Gallery of Lights
The Site => General discussion => Topic started by: Form109 on April 15, 2014, 05:26:25 PM
-
ok I wasn't sure where to put this. so if it's in the wrong place id like it to be moved.
anyway I found this intreasting. I took notice of the statement that said if the glow lasts how long its supposed to last it could replace energy guzzling,maintenence heavy streetlights? is that so?
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/glow-dark-roads-now-reality
-
Hmm interesting! Doesn't seem effective though since we get snow here up north so the lines will be covered and when theres not snow there's sand from the roads being treated. The sand always ends up covering the lines because cars blow the sand to a spot where cars dont drive; over the lines. Seems like a cool idea but i don't see it ever taking off lol.
-
I sure hope it doesn't ever become mainstream. I cant picture no streetlight and nothing but glowing lines. you might be able to see the road technically yes....but that's all you'll be able to realistically see.
and I see in the constant battle of energy consumption lighting is once again the major thing being attacked....I thought (HVAC) consumed a larger amount of energy?
-
IIRC the MTO tested using LED lane markers here in the mid 2000s or so. I wonder how that experiment ended up though.
We get a lot of snow and sand here so I don't think they would be that visible in winter and plus I think the salty water mix in winter will probably get in the light and corrode everything.
-
well in reguards to corrosion I think if they're designed to be on the road surface they should be pretty well sealed right?
-
I've always liked the idea of the fluorescent road stripes illuminated by streetlights containing mercury blacklight lamps....but that is highly inefficient.
I have noticed that the remaining mercury outdoor lights in my area - used by DOT to illuminate highway signs - are going away in favor of 3M's new highly reflective road signs, so the lighting is simply removed.
I find in areas such as the Pacific Northwest where I live, where it rains or at least is cloudy a lot of time, having reflectors embedded in the lanes really helps a lot. Streetlighting actually is a hindrance in some areas as you can't see the road as well....the DOT tends to only install streetlights at intersections and on ramps.
A newer technology we might see more of, particularly in remote areas, are LED streetlights with motion sensors, so they only turn on when you get near them. Another design dims the streetlights during hours of the early morning where there is little traffic.
-
Yeah in southeasten Massachusetts there are no street lights on the freeways, they use reflectors, and I really like them. Most of Rhode Island's freeways are continuously lit with no reflectors and while I like street lights, they do waste energy and the orange light only helps you see to a certain degree. I'd almost rather have darkenss lol.
RI was never much on sign lighting though. I know one installation of fluorescent sign lighting here (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.820654,-71.511866,3a,16.1y,278.6h,95.82t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s3MOnb5HA1Sr_2GLb4WILkg!2e0?hl=en) but it's never been lit. I guess it was a test site at one point. Those are the only two signs with lights on them at that interchange (and the only two i know of in all of RI)
-
The point is, with these you need no electricity installations at all. And I would expect just maintaining the installation in a working condition costs way more than the consumed electricity.
Of course, it is indeed not universal for every location, but it could be used even in way more remote areas...