp curves and hairpin bends, which employ
advanced networked devices and combine wireless technology, radar systems, and an
anti-collision warning system, all powered by solar PV modules. SmartLife Poles are placed on
each side of key hairpin bends. The poles detect speeds of oncoming vehicles, then communicate
with each other to caution approaching vehicles on either sides with a horn.

The functionality is achieved by transmitting an electromagnetic wave in the 24-GHz frequency

range (K-band), and measuring the frequency shift of the reflected electromagnetic wave. The
frequency shift is caused by the Doppler effect of the moving target on the electromagnetic wave.
As the relative speed between the radar sensor and the target increases, the detected frequency
shift also increases, thus enabling the radar sensor to precisely determine the target speed.

13
“Roads that Honk” System

Advantages

● The solar powered system is especially useful in hilly areas where this system is currently
deployed.
● It is a simple and effective concept of alerting the drivers with sounds and honks that they
are familiar with.
● This system is an innovative application of IoT to road safety to save lives.
● The use of K-band ensures that there is minimal interference and the best signal-to-noise
ratio is ensured.

Limitations

● Currently, it is designed only for hairpin and other types of bends and not for head-on,
close-call collisions.

14
“Roads that Honk” System

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

SmartLife Poles are already being tested in India, and the first prototype is currently being tested
on NH1, the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which is known as one of the most dangerous roads in the
world. It is a unique device created specifically to reduce the risk of accidents in hilly areas.

The combination of communications infrastructure and technology provides a strong foundation

and a way forward toward smarter and safer mobility. The technology adapted through
RoadsThatHonk is a vision for long-term growth and the evolution of a host of capabilities and
possibilities that will enable safer commutes across cities.

References

1. [Link]
t-india/643027/
2. [Link]
ms-974118-2017-04-28
3. [Link]
1686744

15
 Electromagnetic
ElectReon’s Electric
Induction
Charging
Specialists
Lanes

ElectReon (previously ElectRoad) was founded in 2013 aiming to enable the

large-scale adoption of pure electric buses, with the ultimate goal of eliminating
oil dependence. Using specialized electromagnetic induction technology,
ElectReon powers electric buses with renewable energy while in motion.

Overview

The system developed by ElectReon is called

Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT), and one
of its advantages, in addition to direct wireless
transmission, is the ability to exchange energy
between all the vеhicles that movе along this rоad.

16
ElectReon’s Electric Charging Lanes

Technology

ElectReon's DWPT technology is based on an induction coil infrastructure installed below the
surface of road lanes. The operating mode of thesе dеvices is optimizеd so that their magnеtic
field does not extеnd into the cab of vеhicles, which makes this solution safe for humans.

Energy for the operating these systems is supplied by a network of "smart" inverters, which are
converters that exchange information with each other in real time. The energy will be transmitted
to electric vehicles traveling in the lane, thereby extending the vehicles' travel range, while also
saving time spent on charging the vehicles. For traveling on roads that lack the company’s
infrastructure, cars will be equipped with a small battery that can be charged while traveling on
roads that do not have the coil infrastructure installed.

17
ElectReon’s Electric Charging Lanes

Advantages

● Reduced vehicle cost and weight: By supplying electricity to the vehicle wirelessly from the
road, ElectReon removes the energy source from the vehicle, reducing the cost and weight of
the vehicle.
● High efficiency and safety: DWPT is highly efficient, with more than 88% efficiency. No
concerns regarding the safety of vehicles during the wireless power charging have been
raised, making the charging lanes safe.
● Energy sharing: One of the advantages is the ability to exchange energy between all the
vеhicles that movе along this rоad.

