UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Universiti Teknology MARA
40450 Shah Alam

SEMESTER : Mac – Jul 2021

LECTURER :
PROFESOR MADYA DR NORASHIKIN BINTI AHMAD KAMAL
RESEARCH TITLE :
THE DESIGNATION OF MUSICAL ROAD AND THE BENEFITS TO
ROAD USERS

FINAL PROJECT
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(ECC563)

Learning Outcomes:
1. By completing this project, students should be able to prepare a research proposal
related to the selected topic. (CO2, PO3)
2. By completing this project students should be able to display competency in presenting
the proposal in slides and writing a proposal. (CO3, PO12)
CO2: Critically prepare the literature review PO3: Design solutions for complex civil
and design experimental procedure to solve engineering problems and design systems,
research problem. components or processes that meet specified
CO3: Prepare a research proposal related to needs with appropriate consideration for public
the selected topic. health and safety, cultural, societal, and
environmental considerations.
PO12: Recognize the need for, and have the
preparation and ability to engage in
independent and life-long learning in the
broadest context of technological change.
 FINAL PROJECT: RESEARCH PROPOSAL (50%)

Objectives

The objectives of this assignment are:

1. to critically review relevant literature and produce a research design that is adequate
to obtain answers to the research questions and achieve research objectives; and

2. to prepare full proposal of the proposed research project.

Instructions

From previous assignments, you have proposed a research project. You are required:

1. to write a proposal for the research project that you have chosen. The proposal should
consist of:
1. Introduction
a) Background of study
b) Problem statement
c) Objectives
d) Contribution/ Significance of study
e) Scope and limitations
2. Literature review
3. Methodology
4. Expected results & Conclusion
5. References
6. Plan of action and milestones (Gantt chart)

UNTUK PROPOSAL (PROJECT):

1) Intro =2 pages
2) LR = 2 pages
3) Methodology =1 page (framework only)
4) Expected Result & Conclusion = 1 page
5) Milestone = 1 page

The research methodologies SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 7 PAGES not including your
references, gantt chart and any appendix you might include. It should be written in MS Word.

2. to prepare presentation slides (ppt) for your proposal. The slides SHOULD NOT BE
MORE THAN 6 SLIDES for your proposal. The creativity of preparing the presentation
slides is required.

Submission of Research Proposal

The report/ research proposal must be submitted on 14th July 2021.

 UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Universiti Teknology MARA
40450 Shah Alam

PROJECT TITLE:
THE DESIGNATION OF MUSICAL ROAD AND THE BENEFITS TO
ROAD USERS

REPORT WRITING Weightage Marks

(CO2-PO3)
Research Background 5 1 2 3 4 5
Problem Statement 5 1 2 3 4 5
Objectives 5 1 2 3 4 5
Significance of Study 5 1 2 3 4 5
Scope and limitations 5 1 2 3 4 5
Literature Review 15 3 6 9 12 15
Methodology 15 3 6 9 12 15
Timeline/Gantt chart 5 1 2 3 4 5
Expected Results 15 3 6 9 12 15
Conclusion 10 2 4 6 8 10
Bibliography 5 1 2 3 4 5
Writing Skills 10 2 4 6 8 10
Sub-Total 100

A. Sub-Total marks A= A* = _________ x 0.40 = ______________

PRESENTATION Weightage Marks

(CO3-PO12)
Content 5 1 2 3 4 5
Slide Creation 5 1 2 3 4 5
Picture, Clip Arts & Background 5 1 2 3 4 5
Mechanics 5 1 2 3 4 5
Sub-Total 20

B. Sub-Total marks B= B* = _________ x 0.10 = ______________

Total Marks (50%) = (A*)__________+ (B*)__________ = _____________

 RUBRICS FOR RESEARCH PROPOSAL PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION
1 2 3 4 5
(CO3-PO12)

Content Content is inaccurate Content is Content is Content is accurate Content is accurate

and information is not questionable and accurate but but some and information is
presented in a logical information is not information is not information is not presented in a
order, making it presented in a presented in a presented in a logical order, and
difficult to follow logical order, logical order, logical order, but is easy to follow
making it difficult making it difficult still generally easy
to follow to follow to follow

Slide Creation Presentation has no Presentation is Presentation flows Presentation flows Presentation flows
flow. No tools used. unorganized. well. Some tools well. Tools used well and logically.
Insufficient number of Tools are not used used to show correctly. Correct Presentation
slides. in a relevant acceptable number of slides. reflects extensive
manner. Lacking understanding. Overall presentation use of tools in a
in number of Correct number of is interesting. creative way.
slides slides Correct number of
slides.

