In current highway transportation systems pavement markings guide vehicles along roads. A new system using metallic objects and electromagnetic sensing equipment would enable vehicles to better navigate roads. Metallic objects are placed on roadway surfaces in a similar fashion of existing pavement markings. The metallic objects are patterned to develop a code of information that is detectable using electromagnetic fields. When these fields are detected, the vehicles can be fully or semi-autonomously guided using the information communicated by the metallic filings.