Graffiti has a negative impact on infrastructure worldwide and affects the environment in many ways. With budgets for new infrastructure and urban redevelopment projects shrinking every day, it’s critical that infrastructure projects be more efficient, cost effective and sustainable.

Along with the negative effects on the environment, graffiti costs taxpayers and private property owners between $10 - 12 billion dollars per year with no relief in sight.

To effectively deal with the problems caused by graffiti a new approach to protecting our infrastructure investments is required. The utilization of Counter Graffiti Design and Counter Graffiti Technology. Counter Graffiti Design is the integration of Counter Graffiti Technology into “at risk” infrastructure projects. The purpose of Graffiti Preventive Design is to create value and sustainability for our communities in the areas of cost savings, sound attenuation, public safety, aesthetics and graffiti prevention. This is achieved by an engineered solution that provides a maintenance free alternative to the traditional methods of graffiti removal: Painting over the affected area, pressure washing or applying coatings that still require maintenance crews to physically remove the graffiti.

Counter Graffiti Technology is comprised of Low Observable Technology (Stealth), an artistic color scheme and a three dimensional surface integrated into a panel system that is mounted directly or indirectly to the affected surface. By changing the traditional surface areas of sound walls, trestles and overpasses (prime targets for graffitists) to a three dimensional surface, this new technology denies the graffitist a flat (two dimensional) surface area upon which to paint. This is possible because the spray pattern of the paint is scattered and absorbed by the panel system with no visible signs of graffiti.    

In our goal of achieving a greater degree of sustainability in our infrastructure projects, an effective engineered solution to graffiti and its negative effects on our communities must be at the center of our planning efforts.

We must remember that design is a powerful agent for change. Through a process that involves problem-solving and an in-depth understanding of human wants and needs, present and future, good design can bring technological, scientific and social revolutions to life.

Mark Lee, CPP

Chief Executive Officer

Celo Systems, LLC

www.celosystems.com