Auburn engineering faculty members Gwen Thomas, Lloyd Riggs, and David Elton, along with doctoral graduate Andrew Sivulka, have patented a reinforcement fabric that has electronic transmission capabilities. The fabric can be added to roadways and buildings, bridges and even natural surfaces, such as trees, to transmit cellular, Wi-Fi and other signals to vehicles and surrounding buildings.  Their work could allow public safety and law enforcement officials to monitor vehicle speed, traffic rerouting and accidents, as well as increase cellular and satellite coverage areas.

To read more about their technology, visit http://geosyntheticsmagazine.com/articles/090711_auburn_patent.html