SMART ROADS

BY:
Vier Eli D. Buslig

1/1/2018
 Table of Contents

Table of Contents.........................................................................................................................................i
1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................2
2 Body....................................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Smart Roads.................................................................................................................................4
2.1.1 Why?....................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Development and Plans...............................................................................................................5
2.2.1 The Approach......................................................................................................................5
2.2.2 Structural Attributes.............................................................................................................6
3 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................8
4 Bibliography........................................................................................................................................8

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1 Introduction

Smart phones, smart fridges, smart cities, everything is increasingly connected to

everything else. The internet-of-things revolution has brought new features to the most mundane

of everyday objects. But an important yet overlooked part of our lives that connect different

worlds together, that we literally step on every day on the way to work, going to school or having

a road trip. Our road system.

Public perception of roads has been subject to a “degenerative” process, in the form of

decreased international social, media and political presence. In short, there is an increased

association of highways with exclusively negative attributes such as noise, pollution,

acceleration of climate change, accident rates and external costs.

The efforts deployed by the road infrastructure sector are largely ineffective; at the same

time, the quality of service provided by these transport infrastructures in developed countries is

currently decreasing as it suffers from massive spending cuts. Meanwhile, alternative transport

modes (whether aeronautic, rail or other) have been subject to systematic improvements and

heavy public investments. These other transport modes have successfully incorporated both

structural improvements and emotional attributes into their efforts.

They have also come to be dissociated from the cost-benefit analysis concerning the

public spending allocated to their benefit, as political decisions have often taken precedence over

economic rationality. Whilst the other transport modes have continued to propose a range of

solutions (highspeed and commuter trains, light rail transit, short sea shipping, low-cost flights,
etc.), no major improvements have been made to the road networks available to users, likely as a

result of overestimating the central role of roads in the movement of people and goods in

countries around the world.

Over time, political decision-makers have consequently turned their interest away from

roads, acknowledging only the negative aspects of these transport infrastructures. The time has

come, however, for the road infrastructure sector to identify all positive aspects inherent to its

use and bring them to the attention of society, the media and the political authorities, by show-

casing the high profitability of spending on road infrastructures as an economic driver providing

the general population guaranteed access to other infrastructures, services, health facilities,

cultural and leisure attractions, administrative centres, etc. (Smart Transport Alliance (STA),

2015).

It is no secret that the roads of today are really dumb right now. They’re expensive to

maintain, and generally can’t do much besides allowing above-ground transportation.

Over the last few years, the use of the term “smart” has become a widespread practice at

all levels: now we use smartphones, there is hardly a city that does not aspire to be a Smart City,

technology tends to become smart in numerous areas, new buildings are smart buildings and

even energy is smart. Roads must transform themselves in order to play a relevant role in this

“revolution”: there cannot be a smart city without a smart road and together a smart city with

smart roads can provide citizens with smart mobility. The road sector faces a major challenge for

this century: the definition of a new paradigm that makes Smart Roads a reality (STA, 2015).

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2 Body

2.1 Smart Roads

Smart roads , also known as smart highways , is a term used to describe roads that use sensors

and IoT technology which makes driving safer and greener. Smart cities and self-driven cars of

the near future would not be ‘smart’ enough without smart roads (Govil, 2017).

Integrated Roadways’ concept involves replacing common asphalt paving with sophisticated,

and “upgradeable” factory-made concrete slabs that give common roadways the ability to detect

vehicles, and know where they are in real time.

By knowing where vehicles are, and how fast they’re going, smart roadways could theoretically

call first responders to the site of an accident. It could also collect real-time data on road

conditions and congestion data, letting drivers — and self-driving cars in particular — choose

the route that is the most efficient and safe.

Integrated Roadways also envisions the system to be the backbone of a much-anticipated

“nationwide 5G network” without the need of additional infrastructure by sending data over an

integrated fiber optic mesh. So far, so good (Sylvester, n.d.).

Smart roads can provide real-time information to drivers about weather conditions such as icy

roads and traffic information such as congestion and parking availability. Smart roads are

particularly useful on risky or mountainous roads to make driving safer by warning about

incoming traffic or landslides. Smart roads can also generate energy to use for street lights or to

charge electric vehicles on the move (MACH, n.d.).

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2.1.1 Why?

The main problem this tackles is traffic. It is a growing problem in almost every city in

the world.  Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23) — The Philippines is now losing ₱3.5

billion a day due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, 2018). Government

transportation agencies throughout the world are seeking out, new, cheaper technology, to

replace the high-priced, invasive technologies that have been used—a Smart Roads Concept.

2.2 Development and Plans

Integrated Roadways estimates that smart roads will run about $4 million per lane per

mile, or about twice as much as conventional roads. Charles Schwartz, a professor of civil and

environmental engineering at the university of Maryland, thinks that might prove to be a

stumbling block. "In terms of large-scale implementation across the highway network," he said,

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"the costs would be high so the technology would have to prove that it can make a real difference

to warrant that kind of investment."