Picture, Clip Arts No relevant images Images included Most images are Images are Images are
& Background included. are inappropriate. appropriate. appropriate. Layout appropriate. Layout
is cluttered. of images is
pleasing to the
viewers.

Mechanics Many spelling errors Some spelling and Some spelling and Few spelling and No spelling and
and/or text is copied grammar errors. grammar errors. grammar errors. grammar errors.
Most of text is Text is author’s Most of text is Most of text is
author’s own own word. author’s own word. author’s own word.
word.
 RUBRICS ON REPORT WRITING
Component Weightage Very Weak Weak Average Good Excellent
s
Research 5 1 2 3 4 5
Background
Missing all the Present 1 of the followings Present 2 of the Present all of the Provides the reader with all
followings: needed needed information to followings needed followings needed needed information to
information to understand the present information to information to understand understand the present
understand the present study: a description of the understand the present the present study:a study, a description of the
study: a description of specific purpose of the study: a description of description of the specific specific purpose of the study
the specific purpose of study, a description of the specific purpose of purpose of the study, a and its impact on the
the study, a description hypothesis of the study the study, a description description of hypothesis previous study, a description
of hypothesis of the and a brief summary of of hypothesis of the of the study and a brief of hypothesis of the study
study and a brief the experimental strategy study and a brief summary of the and a brief summary of the
summary of the being used at the end of summary of the experimental strategy experimental strategy being
experimental strategy the introduction. experimental strategy being used at the end of used at the end of the
being used at the end of being used at the end the introduction. Gives a introduction. Piques the
the introduction. of the introduction. description of the study readers interest and makes
Gives a description of system with some the importance of the
the study system. comment on its question real. Gives a
appropriate. description of the study
system with some comment
on its appropriate.
Problem 5 Not able to identify all Able to identify one of the Able to identify two of Able to establish three Able to formulate the three
Statement the three elements elements however, it is the elements that are elements consistent with elements that are consistent
which are: 1) What is inconsistent with the title. consistent with the the title. Able to identify with the title. Able to
the current situation Not able to identify title. There is evidence issues/problems directly identify issues/problems
(brief literature review issues/ problems. of issues/problems related to the intended directly related to the
of similar works)? highlighted but study. Able to establish intended study. Able to
2) What is wrong with indirectly related to the the shortcomings with establish the shortcomings
the current situation intended study. brief proposal of suitable with some justifications.
(issues/problems regard measures. Brief proposals of suitable
to similar area of measures are also included.
study)?
3) What needs more to
be done?
Objectives 5 Not able to identify Able to identify the
objectives. objectives of the study.
However, objectives are
nonSMART (Specific,
Measurable, Achievable,
Realistic and Timeliness)
with incorrect usage of
verbs.
Significance 5 Unable to identify who Able to identify the
of Study will benefit the study parties that will benefit
the study
Scope of 5 Not able to identify Able to identify main
Work and main activities activities undertaken.
Limitations undertaken. However, the activities
indicated are inconsistent
with objectives and
problem statement.
Literature 15
3 6
Review
Not able to identify Able to make a review but
relevant themes to it is summary of general
review. literature related to the
topic. Write-up consists of
merely a copy and paste
job, rewritten facts and
full of annotations.
Able to determine at Able to establish at least Able to establish at least two
least two numbers of two numbers of numbers of objectives that
objectives in line with objectives that are are SMART with correct
problem statements. SMART with correct usage of verbs consistent
Objectives are SMART usage of verbs consistent with problem statement,
with correct usage of with problem statement scope of work, methodology
verbs. and scope of work. and conclusions.
Able to explain some Able to outline and Able to outline and justify
of the parties that can justify some of the all the parties that can
benefit the study parties that can benefit benefit the study.
the study
Able to identify Able to establish Able to establish activities
activities and activities that are that are consistent with
consistent with consistent with the objectives, problem
objectives and problem objectives, problem statement, methodology that
statement. statement and include limitations. Flow of
methodology showing activities presented briefly
the limitation of the the methodology,
work. apparatus/techniques to be
adopted,
parameters/variables to be
measured and tools used for
analysis
9 12 15
Able to make a review Able to establish Able to adapt related
with little analysis on substantial coverage of theories/ concept and studies
the previous research related theories/ concept on the subject area. Able to
and with limited and studies on the integrate the previous
coverage of related subject area. Proper findings and conclude the
theories/ concept and citations (include figures uniqueness of the present
studies on the subject and tables taken from work. Proper citations
area. Improper citations various sources). (include figures and tables
are evident. Materials Materials organized taken from various sources).
organized according to according to theme. Summary of important
information given. Materials
 chronology and not There is some evidence organized according to
according to theme. of good organization. theme. There is evidence of
good organization. Provide
some form of justifications
on why research should
proceed.

