A glow in the dark road has launched in the Netherlands, instead of streetlights, the road uses glow in the dark road marking to light the way.
These new glow in the dark road markings have replaced street lights on a 500m stretch of a road in the Netherlands. The project was completed by Studio Roosegaarde.
The video below shows how these road markings work. They are painted with special paint that charges throughout the day. This innovative paint not only illuminates the road at night but can also alert road users to cold conditions by changing color.
Roosegaarde told Wired.co.uk Heijmans had managed to take its luminescence to the extreme — “it’s almost radioactive”, said Roosegaarde. You can get some sense of that in this embedded tweet, which appears to show three stripes of varying shades of radioactive green along both the highway’s edges.
Innovative Technology for Safer Roads
The glow in the dark road markings are not just a visually striking innovation; they also represent a significant step forward in road safety and energy efficiency. Traditional streetlights consume a considerable amount of electricity and require regular maintenance. In contrast, these glow in the dark markings are self-sustaining, charging during the day and glowing at night without the need for an external power source. This can lead to substantial cost savings for municipalities and a reduction in carbon emissions.
Moreover, the ability of the paint to change color in response to temperature changes adds an extra layer of safety. For instance, if the temperature drops and the road becomes icy, the markings can turn blue, alerting drivers to the potential hazard. This real-time feedback can help prevent accidents and improve overall road safety.
Future Applications and Potential
The success of this pilot project in the Netherlands opens the door to numerous future applications. Imagine highways, bike paths, and pedestrian walkways all illuminated by this eco-friendly technology. Not only would it enhance safety, but it would also create a more aesthetically pleasing environment. Urban planners and designers could use this technology to create visually stunning and functional public spaces.
Additionally, the technology could be adapted for use in other areas such as airport runways, parking lots, and even sports tracks. The potential for customization is vast, with different colors and patterns possible to suit various needs and preferences.
You can find out more details about this glow in the dark road over at Wired.
Source Ars Technica, Engadget
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