Innovative technologies in road sector

Toole, Hallowell and Chinowsky (2013) define innovation as, “the act of introducing a significant improvement in a process, product, or system that is novel to the organization, may cause individuals to view things differently, and results in competitive advantage, increased value for the client or benefit to stockholders”. The road construction industry needs new applications from the view point of innovation and technology (Caerteling et al., 2009). Focus needs to be on enhancing road industry performance considering that road infrastructure is a substantial contributor to employment and gross domestic product (Caerteling et al., 2011). Based on limited literature available on application of innovative technologies in the road sector, typical examples reported are: solar roads, Smart highways in the Netherlands that glow in the dark, new road surface material, CFA (Continuous Flight Augur) piling, Moveable barrier system, use of recycled material and others. This paper presents an overview of innovation in the road construction sector, the driving factors behind adopting new techniques and materials; and the barriers it faces in their application.