Limitations

● Tearing up roads: To lay the induction coils, tearing up sections of road is required, which is
disruptive and expensive.
● Cost intensive systems: The systems themselves are expensive, requiring a continuous line
of electromagnets for the length of the road, so it’s unlikely that the infrastructure could be
extended beyond a few high-traffic routes through a city. However, it may still work for the
kinds of bus routes that ElectReon envisions, where less weight means more efficiency and
routes are standardized.
● Vehicles would need to have a matching inverter installed.
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ElectReon’s Electric Charging Lanes

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

● ElectReon plans to use its technology on buses traveling in designated lanes and later plans
to use it in private vehicles.
● ElectReon reported success in a trial that began in March 2016 in cooperation with the
municipality of Tel Aviv and Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. The trial was aimed at
testing the durability of the coil infrastructure under real conditions in which buses and
private cars travel on the road at all hours of the day, including testing whether the
underground coils really do transmit energy to an external receiver above the road.
● ElectReon is presently completing construction of a test site north of Netanya, Israel. The
company is planning demonstrations of its technology in the coming months with an electric
vehicle with no battery as well as charging a small battery in a traveling electric car.
● ElectReon signed an agreement with Dan, a public transportation company, in which an initial
public transportation route will be established that’s powered by wireless energy charging.
● The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the French company
Hutchinson to design and develop a mass-production line for the coil infrastructure
developed by ElectReon to be installed beneath the road surface.

References
1. [Link]
19
 Electromagnetic
Self-Healing Induction
Concrete Roads
Specialists

Researchers at Binghamton University in New York have been working on a new

self-healing concept in which fungi are used fill concrete cracks. Trichoderma
reesei, a fungus, was first isolated from a piece of cotton canvas in the Solomon
Islands during World War II.

Overview

A new self-healing concept uses fungi as an agent

for promoting calcium mineral precipitation to fill
the cracks in concrete. Trichoderma reesei was
found to be able to grow equally well with or without
concrete and can promote the formation and
precipitation of CaCO3.

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Self-Healing Concrete Roads

Technology

Crumbling concrete begins with micro-cracks. Water and air can ooze into these barely visible
cracks, expanding and eventually making the cracks grow deeper and longer. Researchers at
Binghamton University, State University of New York have investigated a new concept of utilizing
fungus as a self-healing agent to fill in the cracks in concrete.

The fungus Trichoderma reesei lays dormant in the concrete

until cracks appear and it meets water and air, at which point
the fungus will bloom and fill in the crack.

● The fungal spores, along with nutrients, will be added into

the concrete matrix during the mixing process. When
cracking occurs, water and oxygen will find their way in
and the dormant fungal spores will germinate, grow, and
precipitate calcium carbonate to heal the cracks.

● When the cracks are completely filled and no more water

or oxygen can enter, the fungi will again form spores. As Figure: Graphical abstract from research
the environmental conditions become favorable in later paper showing the fungal growth of
different species in a concrete environment.
stages, the spores could be wakened again.

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Self-Healing Concrete Roads

Advantages

● If it succeeds, this technology will provide a low-cost, pollution-free, and sustainable

approach.
Limitations

● The biggest issue is the survivability of the fungus within the harsh environment of concrete.

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

Further investigation into alternative microorganisms such as fungi and yeasts for the application
of self-healing concrete is being conducted and still has a long way to go to bring an efficient
self-healing product to the concrete market.

References

1. [Link]

22
 HIKOB INSTANT:
Electromagnetic
Road Weather
Induction
and Traffic
Specialists
Management

HIKOB is a French IoT startup that provides wireless and scalable instrumentation
systems that can capture real-time strategic data and information on physical
resources and assets.

Overview

HIKOB INSTANT includes wireless magnetometers for vehicle

detection and wireless road surface temperature sensors
communicating real-time data. It also includes wireless routers
to repeat and route the information and an advanced software
system compatible with all types of web browsers.

Figure: The HIKOB WISECOW sensor

23
 HIKOB INSTANT: Road Weather and Traffic Management

Technology

A) Road weather monitoring: HIKOB provides wireless data acquisition systems to collect road
weather data and to create a powerful road weather information system (RWIS) system. The
system includes wireless and low-power sensor nodes embedded within the road pavement to
measure the road surface temperatures as well as the outside air temperature and humidity. The
sensor nodes communicate real-time information through a wireless RF protocol to a gateway that
is connected to an IP network (landline or cellular networks). Data can be accessed either by
connecting remotely to the gateway or via the HIKOB cloud-computing infrastructure.

