These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
Measuring the strength of concrete in highways and bridges has traditionally entailed “heavy equipment, extensive labor, and considerable uncertainty,” says Luna Lu, an associate dean and engineering professor at Purdue University who started Wavelogix, the company that makes Rebel Concrete Strength Sensors. The sensors, which are installed on a stretch of road before concrete is actually poured, transmit real-time data about the material directly to engineers’ smartphones, allowing them to ascertain when new construction is strong enough to handle cars or when to shut down a highway for repairs. Earlier this year, the sensors were added to highways in Texas and Indiana, with more states coming soon.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