Methodolo- 15 Methodological Methodological Methodological Methodological Methodological Framework

gical Framework outlined not Framework outlined Framework outlined Framework outlined are outlined are consistent with
Framework consistent with consistent with 1 consistent with consistent with objectives and scope of work
objectives and scope of objective and scope of objectives and scope of objectives and scope of and adopt the standard
work. No evidence of work. At least 1 evidence work but does not work and adopt the method of measurements
data collection planning. of data collection follow the standard standard method of (even if it is not a standard
planning is given. method of measurements (even if it method of measurement, and
measurements. Some is not a standard method proper justifications
evidences of data of measurement, no included). All evidences of
collection planning are proper justifications data collection planning are
given. included). Some given.
evidences of data
collection planning are
given.
Timeline/ 5
1 2 3 4 5
Gantt chart
Timeline is not suitable Timeline appears to meet Timeline meets most of Timeline may not be Timeline is clearly presented
for the activities less than half of the the activities proposed. clearly presented but and is clearly suitable for
described activities proposed. Not Timeline may not be appears to be suitable for and meets all the activities
clearly presented clearly presented. all the activities described.
described
Expected 15
3 6 9 12 15
Results
Not able to identify the Able to identify the Able to state the Able to highlight the Able to outline the possible
possible outcomes possible outcomes but possible outcomes that possible outcomes that outcomes that are consistent
inconsistent with are consistent with are consistent with with objectives. All
objectives. objectives. objectives. Some significant citations and
significant citations and references are included
references are included based on previous
based on previous findings/theory
findings/theory.
Conclusion 10 2 4 6 8 10

A conclusion is made A conclusion is made Some detailed Detailed conclusions are Comprehensively evaluates
but not relevant to the from the evidence but conclusions are reached from the the proposal and presents
whole proposal. incomplete. reached from the proposal but few are wide-ranging, sophisticated
proposal but missing. conclusions, perspectives
incomplete. and consequences.
References/ 5
Bibliograph 1 2 3 4 5
y
References are merely References include References include References include References more than eight
from website. No articles from website, articles from website, articles from website, (8) from
citations in the text. The books, newspaper and books, newspaper and books, newspaper and nonrefereed/refereed
references do not follow magazines. Most of the magazines and 5 to 6 magazines and 7 to 8 proceedings of conferences
APA format. citations are missing. The articles from from and 3 to 4 from refereed
references do not follow nonrefereed/refereed nonrefereed/refereed journals. Citations are
APA format proceedings of proceedings of included and consistent with
conferences. Some conferences and 1 to 2 references. All the
citations are missing. from refereed journals. references follow APA
Some of the references Few references do not format
follow APA format follow APA format
Writing 10 2 4 6 8 10
Skills
Poor in writing skill Weak in writing skill with Average writing skill Good writing skill, with Good narrative structure
with substantial substantial grammatical with grammatical correct grammar usage. with excellent writing skill.
grammatical errors. errors. Information errors. Information Information conveyed Information conveyed can be
Information conveyed conveyed cannot be easily conveyed can be fairly can be understood. well understood.
cannot be understood. understood. understood.
 DESIGNATION OF MUSICAL ROAD
AND
THE BENEFITS TO ROAD USER

