Asphalt: It Can Help In Many Ways

In Sacramento, California, the streets of the future are leading the way. A company is putting sensors underneath roads. These sensors analyze traffic patterns throughout the day, so that traffic lights can go from red to green at the driver's convenience. But why road sensors? On an average road in a big city, the traffic is really backed up. Many drivers spend more than 3 days a year in their cars. This causes cars to release over half a gallon of gasoline into the atmosphere every hour, and over 10 pounds of carbon dioxide a week. These statistics have a negative impact on the environment, if not the driver him/herself. By embedding sensors into the asphalt road, people can see traffic patterns from across the city. Then, they compile the data together and make an analysis. Finally, they use the data to control traffic lights to ease the flow of traffic across the city. This cuts travel times, which automatically makes the car use less gas. Besides Sacramento, cities like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and San Francisco have also adopted this idea. Using less gas and cutting travel times saves the environment and improves the overall vibe of the city. These sensors will make our roads greener and cleaner, one sensor at a time.