From smart phones and smart watches to smart cars and smart toothbrushes, the generation of ‘smart’ products is well and truly upon us. Now, is the next big trend ‘smart roads’?

While the smart roads might not quite be powering our toasters specifically, but rather, roadside lights, traffic signals, billboards and other similar sources of electricity. The research seeks to build a system to produce Energy caused by the driving of vehicles along the state’s roadways and convert it into inexpensive renewable electric power.

Specifically, the research team will create piezoelectric sensors which will be positioned beneath asphalt layers. Piezoelectric materials are particularly alluring as they create power without releasing greenhouse gasses and take up no additional space as they are built into the layers of the roads. Ultimately, if successful, the research will create a sustainable foundation of revenue for transportation infrastructure through the formation of clean power.