Conceptualized by Daan Roosegaarde of ‘Studio Roosegaarde,‘ and in collaboration with European construction services group Heijmans, the future smart highways of the Netherlands will be built with interactive features, such as glow-in-the-dark roads, induction priority lanes, dynamic paints, interactive lights, and wind lights.
Roosegaarde decided that just like how cars are constantly being re-engineered to exceed consumer expectations, in the same manner should highways be redesigned to keep up with the needs of modern transportation.
Creating Sustainable and Interactive Roads in the Netherlands
Called the “Smart Highway,” Roosegarde’s idea won “Best Future Concept” during the 2012 Dutch Design Awards. According to Studio Roosegarde’s official website, their goal is to “make roads that are more sustainable and interactive by using interactive lights, smart energy and road signs that adapt to specific traffic situations.” The initial prototypes were shown to the public in October during the 2012 Dutch Design Week held in the Netherlands.
In a recent interview, Roosegaarde told Wired.co.uk how he came up with the idea for Smart Highway. “One day I was sitting in my car in the Netherlands, and I was amazed by these roads we spend millions on but no one seems to care what they look like and how they behave… I started imagining this Route 66 of the future where technology jumps out of the computer screen and becomes part of us,” explained Roosegaarde.
Glow-in-the-Dark Roads and Dynamic Paint
The beginnings of this futuristic highway will be built in Branbant by the middle of 2013. The initial prototypes will feature glow-in-the-dark roads and dynamic paints. The glow-in-the-dark roads are solar-powered and can remain lit for up to ten hours (the roads glow due to a special foto-luminising powder).
Meanwhile, dynamic paint sends important information regarding changes in temperature and road conditions to directly to the drivers.
The rest of the interactive features (such as the induction priority lanes, interactive lights, and wind lights) will be added within the next five years or by 2017.
About Studio Roosegaarde
Studio Roosegaarde is the design lab of Daan Roosegaarde, an artist who works with a team of designers and engineers to create innovative and interactive designs.
(Featured Image and Article Images Credit: Studio Roosegaarde)