BY
SITI AISYAH BINTI ISMAIL

This report is submitted as a partial of requirement for the degree of

Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil

UNIVERSITI
TEKNOLOGI MARA
JULY 2021
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE ..................................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND .................................................................................................. 3
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ........................................................................................................ 3
1.3 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 SCOPE OF WORK AND LIMITATION ................................................................................. 4
1.5 SIGNIFICANT STUDY ............................................................................................................. 4
CHAPTER 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 5
LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 TYPES OF MUSICAL ROAD AND THE PRODUCTION PRINCIPAL ............................ 5
2.2.1 Cutting groove-based musical roads. ..................................................................................... 5
2.2.2 Raised Pavement Marker—Based Musical Road .................................................................. 6
2.3 ASPHALTOPHONE PROFILE DESIGN ............................................................................... 6
CHAPTER 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 7
METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................................... 7
4.1 EXPECTED RESULT ................................................................................................................ 8
4.2 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 8
5.1 GANTT CHART ......................................................................................................................... 9
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 RESEARCH BACKGROUND

Asphaltophone or also known as musical road is a music instrument made up of a road with
specially designated surface topology, the contact between tyre and patch, and a vehicle itself.
There are three (3) components in asphaltophone contain an analogy in the phonograph, which
are composed of a record, a stylus and an amplification device. To play the instrument, with
particular speed the vehicle is driven across the road, and it will lead the surface topography of
the road causes the vehicle to vibrate at certain frequencies. The installation of asphaltophone
is an enjoyable and inexpensive method to help drivers keep alert, contribute to tourism sector
and also can encourage driver to control their speed of car on the road. The musical road was
founded by Steen Krarup Jensen and Jakob Freud-Magnus in 1995. After the first installation
in Denmark, many others musical road have been installed around the world. An equally sized
ridge or asphalt cut are used in installation of asphaltophone followed by gaps of various width.
Because of fabrication constraint, it is important to be noted that the ridge or asphalt cut must
in equally sized so that the music will have the right tone. To generate the predominant
frequency of the asphaltophone, the gap width plus the equally sized ridge and the desired
wavelength has to be in equal without consideration of the signal-to-noise of the produced note.
In Japan, musical road erupted by Shizua Shinoda whereas he has accidentally scraped some
markings into a road using a bulldozer and drove over them. He realized that it was possible to
create tunes depending on the depth and spacing of the grooves.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The installation of asphaltophone on the road should be able to produce vibration that can
generate tune of any music based on the rhythm of the music that can be heard by the people
in the vehicle with certain speed. Unfortunately, without a proper design, asphaltophone could
turn out wrong frequency and fail to produce music. In this study, student will conduct a profile
design of musical road or also known as asphaltophone. Micro sleep while driving contribute
as number one (1) cause of road accidents that has sacrificed many lives all over the world.
Besides, over-limit speed also contributes to many cases of road accident even there are many
efforts by the authority such as warning signboard and spot speed traffic conducted in order to
control speed of drivers on the road. In this study, student will conduct a research to study on
how asphaltophone could overcome these problems.

1.3 OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to:

1. To study the designation of musical road using method of Thomas Edison’s to get right
tune on vibration.
2. To introduce musical road in Malaysia as replacement to the conventional rumble strip
and help driver to focus on driving and control speed.

