Harvesting electricity from road traffic noise energy, a literature review

Recent developments in digital technologies, including big data and internet of things concepts, have shown promising results in achieving a more appropriate and effective pavement engineering through a proactive asset management approach. This could be achieved through an early diagnosis of defects and selection of the appropriate maintenance strategy informed by more granular data by utilisation of advanced sensing systems. Such a sensing system for the pavement, which should include a combination of embed sensors, and surface data sensors, e.g., cameras, would require electricity which could be problematic when considering the growing demand of electricity around the globe. Harvesting electricity from the pavement, e.g., from the traffic noise, which is the focus of this article, could bring a new hope for achieving self-efficient and sustainable sensing systems for roads. If effective such an electricity generation system from road traffic noise could be counted towards the net zero carbon target set by road authorities. The reviewed literature has shown that tyre air-pumping is the critical noise source with highest electricity generation potential. Harvesting, storage, and conversion of noise energy to electrical energy are still in the preliminary stages.