Implementations for an intelligent road barrier (IRB) system can include a plurality of road barriers located along a roadway, and a plurality of IRB kits, each IRB kit being including a set of sensors configured to obtain sensor data representative of at least a portion of a road state of the roadway proximate to the respective road barrier, a data processing unit configured to process at least a portion of the sensor data, a communication unit configured to send at least a portion of the sensor data and to receive sensor data from the one or more other IRB kits, and a state conveyance system configured to convey at least a portion of road state data to one or more vehicles associated with the roadway, the at least a portion of road state data being determined based on the at least a portion of the sensor data.

A road marker may include a housing with a cavity and at least one perimeter surface oriented perpendicular to the direction of traffic. Each of the at least two perimeter surfaces containing an opening may be substantially covered with a mesh. Further, each of the openings may form either an air input or an air output, and the air input and air output openings may be located substantially opposite to each other to generate a flow of air through the cavity. In addition, the cavity may include passive electrical components for heating the flow of air.

A road marker may include a housing with a cavity and at least one perimeter surface oriented perpendicular to the direction of traffic. Each of the at least two perimeter surfaces containing an opening may be substantially covered with a mesh. Further, each of the openings may form either an air input or an air output, and the air input and air output openings may be located substantially opposite to each other to generate a flow of air through the cavity. In addition, the cavity may include passive electrical components for heating the flow of air.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for controlling a functional road object. For example, at least one processor receives road sign attribute data indicating at least one attribute of a road sign and receives weather forecast data indicating a weather forecast of a location in which the road sign is disposed. The road sign includes at least one machinery for mitigating exposure to one or more weather conditions. The at least one processor identifies a state of visibility for the road sign using the road sign attribute data and the weather forecast data and generates a control signal for controlling the at least one machinery using the state of visibility.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for controlling a functional road object. For example, at least one processor receives road sign attribute data indicating at least one attribute of a road sign and receives weather forecast data indicating a weather forecast of a location in which the road sign is disposed. The road sign includes at least one machinery for mitigating exposure to one or more weather conditions. The at least one processor identifies a state of visibility for the road sign using the road sign attribute data and the weather forecast data and generates a control signal for controlling the at least one machinery using the state of visibility.

The present invention relates to: an apparatus and system for detecting a road surface condition, wherein the road surface condition is determined through a sound signal; and a method for detecting a road surface condition by using same. The apparatus for detecting a road surface condition according to the present invention comprises: a sensor unit which is installed on a road and measures a sound signal generated according to a moving of a moving object on the road; and a control unit which distinguishes the sound signal measured by the sensor unit into normality or abnormality and determines, in case of the abnormality, the road surface condition including at least one of rainfall (wet), frozenness (icy), slush, and snow cover (snowy) so that a quick and accurate action corresponding to the road surface condition of a specific section can be made from a distanced place.

A variable traffic safety sign is useful in informing road users of the possibility of a surface of a road or bridge section being wet or frozen without using an additional external power source by exactly expressing freezing and wet roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section using a thermochromic paint and a humidity indicator paint, and also allowing road drivers to exactly recognize the roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section by displaying the freezing and wet roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section conditions in response to changes in temperature and humidity, respectively. Also, the variable traffic safety sign is readily applicable to structures such as a bridge crash barrier, a traffic safety sign board, a bridge guardrail, a road shoulder, and an inner part, entrance and exit of a tunnel.

A variable traffic safety sign is useful in informing road users of the possibility of a surface of a road or bridge section being wet or frozen without using an additional external power source by exactly expressing freezing and wet roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section using a thermochromic paint and a humidity indicator paint, and also allowing road drivers to exactly recognize the roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section by displaying the freezing and wet roadbed conditions of the road or bridge section conditions in response to changes in temperature and humidity, respectively. Also, the variable traffic safety sign is readily applicable to structures such as a bridge crash barrier, a traffic safety sign board, a bridge guardrail, a road shoulder, and an inner part, entrance and exit of a tunnel.

A road sign having two parts connected by a hinge that is arranged to obscure text in a retracted state but which exposes the text in a deployed state when the sign automatically deploys in response to a triggering event such as a power outage.

A reflective pavement marker for a roadway includes a body having a bottom adapted to be secured to the roadway and at least one a reflector on the body. The reflector includes an outer face for receiving light and an inner face comprising a plurality of light reflecting elements for receiving and reflecting the light back through the outer face. The reflector comprises a light transmitting and thermochromatic polymer adapted to transition at a predetermined transition temperature so as to change the color of the light reflected by the reflector depending on the temperature of the polymer. The predetermined transition temperature can be selected so that the color change of the light reflected by the reflector indicates freezing or near freezing road conditions.