1.4 SCOPE OF WORK AND LIMITATION

This study is to focus on designation of musical road by using method of Thomas Edison’s to
determine the depth and spacing of cutting groove. The failure to get the right depth and spacing
ruin the melody. Another aim to be focus is to introduce the musical road in Malaysia since in
this country has been use conventional rumble strip. The replacement of musical road will
contribute many benefits to users which are for safety and social. However, this study has the
limitation to collect primary data because there are no sample or installation in Malaysia yet.
The data only can be collected from previous study, journal, and article.

1.5 SIGNIFICANT STUDY

In Malaysia, rumble strip is applied along the road to alert drivers to slowdown ahead or
approaching danger spot. In this research student want to introduce asphaltophone to be
replaced with the previous rumble strip so that we have a better way to warn drivers plus make
it more interesting that could help drivers focus on driving. The musical road also a good
mechanism to act as skid resistance especially during wet weather. Most importantly to design
using right method so that any mistake that will ruin the music or tunes can be avoided when a
automobile across them.
 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

A vibration will be produced by the contact between the tyres and road to the air as wave and
will reaches the human’s ears and heard as sound element. However, the dull noise produced
from the long journeys has caused drivers to become tired and bored whereas it could cause to
drivers lost focus on journey and affect the safety of drivers. For that reason, it is important for
a civil engineer to study about function of sound produced by the friction between the tyre and
pavement to change from dull noise into a pleasing musical melody by according to certain
sequence and width of rubber strip. (Zhou et al., 2018).

2.2 TYPES OF MUSICAL ROAD AND THE PRODUCTION PRINCIPAL

2.2.1 Cutting groove-based musical roads.

The sound with melody is produced by the cutting groove as shown in Figure 1 according to
the different width implemented on the pavement, the music will be heard when the automobile
across them with recommended speed to generate continuous melody. According to Liu and
Xue (2011), there are two important elements to be pointed out from this installation which are
the width of groove will determine the pitch of sound and the other is the length section will
determine the sound duration. To generate a great melody of musical road, there are sequence
of step that need to consider. After the type of melody have been decided, the designer have to
compose the continuous tones according to the melody selected by using specific method to
determine the tones of ‘1,2,3….’. By designing the tones, a few attributes such as the frequency,
duration and speed of automobile can be determined. These two attributions which are
frequency and duration will take into account in production of groove-based musical road
whereas it will be separated into specific section that represent different tones (Zhou et al.,
2018).

Figure 1 Cutting groove-based musical roads: (a) elevation; (b) plan; (c) 3D view from(Zhou et al., 2018).
2.2.2 Raised Pavement Marker—Based Musical Road
This method is more detailed and specific whereas the tones of melody can be adjusted by
these attributes which are frequency, duration, strength, and timbre to produce the desire
melody. The melody of sound will be generated during the contact between the tyre and the
raised pavement marker as in Figure 2 with designation undulation structure. As Zhang (2013)
said, “multiple undulation structures with different attributes, deployed based on the musical
score, produce multiple sound with different attributes, and the combination produces a musical
melody”.

Figure 2 Raised pavement marker-based musical road: (a) elevation; (b) plan; (c) 3D view.

2.3 ASPHALTOPHONE PROFILE DESIGN

In determination of the frequency to produce the desire melody, method of Mathematica by the
concept of simple mass-spring-damper system, ( mx¨ + cẋ + kx = f(x) ) can be use design the
asphaltophone profile. The purpose of asphaltophone profile design is to determine the width
between the rubber strips to produce wavelength according to the tunes of desired melody. The
previous installation of rubber strip whereas the width between them is fixed will generate the
constant noise compared to the asphaltophone that have various width will generate kinds of
tones that is called musical road. The following is a simple mass-spring damper system:

mx¨ + cẋ + kx = f(x)

where are, m = 1.0, c = 0.1, k = 1.0 and f(x) = asphaltophone profile. (Perkins et al.,
2019)
 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY
3.1 FRAMEWORK

SAMPLING
- Study the data and information related to musical road such as types of musical road,
the designation of musical road and the benefits to road users.

SELECTION OF STUDY AREA

- Select the location, it can be at dangerous spot or any suitable location.

