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The Future of Smart Highways: How Technology is Changing the Way We Travel

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30/05/2023 |

8 min read

Dominika Reszke

When it comes to the way we travel, the future is now, and intelligent transportation systems are the ones that make it all different. The number and variety of innovative solutions available today are truly mind-blowing and definitely worth having a look at.

From smart traffic lights and connected vehicles to automated highways, and advanced traffic management centers, these modern solutions improve safety, reduce carbon emissions, limit traffic jams, increase access to transportation services, and make the lives of people more convenient.

Enhancements such as automatic road incidents detection, connected toll gates, asphalt and infrastructure sensors, traffic signal control systems, and vehicle re-identification have been with us for quite some time, but there’s certainly potential for more. 

For sure, the future of smart highways looks promising.
 

Table of contents:

1. Intelligent transportation systems in a nutshell

2. Smart highways: what they are

3: Smart motorways: the developments

4. A modern transportation system – conclusion

Intelligent transportation systems in a nutshell

Automated driving and autonomous vehicles may be in the headlines, but smart transportation and technologies that drive them are way more than that. Many of us already encounter and experience data-driven transportation daily – when commuting, moving around the city, or traveling longer distances.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are ones that use ICT technologies to make road transport and traffic management smoother, safer, and better coordinated. With ITS, travel times get shorter and road capacity increases, as road users are often suggested alternative ways, or warned about problems.

There are a huge number of tools, solutions, systems, networks, and devices that enable, for example, advanced driver assistance systems, smart parking, the use of car sensors and vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-everything technology, or smart traffic management in general. 

To make their use possible, mind-blowing sets of data – both historical and real-time ones – need to be gathered and analyzed with cutting-edge technologies, in a variety of ways.

ITS: advanced technology in use

Some of the latest technologies used to create or enhance intelligent transportation systems include artificial Intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, multi-access edge computing, 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in transportation – the latter in the form of IoT technologies, IoT sensors, and IoT devices that enable unprecedented mobility and connectivity.

All the transportation mobility solutions can be integrated into one comprehensive mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) tool that helps users find, book, and pay for a proper transport-related service quickly. It simply provides a single interface, platform, or account, where they can plan and track all stages of their journey in real time.

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Smart highways: what they are

One of the examples of how implementing intelligent transport systems may look in practice is smart highways. Also known as smart roads, smart highways are interactive, and sustainable stretches of roads that incorporate many cutting-edge technologies to regulate the traffic flow, ease congestion, and make roads safer.

The road infrastructure technology of tomorrow is packed with technology. Some of the features or solutions used in or on smart roads include:

Variable speed limits

Meant to make traffic flow smoother, speed limits on smart highways are adjusted to the current situation on the road. Controlled by sensors and speed cameras, they automatically react not only to changes in traffic (e.g., queues forming) but also to accidents.

Traffic signs

Keeping drivers informed about speed limits, queues ahead, dangerous weather conditions, or any other important factors can affect the situation on the road in a good way. And that’s what traffic signs help with, managing the speed of traffic and warning about any hazards ahead.

Glowing lines and photosensitive paints

Charging during daylight and glowing at night, glowing lines used on smart roads are a great example of sustainability. Sustainable light can be achieved thanks to the use of photosensitive paints for road markings (e.g., ones marking out the edges of the road). On top of that, these lights can generate symbols alerting of worsening weather conditions, such as slippery roads.

Smart motorways: the developments

Vehicles rolling off the production lines have been packed with technology for many years, but in recent ones, the focus has changed from innovating solely the vehicles to enhancing roads themselves with smart solutions.

For instance, smart motorways have become commonplace in the UK, with around 10% of highways already labeled as smart. It’s good to have a look at what things look like in this country to see great expectations related to the idea of smart highways on one hand, and the reality check on the other.

The UK case: a warning

In the UK’s smart motorways, hard shoulders are often used as ordinary running lanes to ease congestion during busy times. Hard shoulders have been removed from some smart highways in the belief that variable speed limits will regulate traffic smoothly and safely. Unfortunately, the lack of hard shoulders available for emergencies at all times can pose a serious threat to road users. 

When a car breaks down, or a driver needs assistance for any other reason, they can use a lay-by (or an emergency bay) – which may not be that easy to find. Getting out of the car on a highway that lacks a hard shoulder is, obviously, very dangerous, but so is remaining seated in the vehicle in a stream of traffic which may end up in a serious accident. Also, it may be very difficult for relevant services to provide prompt emergency response.

These safety concerns and the „current lack of public confidence felt by drivers”, along with „cost pressures”, have even stopped the British government from developing the smart highway program. In April 2023, it was confirmed that all new smart motorway plans are to be scrapped.

Of course, high tech will enhance motorways and traffic management anyway, but this doesn’t mean that it should be implemented without any criticism, consideration, or at least common sense. Definitely, some more sustainable solutions are on the way.

Smart highways: futuristic visions

The future of smart ways is easing and controlling traffic with the use of energy, light, and information, overlapping. Some of the enhancements that have the chance to be widespread in futuristic highways include:

  • electric priority lanes (for recharging EV batteries when driving),
  • road printers (for letters and drawings),
  • wind-powered lights (using air current from passing cars)
  • interactive lights (turning on when the car is approaching), and
  • dynamic lines (continuous or dotted)

– as projects that relate to them are underway.

Some futuristic visions even say about glass roads (made of glass that is stronger than steel) that will enable cars to stop safely even at high speeds. These highways are also meant to incorporate solutions such as solar panels, LEDs, and microprocessors.

A modern transportation system – conclusion

Integrating computer science and communication can have truly impressive results, and smart highways can certainly be one of them. They have the potential to transform the way people get around and go places – making traffic smoother and saving a lot of trouble for travelers of all kinds.

Switching to smart transportation helps limit traffic congestion, fuel costs, and the number of car accidents. But the consequences of this move can be more far-reaching, with regaining work-life balance and living more happily daily topping the list.

In the years to come, more AI and 5G connectivity, road safety sensorization (with high-bandwidth sensors), and real-time data shared with the drivers to help them plan ahead are poised to play a more significant role in travel. On top of that, automated vehicles will inevitably have to coexist with conventional cars, which may be challenging at times.

The future of smart highways seems to be certain and already decided, and there’s no way we can get out of it. It looks promising, but when making sustainable transportation efforts, both engineers and authorities should tread carefully not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

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Interested in technologies that can change the way we travel? Want to create the future of smart highways and take part in the sustainable transportation revolution? If you need assistance in making the most of it but don’t know what to start with, contact Codete now.

Rated: 5.0 / 2 opinions
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Dominika Reszke

IT Content Writer with 12 years of professional writing experience. Prefers facts and figures to any kind of fiction.

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