Figure: (Right) The HIKOB FROG, a low-power, wireless temperature, humidity, and air pressure smart sensor. (Left)
The HIKOB WISECOW, a road temperature sensor that communicates in real time the measured road surface
temperature for weather monitoring applications.
24
 HIKOB INSTANT: Road Weather and Traffic Management

Technology

B) Traffic monitoring: The smart wireless and energy autonomous magnetometer sensors
embedded in the road pavement detect vehicles, measure traffic flows, and help to better
understand the road network. Applications include:
● Vehicle counting and traffic flow monitoring
● Vehicle classification (light vehicles and heavy goods vehicles)
● Speed and occupancy rate measurement
● Traffic jam length measurement
These road traffic counting and monitoring systems can easily integrate with existing IT systems.

➔ Data collection and analysis: The data collected by the installed IoT sensors is gathered in
servers, where it is analyzed to provide real-time information about traffic and road conditions
in IoT-equipped regions. The obtained data can be used for a number of purposes. For
example, one application can be to predict and alert about possible hazards and accidents
that may take place as a result of poor road and weather conditions.

25
 HIKOB INSTANT: Road Weather and Traffic Management

Advantages

● Easy to install
● High accuracy of data collected by the RWIS system

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

● Many French cities such as Marseilles, Grand Poitiers, and the City of Troyes introduced and
successfully managed vehicle detection and traffic flow using the HIKOB INSTANT real-time
wireless vehicle detection system.
● Wireless acquisition systems for weather data are deployed in nine locations spread across
the Grand Lyon area in France. The locations have been selected due to their environmental
and weather diversity. This technology helped to gather more accurate measurements about
weather conditions and to better understand the local situations.

References

1. [Link]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]
26
 “The Ray”
Electromagnetic
- Ecosystem of
Induction
Smart Road
Specialists
Technologies

“The Ray” is an ecosystem of smart road technologies. It is being built in memory

of Ray C. Anderson, in a collaboration between the Ray C. Anderson Foundation,
Interface, a multinational carpeting manufacturer, the Georgia Conservancy, and
Georgia Tech’s School of Architecture. It is an 18-mile stretch of west Georgia’s
I-85 highway.

Overview

The Ray was designed to be a proving ground for the evolving

ideas and technologies transforming the infrastructure of future
transportation. Partners of the project include the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT), Kia Motors
Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), Hannah Solar, the University of
Georgia College of Environment and Design, Wattway, the Land
Institute, Drawdown, Resilient Analytics, the Georgia
Conservancy, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and The Ray C.
Anderson Foundation.
Figure: A rest stop at The Ray

27
“The Ray” - Ecosystem of Smart Road Technologies

Technology

The Ray is implementing new ideas and technologies to create a regenerative highway ecosystem
on the 18-mile stretch of I-85, and several pilot projects are already underway. Some of the
technologies involved are described here:

1. Tire Safety Check Station (WheelRight):

One of the technologies that The Ray employs is the

WheelRight tire monitoring system. It measures the
pressure and tread depth of the tires on vehicles
traveling up to 10 miles per hour. The system has a
monitor connected to an automatic number plate
recognition system.

Figure: A car driving over the

WheelRight tire safety system

28
“The Ray” - Ecosystem of Smart Road Technologies

Technology

The WheelRight system works as follows:

1. The customer drives over the WheelRight system and the camera connected to the monitor
reads the plate number.
2. The driver then chooses the way in which he or she needs the information to be
communicated to him or her via either a text message to their mobile phone or a direct
printout.
3. Depending on the option entered, the system gives the necessary critical information about
the tire status to the customer.

This system goes a long way toward passenger safety, especially regarding long distance travel on
highways. Additionally, tire pressure is associated with the mileage you get from vehicles, so
maintaining the optimum pressure is useful and important. The Ray is the only WheelRight station
that offers this complete service.

They are also currently working on incorporating side wall damage analysis of tires into the
algorithm.

29
“The Ray” - Ecosystem of Smart Road Technologies

Technology

2. Solar Noise Barriers: This technology falls under those that The Ray considers as futuristic or in
the pipeline and not yet ready for implementation. One of the main existing challenges with solar
panels is the huge amount of area it takes for the minimal amount of energy harvested. Solar
barrier technology serves as a work-around for this problem by re-imagining how solar panels can
be deployed.