- Road near to residence area is not suitable to avoid disturbance to residents.

DETERMINATION THE PROFILE DESIGN

- Using concept of Mathematica: mx¨ + cx_ + kx = f(x)

where m = 1:0, c = 0:1, and k = 1:0, and f(x) is the asphaltophone’s profile
- The frequency tones will be determined of ‘1,2,3,4….’
- The duration of the corresponding tone is calculated.

CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL ROAD

- The road segment is divided into continuous section that represent unsimilar tone.

- To cut the groove, machine equipped with cutting head is used. The cutting heads
multiple 12-inch diameter diamond tipped cutting blade.

- Set the desired depth and spacing between the cutting on the machines.

- Walk the machine on the pavement.

 CHAPTER 4

EXPECTED RESULT AND CONCLUSION

4.1 EXPECTED RESULT

The outcomes that are expecting from this study is by the application of musical road
at the dangerous spot can help to reduce numbers of traffic accidents because musical road can
act as warning or awaking mechanism to the road users. Apart from that, asphaltophone helps
to increase skid resistance, reduce break length, and raise hydroplaning speed, thereby reducing
the risk of rainy-weather accidents (Anupam,2011, Ong and Fwa, 2006) Another expected
result to bring out from this study is musical road helps automobile users to control their speed.
This is because it is design with certain limit speed or lower speed to drives over them to
generate a great tone. Moreover, musical road would be an effective attraction to tourism sector
due to its unique as in Figure 3 as a Musical Road in Japan.

Figure 3 Musical Road in Japan

4.2 CONCLUSION

All in all, The Musical Roas is a good mechanism that need to be implanted in Malaysia’s road
as the concept is easy to understand but yet can be really useful and contribute to many
advantages. There are various of asphaltophone invented in overseas, each of them has their
own speciality but the best to recommend is groove-type musical road. It is because by
adjusting the depth and spacing of cutting groove it can control the pitch and rhythm to generate
melody based on the tune designation. The closer spacing between cutting groove, the higher
pitch produced and vice versa. The Musical Road is a great idea to be installed in Malaysia.
 CHAPTER 5
TIMELINE / GANTT CHART

5.1 GANTT CHART

Main Week 1 to Week Week Week Week Week Week

Activities 2 3 to 4 4 to 5 6 to 7 8 to 9 10 to 12 13 to 14
and Stages
Selection of
Research
Title
Introduction

Literature
Review

Methodology

Expected
Result

Conclusion

Complete
REFERENCES

1. Anupam, K. (2012). NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF VEHICLE HYDROPLANING AND SKID

RESISTANCE ON GROOVED PAVEMENT.

2. Martens, M. (1997). Deliverable D1 The Effects of Road Design on Speed Behaviour: A Literature
Review Public MASTER PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER THE
TRANSPORT RTD PROGRAMME OF THE 4th FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME The Effects of Road
Design on Speed Behaviour: A Literature Review.

3. Nazarko, J., Radziszewski, P., Dȩbkowska, K., Ejdys, J., Gudanowska, A., Halicka, K., Kilon, J.,
Kononiuk, A., Kowalski, K. J., Król, J. B., Nazarko, Ł., Sarnowski, M., & Vilutiene, T. (2015).
Foresight Study of Road Pavement Technologies. Procedia Engineering, 122, 129–136.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.10.016

4. Perkins, E., Tucker, A., & Arnold, T. (2019). ASPHALTOPHONE PROFILE DESIGN Acoustic metalens
View project Vibratory System Identification of 3D Printed Cantilever View project
ASPHALTOPHONE PROFILE DESIGN. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334707501

5. Sgier, L. (n.d.). Qualitative Data Analysis.

6. Zhang, C., Ehmann, K., & Li, Y. (2015). Analysis of cutting forces in the ultrasonic elliptical
vibration-assisted micro-groove turning process. International Journal of Advanced
Manufacturing Technology, 78(1–4), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-014-6628-3

7. Zheng, M., Tian, Y., Wang, X., & Peng, P. (2018). Research on grooved concrete pavement based
on the durability of its anti-skid performance. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 8(6).
https://doi.org/10.3390/app8060891

