Directeur de l'Unité de Recherche Modélisation, Simulation et Simulateurs de conduite INRETS - MSIS

The ability to capture actual road conditions in an automated and cost-effective manner has increasedsignificantly with advances in sensor technologies, computer storage and data processing capabilities, andanalysis techniques. Likewise, the ability to utilize this information in a simulated road environment to (1)conduct research with human subjects regarding actual and proposed road designs, (2) enable practitioners toreview and enhance road designs, and (3) assist with the visualization of innovative road designs to thegeneral public, has become possible. This paper presents the latest results of work at the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) TurnerFairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA on creation and use of actual road simulations. First, thepaper reports on the development of a vehicle and system, called the Digital Highway Measurement (DHM)System that utilizes multiple sensor technologies and computer analysis capabilities to collect raw data onhighway geometry, road and roadside features and conditions, signage/markings, and pavement surfaceconditions. Data is then processes into readily useable electronic data files. The vehicle captures the datawhile operating at highway speeds and without special traffic control. [1] Previously, data collection ofcomplete roadway geometry has been prohibitively expensive or highly inaccurate or inconsistent whenproduced from azimuth data collection by a vehicle traversing a roadway. [2] The level of data accuracy andrepeatability on the DHM System is remarkable from a mobile platform. Post-processed road geometryinformation is imported into FHWA’s Highway Driving Simulator; roadside features are added to create areal-life simulation of the road. The paper contains examples of road data captured for a two-lane rural road; use of the data to simulate theroad with altered pavement markings; and then tests conducted in the simulator to determine effects onspeeds and vehicle lane position from the pavement marking modifications. To validate the simulationresults, a comparison was then made of the driving performance of subjects who drove the simulated roadwith another set of subjects who drove the actual road under the same range of pavement markingsmodifications. [3] Finally, the paper presents another application of the FWHA Highway Driving Simulator to assist highwayengineers in the design of an entirely new interchange design (diverging diamond) in the United States. Thissimulation was created using the computer aided design (CAD) files of the new interchange, as well asroadway and roadside features added to the simulation. [4] Highway design engineers drove the simulation of the interchange to evaluate and modify their initial design.In addition, the video of the simulation was then made available to the State transportation department to usein its public hearing process to brief and convince private citizens of the value of the new design. Finally, International Conference RSS 2007 7 – 9 November 2007 Rome, Italy 16 -human subject tests were conducted on that road design in the simulator for both daytime and night timeconditions. Results of these tests were used to recommend further modifications to the interchange toimprove drivers’ understanding of the design. [5]