Building solar noise barriers on the side of roads can help reduce much of the overhead cost that
solar farms require, particularly the need for dedicated land. Aesthetics is another important factor
when designing a noise barrier, while determining what solar technology to use presents a major
challenge. Addressing these issues and innovating with them can help solar-powered noise barrier
technology to be deployed in the following Visitor’s Center and other roadway scenarios as well:

● Energy storage water feature that eliminates the need for larger
batteries or connecting to the grid
● Outdoor vending machines for refreshments and to automate
equipment like sprinklers
● Work bar (for plugging in laptops, phone charging, WiFi hotspots, etc.)
● Road lighting

30
“The Ray” - Ecosystem of Smart Road Technologies

Technology

Table: A techno-economic comparison with conventional alternatives for a 270 m long, 3 m high E-W
oriented barrier. The predictions assume 25 year life and 3% annual electricity price inflation.

31
“The Ray” - Ecosystem of Smart Road Technologies

Other Ray Technologies

1. Solar Powered Vehicle Charging: Located along The Ray are several solar-powered
Photovoltaic for Electric Vehicle (PV4EV) charging stations, which is a significant
advancement in creating the infrastructure needed to support EVs.
2. Solar Paved Highways: The Ray is the testing ground for Wattway’s pilot project in the
United States: A pavement that uses traditional solar cells, protected in a patented frame,
that allows the road surface to generate clean energy. The 50-square-meter installation was
installed in December, 2016, next to the Georgia Visitor Information Center on The Ray.
3. Right-of-Way-Solar: Renewable energy generation on the state-owned right-of-way, around
the interstate where The Ray is currently being implemented.
4. Smart Studs (Future Plan): Solar-powered smart studs illuminate in different colors and
patterns to communicate a variety of crucial alerts to drivers and passengers.
5. EV Charging Lanes (Future Plan): By wiring roads to create an electromagnetic field that
transmits energy to a receiver that supplies the car’s battery, drivers could get the power
they need while still in motion—no stopping required.

32
“The Ray” - Ecosystem of Smart Road Technologies

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

The technologies under “The Ray Today” are actively getting tested and improved on I-85 in
Georgia, as explained earlier. The future technology planned by The Ray will also be tested out on
this section of the road

Figure: (Left) Map of I-85 where The Ray is getting implemented. (Right) A solar
paved highway on The Ray

References

1. [Link]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]
4. [Link]
[Link]. 33
 Electromagnetic
Wattway’s Solar
Induction
Panel Roadway
Specialists

Wattway is a patented French innovation that was undertaken by Colas, a road

materials and construction company, and the INES (French National Institute for
Solar Energy).

Overview

Combining road construction and photovoltaic

techniques, Wattway’s pavement provides clean,
renewable energy in the form of electricity. Twenty
square meters of Wattway panels can supply the
electricity requirements of a single home.

34
Wattway’s Solar Panel Roadway

Technology

● Wattway’s solar panels are composed of polycrystalline thin film cells. Each module is
composed of 28 active cells with a production surface of 0.96 m2. Figure 1 shows an image
of a polycrystalline thin film cell.
● The photovoltaic cells are embedded in resin and are thin enough that they won’t peel off the
road below during the expansion and contraction caused by heat and cold.
● In 2016, Colas trialed the world’s first solar road in a small town in France, with a 1-kilometer
(0.62-mile) stretch of solar pavement, producing enough power to light the village’s street
lamps and cater to its 3,400 residents.