8. Zhou, M., Huang, D., Hu, Y., Zhou, L., & An, L. (2018). Musical roads: design, construction and
potential economic and safety benefits. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers -
Transport, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1680/jtran.18.00136
BY
SITI AISYAH BINTI ISMAIL
2019495606
EC2206C10
 Research Background
Asphaltophone or also known as musical road is a music
instrument made up of a road with specially designated surface
topology, the contact between tyre and patch, and a vehicle itself
To play the instrument, with particular speed the vehicle is driven
across the road and it will lead the surface topography of the road
causes the vehicle to vibrate at certain frequencies
Objectives
The objective to be reached in this research is to :
1. To design musical road using method such as,
Thomas Edison’s Phonograph to have better tune on
vibration.
2. To introduce musical road in Malaysia so that it
could overcome over-limit speed and help driver to
focus on driving.

Problem Statement
• The failure of designation asphaltophone whereas the unequally ridge gaps installation could
turn out wrong frequency and fail to produce music.
• Not many fascinating attracting on highway make the driver lost focus on driving and cause to
micro-sleep. It contribute to the rise of accidents on the road.
• Over-limit speed contribute to many cases of road accident even there are many effort by the
authority such as warning signboard and spot speed traffic conducted in order to control speed
of drivers on the road.
 Scope of Work and Limitation

In Malaysia, rumble strip is applied along the road to alert This study is to focus on designation of musical road by

drivers to slowdown ahead or approaching danger spot. In using method of Thomas Edison’s to determine the depth

this research student want to introduce asphaltophone to be and spacing of cutting groove. The failure to get the right

replaced with the previous rumble strip so that we have a depth and spacing ruin the melody. Another aim to be focus

better way to warn drivers plus make it more interesting is to introduce the musical road in Malaysia since in this

that could help drivers focus on driving. The musical road country has been use conventional rumble strip. The

also a good mechanism to act as skid resistance especially replacement of musical road will contribute many benefits

during wet weather. Most importantly to design using right to users which are for safety and social. However, this

method so that any mistake that will ruin the music or study has the limitation to collect primary data because

tunes can be avoided when a automobile across them. there are no sample or installation in Malaysia yet. The
data only can be collected from previous study, journal,
and article.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Types of musical road

1. Cutting groove-based musical roads.
- the different width implemented on the
pavement, the music will be heard when the
automobile across them with recommended
speed to generate continuous melody.
2. Raised Pavement Marker—Based Musical Road.
- This method is more detailed and specific whereas
the tones of melody can be adjusted by these
attributes which are frequency, duration, strength,
and timbre to produce the desire melody
Asphaltophone Profile Design

simple mass-spring damper system:

mx¨ + cẋ + kx = f(x)
where are, m = 1.0, c = 0.1, k = 1.0 and f(x) =
asphaltophone profile.

- The purpose of asphaltophone profile design is to

determine the width between the rubber strips to
produce wavelength according to the tunes of
desired melody
 Methodology
3. DETERMINATION THE PROFILE DESIGN

1. SAMPLING - Using concept of Mathematica: mx¨ + cx_ + kx = f(x)

where m = 1:0, c = 0:1, and k = 1:0, and f(x) is the asphaltophone’s
- Study the data and information related to musical road such as types
profile
of musical road, the designation of musical road and the benefits to
The frequency tones will be determined of ‘1,2,3,4….’
road users.
The duration of the corresponding tone is calculated.

2. SELECTION OF STUDY AREA

4. CONSTRUCTION OF MUSICAL ROAD
- Select the location, it can be at dangerous spot or any suitable The road segment is divided into continuous section that represent unsimilar tone.
location.
To cut the groove, machine equipped with cutting head is used. The cutting heads
- Road near to residence area is not suitable to avoid disturbance to multiple 12-inch diameter diamond tipped cutting blade.
residents.
Set the desired depth and spacing between the cutting on the machines.

Walk the machine on the pavement.