Technologies for Future Roads
The Korean government is planning to build electrified roads that can recharge the batteries of cars and trucks that run fast on them by 2030.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Oct. 18 that it has established the Road Technology Development Strategy (2021-2030) to realize a plan to build future roads incorporating such technologies as data, artificial intelligence (AI), and the internet of things (IoT).
The strategy aims to achieve four goals – reduction of the number of deaths by traffic accidents by 30 percent, lowering traffic congestion by 30 percent, cutting road maintenance costs by 30 percent, and reduction of road noises by 20 percent and harmful substances by 15 percent.
First of all, the ministry will begin to develop self-heating and light-emitting lanes using solar energy, and prevent traffic accidents by enabling drivers to recognize lanes even during heavy snow and heavy rains. In addition, the ministry will implement a project to protect drivers and pedestrians from pollutants such as fine dust by applying pollutant adsorption and self-decomposition technology to road pavements.
The ministry plans to develop wireless electric charging technology so that electric vehicles can run on the road at high speed while being wirelessly recharged. "Researchers at the Korea Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST) are currently conducting research and development on wireless recharging technology," a ministry official said.
In addition, the ministry will prepare road reinforcement measures to make roads endure disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and accidents by analyzing roads with frequent disasters through big data analysis, and prepare a system to monitor road conditions 24 hours a day by applying virtual reality (VR) and IoT technologies.