Figure 1: Wattway’s polycrystalline solar panel cell

35
Wattway’s Solar Panel Roadway

Technology

Table 1: Technical data sheet for Wattway’s solar panel roadway

Technical and mechanical settings Specification (Reference 1)

Dimensions of a module 1398mm x 690mm *other dimensions possible

Number of active cells 28

Nominal Power (Pnom) 115 Wc

Average Yield (module) 12%

Tolerance (module) ± 5%

Impact resistance IK 07

Cells Polycrystalline / mono-like

Road performance 1 million wheel passages (13T per axle)

Grip test SRT – PFT, CFL, Wehner & Schulze

36
Wattway’s Solar Panel Roadway

Advantages

● High energy performance: 20 m² of Wattway panels provide enough electricity to power a

single home.
● Panels are composed of cells inserted into superposed layers that ensure resistance and
tire grip.
● The composite material is just a few millimeters thick, making it possible to adapt to
thermal dilation in the pavement, as well as vehicle loads, to provide durability and safety.
● Panels can be installed directly on the current pavement without the need for destroying the
existing structure.
● The system is low maintenance, with a lifespan of 10-20 years, depending on the speed and
level of traffic over it, and it has even been proven to handle snowplows.

Limitations

● Cost intensive: 30,000 square feet of solar panels cost around $5.2 million.
● Questionable efficiency: Wattway's photovoltaic efficiency is 15%, which is similar to
rooftop solar panel efficiency. However, it doesn’t take into account the fact that the solar
panels are flat on the ground, rather than angled towards the sun's trajectory, significantly
reducing efficiency at higher latitudes. Heavy traffic could also block sunlight; as could
snow, mud, and perhaps standing water after rain.
37
Wattway’s Solar Panel Roadway

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

● The first major Wattway solar road project trial section, which is made up of some
2,880 photovoltaic panels, is located on Route RD5 in northern France.
○ The generated electricity by this solar road will be sent out to the France’s
Enedis electricity network.
● In the Netherlands, the State of Utrecht, Bam Infra, and Wattway inaugurated a new
trial site of 48m² installed on the N401 roadway.
● More Wattway trial sites are being built in France, with the latest project involving a
new demonstration section of 51 m² on Highway A63.
○ The generated electricity will be used to power the toll payment machine and
gates at the Saugnacq-et-Muret toll station in southwestern France.
● A 68-m² Wattway trial site was installed at Savoie Technolac in Chambéry, France.
○ The generated electricity is designed to function as a local energy loop to
power a hydrogen charging station and an electric vehicle charging station.

References

1. [Link]
2. [Link]

38
 Temperature-Sensitive
Electromagnetic Induction
Road Paint
Specialists
Projects

VAN GOGH PATH is a light-emitting bicycle path that charges in the daytime and
glows at night. The path is made of thousands of twinkling stones inspired by
Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and is part of the SMART HIGHWAY project. Also
associated with this project is the Glowing Lines project. Both are in coordination
with the Roosegarde Studio and Heijmans.

Overview

Smart Highways are interactive and sustainable roads.

Using new technologies and designs, designer Daan
Roosegaarde and Heijmans Infrastructure are working
to develop roads that are both sustainable and smart
using light, energy, and signage that interact with
traffic.

Figure: The VanGogh Path

39
Temperature-Sensitive Road Paint Projects

Technology

The first Glowing Lines were realized after a 3-month trial period in the Netherlands and can glow for
up to eight hours at night. It is part of the SMART HIGHWAY project which consists of the projects
Glowing Lines, Dynamic Paint, Interactive Light, Induction Priority Lane, and Road Printer.

These lines collect energy during the day and give light during the night to increase visibility and
safety. The bicycle path is 600 meters long and is part of the Van Gogh cycling route.

Figure: The VAN GOGH bicycle path Figure: How the path looks at night when it is lit up

40
Temperature-Sensitive Road Paint Projects

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

Product development and field testing of two of the technologies, Glowing Lines and Dynamic
Paint, is now underway through the collaboration between Heijmans and Studio Roosegarde.
Material testing is carried out in the Heijmans labs, and two working prototypes have been
deployed.

The bicycle path is a novel joint venture between the municipality of Eindhoven, Van Gogh Brabant,
Vrijetijdshuis Brabant, Eindhoven 365, and Routebureau Brabant. The core technology is developed
by Heijmans and Studio Roosegarde, with the other partners facilitating the implementation.

References

1. [Link]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]

41
 Electromagnetic
Smart Pavement
Induction
Technologies
Specialists

Integrated Roadways is a Kansas City technology startup that is developing a

technology called Smart Pavement that would not only help increase roadway
safety but also serve as the Wi-Fi platform for cars and other future mobility
services.

