The Texas Department of Transportation is funding development of sensors that can be placed beneath roadways to generate electricity from passing traffic.

Researchers led by Samer Dessouky, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), in conjunction with Lubinda Walubita at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, received funding to develop piezoelectric sensors. These generate electric power in response to pressure applied by traffic loads. The electricity could be used to power roadside lights, traffic signals, billboards, charging stations for electric cars and roadway monitoring sensors.

The sensors would be installed two inches below the pavement surface. Image credit: FreeFoto.com/Ian Britton.The sensors would be installed two inches below the pavement surface. Image credit: FreeFoto.com/Ian Britton.“This project could make Texas a leader in the use of piezoelectric technology to create ‘smart’ roads that not only generate clean power, but also create a sustainable source of revenue for transportation infrastructure,” says JoAnn Browning, dean of the UTSA College of Engineering.

Piezoelectric materials have been field-tested in a number of U.S. and international studies and may be attractive because they generate power at low cost without emitting greenhouse gases. Moreover, unlike solar power, they require no additional space, because the power-generating modules are embedded into the road layers.

The first phase of the project involves the design and development of the harvesting modules, which is to be completed in 18 months. If subsequent project phases are approved, the researchers say they could have a functional harvesting and sensing system ready for implementation within three-and-a-half years.

The sensors would be installed two inches below the pavement surface and, according to the researchers, would not interfere with asphalt pavement milling and overlaying maintenance.

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