Reader Response Draft 2

According to Cox (2018), there is a possibility that Smart Road technology can be utilized as a crash-sensing ‘touchpad’ on highways. Cox also explains that in the five-year trial, along a half-mile stretch of U.S Highway 285, the road will be laid with “factory-made concrete slabs featuring wi-fi connectivity and embedded fiberoptic cables that act as pressure sensors.” This sensor will detect, notify and dispatch help for vehicular issues through the internet. Smart roads will shorten the duration as they inform real-time warnings about traffic and road hazards, significantly increasing the quality of motorists’ safety. Hence, this information becomes the pillar of transportation (Cox, 2018). However, the article states that Schwartz, a professor from an engineering faculty, had expressed his doubts regarding the consistency of the technology concerning technical disruptions and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, Colorado seems hopeful that this technology may aid in certain issues despite the reluctance in such investments. While there might be uncertainties regarding the Smart Pavement, there are benefits in the technology such as enhancing the pavement condition and improving road safety for the user.


The first benefit of the technology is that Smart Pavement enhances the pavement condition. The surface of the pavement will eventually erode which could result in regular inspection for damages. This shows that the transportation engineers would have to regularly check the site for any erosion on the pavement. However, with the implementation of the Smart Pavement, the sensor can monitor the pavement’s condition and aids the transportation engineers to decide on the maintenance (Paving, 2018). In addition, based on the article “What is smart pavement?”, the technology can provide important information on non-observable issues. Moreover, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, if cracks are detected and resolve early before they worsen, it will result in lower usage of finances (Intel Corporation, n.d.). Hence, not only does Smart Pavement improve the pavement condition, but the technology also helps to reduce the cost of maintenance.


The second benefit of the technology is that Smart Pavement improves road safety for the user. According to the article “Smart roads will spell big things for the future of driving”, Smart Pavement can instantaneously detect movement, speed, and location of vehicles. In turn, this information will be conveyed from a data center to drivers, notifying them of the most effective pathways, warnings of potential hazards, and dispatching aid services when needed. This suggests that there will be smoother and easier technical processes. Hence, the information collected and shared with the user driving enhances their safety on the road.


However, there are issues relating to the mindsets of investors in the transition from traditional road to Smart Pavement. Based on Cox (2018), stated that the Smart Pavement is still under a five-year trial, and “the highway industry has been known as unwilling to gamble on new things.” Since the technology is still in its infancy stage, there are gaps regarding the full extent of its benefit and limitation. For example, there is a possibility of incurring high capital costs such as the cost of labor and manufacturing. Additionally, such a dynamic change within the industry will unavoidably result in huge losses in terms of the underuse of existing resources such as raw materials and manpower expertise. Nonetheless, the long-term cost of Smart Pavement is lesser than traditional pavement due to its sustainability.


In conclusion, smart road technology has the potential to make driving a much safer journey such as enhancing the pavement condition and giving real-time alerts to the user. Thus, I believe that while smart road technology may have questionable features and functions, its advantages outweigh the drawback, paving a path towards sustainability.


Reference List:

Cox, D. (2018, June 25). Smart road technology could turn highways into crash-sensing ‘touchpads’. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/can-smart-roads-save-lives-new-test-may-provide-answer-ncna885816

Hooijdonk, R. (2018, June 29). Smart roads will spell big things for the future. https://blog.richardvanhooijdonk.com/en/smart-roads-will-spell-big-things-for-the-future-of-driving/


Paving, B. (2018, June 27). What is smart pavement? 
https://www.bennettpavingtx.com/what-is-smart-pavement/

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