Overview

The Smart Pavement road system uses

high-resolution fiber optic sensors and other
technologies inside the pavement to detect vehicle
positions in real time as well as roadway conditions.
Beyond roadway conditions, sensors can also
detect accidents and notify emergency responders
automatically.

42
Smart Pavement Technologies

Technology

The main components of this smart pavement, which is made up of precast concrete embedded
with smart electronics, are shown in the figure below:

43
Smart Pavement Technologies

Advantages

● Modular, upgradable, and removable: The technology in the Smart Pavement modular
system is upgradable, making it easy to add new features. And each slab can be removed
easily for repair or to access underlying utilities for service.
● Strong and cost-effective: Smart Pavement lasts four times longer than traditional asphalt
construction and is 95% less costly to install versus traditional highway construction.
● Sustainable: The roads pay for themselves in the sense that the pavement and construction
costs can be recovered through leasing agreements with private sector service providers -
for example, providers looking to set up 5G networks.

Limitations

● Acceptance by the governance for widespread deployment might be a challenge.

● It requires the development of an ecosystem for precast concrete blocks that are the basis
for this technology.
As more features get added, this forms an ecosystem technology; but it also brings along
management and governance challenges relating to the pitfalls of a monopoly, which needs to be
dealt with through suitable policy interventions. Thus, more players need to enter and competition
needs to be democratized.

44
Smart Pavement Technologies

Commercial Testing / Implementation / Plans

A pilot project to test the Smart Pavement technology is underway:

● The Colorado Department of Transportation awarded a $2.75 million contract to the

company for a 5-year smart pavement project on U.S. 285 near Fairplay, Colo.

● The pilot project is a quasi-public/private partnership between Integrated Roadways and

RoadX, a Colorado Department of Transportation Program.

● A half mile of smart pavement will be built to collect data on run-off-the-road crashes as well
as to automatically alert authorities about the crashes.

References

1. [Link]
2. [Link]
[Link]
3. [Link]
d-along-major-highway
4. [Link]

45
 Next Steps

Topic Question Report

What smart road technologies are shaping the

Smart Roads Intelligence Brief 1
future of transportation?

How are automotive manufacturers utilizing new

infrastructures to forward their development?
Automotive
What automotive technologies are in the Intelligence Brief 2
Manufacturers
mid-term of development related to
improvements?

Which other industries are in development with

similar infrastructure developments? Examples:
Allied Industries Intelligence Brief 3
aviation, aerospace, manufacturing,
construction, etc.

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 About the Authors

Paula Hock, PhD

PreScouter

Professional Summary:

Paula is a Senior Project Architect and is the head of the Transportation Segment. She has worked on a
wide variety of projects in her tenure, including topics like coatings and materials research, process
optimization in many industries, comparative intelligence, and more.

Paula earned her BS in Chemistry from DePaul University before continuing on to her PhD in Physical
Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. There, her research focused on the characterization of
organic semiconducting thin films for use in electronic devices. That is also where she started with the
PreScouter Global Scholars program in August, 2014. After working as a researcher for a few months,
she became a Team Leader, before eventually taking a full-time role with PreScouter.

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 About the Authors

Vijetha Mogilireddy, PhD

Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France)

Professional Summary:

Vijetha completed her PhD in the domain of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry. Her main research
contributions have been to analyze novel inorganic ligands, nanoparticles, and ionic liquids to be used
as tools in nuclear waste management, biomedical imaging, and separation chemistry. Her recent work
contributed to the successful development of a greener pathway to recover strategic metals from
end-of-life Ni-MH batteries.

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 About the Authors

Anil Vishnu
Indian Institute of Science

Professional Summary:

Anil is a PhD candidate in Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He has a
demonstrated history of working in VLSI, embedded, and the research industry in general. He is skilled in
Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), Java, System on a Chip (SoC), and Application-Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASIC), and lately for his research shifted his focus and field of interest to MEMS
fabrication for developing low-cost point-of-care medical diagnostic devices for cancer care by pursuing
his PhD in the field of bioengineering. He wishes to apply his cross-disciplinary knowledge from his
professional and academic experiences in the area of public policy.

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 About PreScouter

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