Summary_Reader Response Draft 3
According to Cox (2018), there is a possibility that Smart
Road technology can be utilized as a crash-sensing ‘touchpad’ on highways. Cox (2018) also explained 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 fibreoptic 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 (Bennett Paving Inc., 2018). In
addition, according to 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 centre 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. Cox (2018)
explained 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 labour 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
Bennett Paving Inc. (2018, June 27). What is smart pavement?
https://www.bennettpavingtx.com/what-is-smart-pavement/
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/
https://www.intel.sg/content/www/xa/en/transportation/smart-road-infrastructure.html
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