The traffic sign design
of the future
‘plug and play’ can additionally be added to the highly innovative honeycomb traffic sign design patented by Climate Signs:
Insect hotel // Sedum profile // Sensors // Solar panels
By adding ‘clickable’ modules, we transform the classic traffic sign into a modern platform for sustainable and innovative applications, which are good for people and the environment.
Raw materials
In doing so, Climate Signs is focusing primarily on local plastic waste streams, strengthening production and distribution chains within the region, and ensuring delivery reliability. Through the innovative honeycomb design, we have effectively shaped the design of the future. The current economic climate, with the huge price increases of traditional raw materials offers “the perfect storm” for Climate Signs’ material transition.
Local raw materials reduce globalization, risk within innovative production and distribution chains, and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
All the benefits
at a glance
100% from biobased or circular raw materials
Any road manager who chooses sustainability will eventually end up with Climate Signs’ innovative traffic signs. In order to make the green transition with traffic signs, it is very important that we deliver a quality comparable to aluminum. Because Climate Signs’ honeycomb traffic sign is the only alternative to aluminum that is fully CE certified, we can deliver the quality described in the EN12899:2007 and NEN 3381 standard.
Since for the Climate Signs traffic signs we require only the highest deliverable quality, we chose printing technology with reflection class III film when producing the signface.
Unburdening within a total-service concept:
Step 1
Digitizing assets present
Future-proof management of outdoor space is becoming increasingly important.
The area must be maintained sustainably, using resources and budgets as efficiently as possible.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and regional governments, the data of all traffic signs in the Netherlands has been digitally stored and made available.
Through an API, Climate Signs has downloaded the traffic signs ‘bulk data’ from the NDW database (Nationaal Dataportaal Wegverkeer), loaded it into the management system GeoVisia, and linked a digital form to it.
Through this digital project setup, we can obtain and assess the management information of the assets present in accordance with the Information Model Public Space (IMBOR), and the CROW road management system, Quality Catalogue Public Space (in accordance with BGT-IMGeo).
By this method, the original UID code from the NDW database remains the leading object reference number for the complete follow-up process.
Using the GeoVisia-Online management system, Climate Signs inspectors process the maintenance status of the traffic signs and poles present in the outdoor area, providing a conclusive picture of the technical and legal status of the traffic sign area.
Step 2
Analyze and discuss (reconcile) processed dataset
In order to legally mutate the placed traffic signs, the traffic engineering recommendations from the outdoor area must first be coordinated with the road manager and traffic engineer.
Climate Signs offers a service that enables the road authority to gain insight into the size, structure and maintenance status of the area.
During the reconciliation sessions, we discuss the digitally processed traffic engineering recommendations, and record it digitally in the project file.
Because we process our inspection and follow-up services in an online management system, the results can be easily accessed from any location with any device.
The client is the data owner throughout the process, and upon completion of the work receives the dataset (shapefile) for use in the municipal management system.
Step 3
Project realization
Project realization can be divided into 3 follow-up process steps.
- Remove redundant traffic signs, and bollards (with no relation to addition);
2. Remove redundant traffic signs and poles (with relation to relocation), and relocate missing traffic signs;
3. Replace damage objects, and technically depreciated traffic signs (>12 years);
To significantly reduce CO2 emissions at process step 3, we refurbish the reusable traffic signs from process steps 1 and 2 (remove unnecessary signs). To do this, we make as much circular use of the existing acreage as possible. By refurbishing technically obsolete but reusable traffic signs, we significantly reduce CO2 emissions. A new coil-coated aluminum traffic sign emits 36.68 kg CO2-eq. while a refurbished traffic sign emits only 6.70 kg CO2 eq. emissions (source: National Environmental Database).
To further reduce area CO2 emissions, we have developed the honeycomb traffic sign. Within the honeycomb traffic sign concept, we produce traffic signs from various biobased (sugarcane) or recycled raw materials.
Because not every outdoor traffic sign can be reused through refurbishing, we replace the non-reusable signs for a honeycomb model. Because we developed the traffic sign of the future in-house, it is easily scalable in volume, and has a positive impact on pricing and environmental impact (biodiversity).
Given the above, we recommend that municipalities no longer purchase new aluminum (virgin) traffic signs. If reusable traffic signs are not available, we can provide a highly sustainable certified alternative, contributing to the climate goals of any government organization.
Maintenance-free and resistant
Climate signs road signs:
What is sustainability and what is the actual environmental impact of a product
MKI
The Environmental Cost Indicator (EQI) summarizes all environmental impacts into a single score and is expressed in Euro`s.
The MKI is a single-score indicator, and aggregates all relevant environmental impacts of a product.
Because Climate Signs’ traffic signs are 100% circularly reusable even in small quantities, the environmental cost indicator is also a weighing factor for circularity.
By reusing basic raw materials we reduce the use of new material and reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Climate Signs produces the most sustainable traffic sign in the Netherlands and we are proud of it.
Sustainable Transition Goals
– Efficient use of existing residual streams
– Reduce carbon footprint for road signs
– Make 100% circular use of regional
– Dutch plastic waste streams
– Extending life cycle of plastic materials