Idaho Transportation Department pilots smart pavement markers

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is piloting new wireless technology aimed at shedding some light on the state’s darkest highways with the first 100 of an eventual 700 solar-powered pavement markers.

Last month, state employees installed the patented markers in Pocatello, which measure 4 x 6 in., are ¾ in. tall and meet federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices regulations. They are the first in four planned series of smart lane markers from Evolutionary Markings Inc. (EMI), a Pocatello startup.

The first installation of the S100 markers took less than two hours and required only construction epoxy by way of materials, making it something of a cost savings for ITD.

Officials chose a traffic island on a roughly 2-mile stretch of U.S. 30/Garrett Way as their location since the area lacked any street lighting. Like smart streetlights, the self-contained S100 LED devices turn on automatically as ambient sunlight dims, including on overcast days.

EMI developed its wireless technology with assistance from the University of Idaho's National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology, a collaboration enabled through a state Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission funding grant, a series that capitalizes collaborations between university researchers and business.

Less than a month after the markers’ installation, ITD is already getting positive feedback from residents.

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Source: Government Technology