Solar Roadways

A Real Solution

To Meet Social, Economic, Engineering, And Environmental Issues Of Today

What Is Solar Roadways?

What Multi-Faceted Problem Does This Integrated Idea Address?

As the world faces energy, infrastructure, and environmental crisis, there is a growing

demand for energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly technology; Solar Roadways is an integrated and real

solution to the socio-economic, engineering, and environmental issues of today.

Sociology

Society and Technology

•Sociology shows that when societies are faced with issues of economic and environmental consequence, technology is improved to meet this growing social demand for more efficiency and sustainability.•Technology is an invaluable resource that people use every day. Some technology, like cars, can be controversial as to whether it is beneficial or harmful to society.

Society and Technology•Green technology allows alternatives to completely outlawing the use of automobiles, and instead offers other options (Adam, n.d.) •Green technology can also be useful in 3rd world countries, to help alleviate poverty by creating a sustainable environment and cheap access to subsidized electricity (Bindra, 2009) •Society depends on technology for communication and transportation. It helps fulfill our economic needs, supplies power, and many say it provides jobs. Green technology is said to create employment and wealth (Adam, n.d.)

Economics

Economics and Technology•Economics shows that more efficient is less costly and efficiency beyond need can produce a surplus or a savings.Here are some figures to consider:•There are enough roadways and paved surfaces in the lower 48 states to produce almost 14 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity (www.solarroadways.com)•If all cars were electric, the US would consume 5.1 trillion Kwh•www.doe.gov)

Economics and Technology•If all of this electricity, in addition to what is now produced from clean technologies, were sold at fair market rates, the United States could generate $2.2 trillion dollars a year, not counting the revenue generated from internet, water lines, etc. built into the roadway (www.solarroadways.com)

•This could pay off the national debt in less than 10 years, and eliminate the trade deficit (www.solarroadways.com and www.doe.gov)

Engineering

Engineering and Technology• Recent report from Geneva International

Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). The most serious infrastructure issues discussed include urbanization and population growth, climate change, and carbon emissions (Cardno, 2009)

• Engineering shows that planning focus is shifting from finite material based engineering to sustainable or green engineering to meet infrastructure and social needs.

Engineering and Technology• Civil Engineering focus has changed from

maintaining structures that use up finite resources (concrete, steel, etc.) to proposing that new ideas are needed to create a new infrastructure that is self sustaining and can provide water, electricity, communication, and transportation (Shuster, 2009)

Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies• Industrial activities of the past half century

have created serious ecological problems (Shrivastava, 1995)

• Solar roadways produce “green energy”• Pave the way for new forms of eco-friendly

innovations• This will require transformation of

corporations, their products, production systems, and management practices

Environmental Studies• As a source of new product ideas and

material/energy conservation, such as solar heaters and electric cars, green technology can create and expand market demand (Shrivastava, 1995)

Solar RoadwaysThis technology answers the following questions

that define a problematic today: • How to meet public demand (Sociology)• How to do more with less (Economy)• How to build something sustainable and of

value(Engineering)• How to have a smaller impact or positive impact

on the environment (Environmental Science).

Still Not Convinced?

Well, Let’s look at our past, present, and hopes for the future with this video.

Enjoy!

SociologyBindra, S., & Hokoma, R. (2009). Meeting the energy challenge for sustainable development of developing countries. Proceedings of World Academy of Science: Engineering & Technology, 51716-721. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete

database.Adam, Barbara, & Kutting, Gabriella (n.d.). Time to reconceptualize `green technology' in the context of globalization and

international Relations. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Sciences; Sep95, Vol. 8 Issue 3, p243-259, 17p. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.

Economics www.doe.govwww.solarroadways.comEngineering Shuster, L. (2009). Report Urges New Framework for Planning Critical Infrastructure. Civil Engineering

(08857024), 79(6), 20-21. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.Cardno, C. (2009). Global Infrastructure Issues Detailed in fidic Report. Civil Engineering (08857024), 79(12), 32-33. Retrieved from

Academic Search Complete database.

Environmental StudiesShrivastava, P. (1995). Environmental technologies and competitive advantage. Strategic Management Journal. 16, 183-200.

References

• Kadee Bono-Sociology and necessary Devil’s Advocate

• Mark Krueger-Engineering and creative

• Junichi Nakishage• Joe Norris-AV and Economics

• Hector Perez-• Justin Taylor-Economics, original

idea, and co-conspirator for video• Ryan Uran-Sociology and 3rd

World Sociology• Susan Paige Vinson-AV Creator

and presenter, Task coordinator, Research integration, and Co-conspirator for videoo conspirator of video, Engineering and Environmental Studies

Collaborators

Photography and Music Taken from:

http://www.ge.com/audio_video/ge/ecomagination/ecomagination_challenge_solar_roadways.html http://www.teara.govt.nz/files/p5209atl.jpghttp://www.villadeayora.com/blog/2009/12/04/travel-on-route-66-in-us/http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/work/images/PICA09831lg.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4810804821_fc711590d5.jpg http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/6059 http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/2009/07/large_Road-construction-delays.JPGhttp://routingbyrumor.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/gas-line-2.jpghttp://p.webwombat.com.au/motoring/car-photos/fuel-crisis-3.jpg http://craveimages.com/mediaviewer/52/waiting-for-gas.html http://whichquote.com/envfri1/images/smokestacks.jpg http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/21546/ http://www.foreclosurewarehouse.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/gulf-oil-spills.jpg http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/6kwWE3r4AyV/Activists+Protest+Climate+Energy+Bill+Currently http://www.vpfo.msu.edu/site_graphics/GreenIdeas.jpg http://kahnsolar.com/products.html http://www.greenfudge.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/will_the_grid_survive_recharging_your_electric_car_small.jpghttp://www.ostertagphoto.com/Forests/OR03046.jpghttp://lifemaideasy.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/green-technology.jpg http://pulse2.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/SolarRoadways-Logo.jpg http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/09/21/dubious-green-schemes-the-solar-roadway/ http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Jx78YcF-F8U/TIJ6aNrqAkI/AAAAAAAADDA/XNExFGIXTUA/s1600/Solar-Roadway-is-Put-Togeth.jpg http://cdn.gajitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/solar-collection-road-panels.jpghttp://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Solar-Road.jpghttp://f00.inventorspot.com/images/Panel.jpghttp://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/solar-road-proto-630.jpg

References