But Tim Sylvester ,of Integrated Roadways, said the sale of traffic information could help

defray the higher cost. "If you think about it, what type of business you should put in a particular

location is largely dependent on traffic," he said. "This is valuable information, and by using it to

generate revenue, we could finance the expansion of the network across the nation."

2.2.1 The Approach

The approach proposed is based on the definition of a broader, all-inclusive concept

incorporating all parameters contributing to the amelioration of road infrastructures: mobility

efficiency, environmental performance, advanced traffic control technology, life-cycle analysis

of construction and maintenance costs and energy inputs, user-oriented designs, safety and

security performance, and long-term financing solutions. At the end of the day, Smart Roads

must address the people’s highest expectations in relation to road transport and, in so doing,

define a model for a highway of tomorrow that adapts to societal demands.

The challenge lies in identifying the various positive attributes of smart roads from an

infrastructural, technological and social perspective with a view to then redefining the concept of

a “road” itself. This approach supports the advancement of road-based solutions for transporting

people and goods which are more attractive, safer, more interesting, more reliable, more

comfortable, etc., whilst also providing for a better sustainable, environmental and economic

performance, both in the urban and the interurban contexts.

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 Furthermore, this concept must not only encompass the design, construction and

operation of new infrastructures, but also contribute to the improvement and adequate

maintenance of existing road networks, with the objective of ensuring that all highway upgrade

and modernisation efforts take into account the attributes of the Smart Roads concept (Peña,

2015).

2.2.2 Structural Attributes

As stated by (Peña, 2015) smart Roads are associated with structural aspects such as, although

not limited to, the following:

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i. Optimal environmental integration and energy efficiency: This refers to the capacity of our

road systems to respect high environmental protection levels, minimising the associated

environmental impacts whilst also allowing all users to enjoy the surrounding region through

careful landscape integration. At the same time, this approach involves developing optimised

models for the lowest possible energy consumption and emission levels, maximizing the use of

recycled and waste materials. To this end, it is important to take into account the entire life cycle

of a road infrastructure.

ii. Optimal service quality: Through advanced traffic management it is possible to optimise the

use of existing road networks, limiting congestion during hours of peak demand, and at the same

time distributing traffic as evenly as possible to maximise the service levels offered at all times.

This approach relies on the streamlined transmission of real-time information to road users and

on fostering the interaction between users and the information presented to them.

iii. Economic sustainability: Highways designed for the mass transport of people and goods are

economically justified in most of the cases. This principle is all the more important when it

comes to evaluating the cost of operating and maintaining this type of infrastructures. It is

therefore highly advised to proceed with detailed cost-benefit analyses with a view to justifying

the usefulness of every road project. Full debate must also be undertaken when seeking public-

private partnerships financing the construction of new infrastructures and the maintenance and

upgrading of existing networks.

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iv. Improved safety: This means following internationally-recognised best practices in the design

of new road infrastructures and in the implementation of the best possible safety solutions - for

all users - in the maintenance, upgrading and modernisation of existing infrastructures.

Collaborative efforts in this regard should contribute to reducing road mortality and injury rates

through more effective design, construction and maintenance of road infrastructures.

v. Coverage of externalities: The external costs arising from the movement of people and goods

on roads must be kept to a minimum through the development of technologies to absorb

emissions and noise, minimise the probability of and mitigate the impacts of accidents, and in

addition provide maximum travel time in free-flowing traffic.

vi. Assurance of regional cohesion: Conventional roads are a paradigm for effective regional

development, as they offer all users an ideal door-to-door transport alternative providing access

to all social services (e.g., leisure, culture, health,

3 Conclusion

After the research, I conclude that the new concept that is smart roads are of utmost value

for any developing country and it is a step in the right direction. The idea of self-driving cars,

automated roadways and emergency response systems sounds like clockwork, very complicated

yet perfectly in-sync. I

for one cannot wait until

this new technology is

developed and put into

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good use. It would be interesting to see what other developments this smart roads project might

have in the future.

4 Bibliography

CNN Philippines. (2018, February 24). PH loses 3.5B pesos a due to Metro Manila traffic - JICA. Retrieved
from CNN Philippines: https://cnnphilippines.com
Govil, N. (2017, October 19). Smart Roads: IoT Enable Smart Road Technologies. Retrieved
from IoTDunia: https:iotdunia.com
MACH. (n.d.). Smart road technology could turn highways into crash-sensing 'touchpads'.
Retrieved from Science News: https://nbcnews.com
Peña, E. D. (2015, January). Smart Roads: A Vision. Smart Transport Alliance.
Sylvester, T. (n.d.). Smarter Roads Begin With Smarter Pavements. Retrieved from Integrated
Roadways: https:///integratedroadways.com

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