Complete Road Marking Removal - Critical for Road Safety & ADAS
Effective highway maintenance is fundamental for ensuring safe and efficient road networks. Central to this is the visibility and clarity of road markings, which are vital guides for both human drivers and increasingly Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as lane-centring, and Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDW).
Road markings degrade over time, necessitating full removal before reapplication, which, if incomplete, leads to dangerous ‘ghost lines’. Achieving a ‘clean slate’ is extremely important for road safety.
Dual Threat of Ghost Lines to Road Safety
SMETS Technology is a global technology leader in runway rubber removal systems, offering a direct path to enhance operational safety and efficiency in Indian aviation, an area in which I care about greatly. Unfortunately, many Indian airports rely on outdated, inefficient methods for critical runway maintenance, joining with SMETS was an opportunity to help to change this.
SMETS Technology aligns very closely with India’s growing desire for self-sufficiency by providing easy-to-use, German-engineered systems with remote diagnostics and local support. These systems also meet ICAO friction and safety norms while supporting India’s green aviation goals through chemical-free and resource efficient technology.
Traditional Demarking Methods Fall Short
Traditional road marking removal methods often force undesirable trade-offs. Grinding or scarifying can be fast and cost-efficient but also can cause significant scarring and structural loosening to the road surface. It also generates hazardous airborne dust containing crystalline silica and potentially heavy metals such as lead or chromium from old markings, posing potential health risks and environmental liabilities. Noise pollution is also a concern.
Chemical Removal can be gentler but is slower and relies on aggressive and toxic solvents, creating a hazardous liquid waste stream that needs to be disposed of properly. Finally, ‘burning off’ using thermal lances can damage the road surface and has a side effect of producing toxic smoke and fumes.
All these methods generate waste that must be contained, collected, segregated, and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner, adding significant cost and environmental liability. Traditional methods consistently compromise between speed, cost-efficiency, pavement preservation, and environmental impact.
UHP Water Jetting - The 'Clean Slate' Solution
Ultra High Pressure water jetting offers a transformative and superior approach to road marking removal.
Superior Effectiveness and Elimination of Ghost Lines
UHP water jetting achieves complete removal, often 100%, eliminating confusing ghost lines and ensuring a clear surface for new markings and reliable ADAS operation. It is effective on all types of road marking products, including more stubborn thermoplastics.
Unparalleled Pavement Preservation
UHP water jetting technology removes markings without damaging the substrate, preserving its original profile and integrity. It works through selective damage behaviour, applying destructive force only to flexible materials like paint or rubber, while leaving harder underlying substrates undamaged. The use of ‘dispersed droplet’ technology and high-speed rotating nozzles minimises stress and prevents structural erosion. This extends the lifespan of the pavement, reducing the need for costly future repairs.
Comprehensive Environmental and Safety Advantages
SMETS UHP water jetting operates on a chemical free, water only approach. It produces zero airborne dust, fumes, or hazardous gases, eliminating potential exposure to silica, lead, and chromium, and significantly lowers noise levels. Integrated vacuum recovery systems simultaneously collect all water and solid debris, transforming waste into a manageable (and contained) slurry for convenient and proper treatment/disposal, eliminating runoff and contamination risks.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency and Favourable Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
The process is fast and productive, reducing traffic disruption and total job time. Moreover, truck-mounted systems (such as the SMETS MRT 360) can operate as ‘moving roadworks’, minimising traffic disruption. UHP water jetting offers lower long-term costs and TCO by preventing pavement damage, reducing secondary clean-up needs, and simplifying waste disposal. In a time of increasing employment costs, these systems also offer a very productive, less labour intensive solution.
