Decoding the Road

Published by rrfenton on April 13, 2014April 13, 2014

Image: chrystal-clear.com

Decoding the Road

BEST teams use code to communicate with their robot while transportation engineers use code to communicate with drivers and pedestrians. In last year’s bESTology, we learned that code is a rule for converting one piece of information into another form or representation. In the world of transportation, just like the world of computing, we are surrounded by code. Traffic lights use colors as codes, road signs are designed to overcome the language barrier displaying universal code, tanker trucks display codes for the type of cargo being transported and the list goes on and on.

bESTologists strive to gain a greater understanding and knowledge of the world. Let’s learn more about code and prepare for Bladerunner.

Resources:

Brainstorm:

After viewing the above resources, brainstorm and list all of the sensors involved with electronic toll roads and determine how writing “code” is involved. Discuss how the functionality and accuracy of the toll roads depend on computers and technology. List the pros and cons of high-tech roads and discuss how the signage/codes are dependent on technology and energy.

Writing:

Refer to the Standard Highway Signage resource document and choose one standard highway sign, apply math skills and create a scaled replica for your classroom. Write a summary of the importance of the sign you selected and include how safety would be impacted if the sign did not exist.

BEST Robot:

Over the past years, BEST robots have been involved with moving oversized and overweight loads such as airplanes, creating and/or transporting iso-octane and radioactive materials and handling biomedical substances. Review archived BEST games and determine which Department of Transportation signage/codes could have been displayed on the robot and on the field each year. Challenge: Name two past BEST games where the robots transported or came in contact with biological materials then identify two past BEST games where caution signs could have been placed at a particular location on the field.

Image: wikipedia.com

Community Connection:

Scavenger Hunt! Refer to the USDOT Emergency Response Book or the Hazardous Material Labeling document and become familiar with the signs/codes. Predict how common these signs are in your community then as a team, capture a photo of each sign/code that you see for one week. Search for signs on rail cars, trucks, pipelines, etc. Evaluate your findings and determine if the product is manufactured locally or is being transported to, from or through your community.

Next, research whether there have been any incidents involving hazardous materials in your community during the past 10 years. If yes, determine if the incident resulted in changes of signage or travel routes.

Invite a first responder (fire, police, etc.) to visit your class and have them share how important signs/codes are for their safety as well as the safety of everyone in your community.

Bloom’s Taxonomy: apply, brainstorm, choose, create, determine, discuss, evaluate, include, invite, list, name, predict, refer, research, review, search, summarize, write

Workforce Skills: reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, active learning, writing, systems analysis, mathematics, equipment selection, science, technology design, programming.

Correlates with “It’s Code” – Week 7 bESTology 2013

Decoding the Road