Browsing by Subject "Safety"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 50
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Benefit and Cost Analysis of the I-394 MnPASS Program
    (Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2012-02) Cao, Xinyu (Jason); Munnich, Lee; Liu, Henry; He, Xiaozheng (Sean); Xu, Zhiyi; Huang, Yan (Arthur)
    In this report, we explored the benefits and costs associated with converting the I-394 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. The study focused on the I-394 corridor, with a 10-year timeframe from 2006 to 2015. The benefits included travel time savings, safety benefits, and vehicle operating cost savings, and the costs consisted of capital costs and annual operating costs. Where applicable, the implementation of this study followed the benefit-cost analysis guidance of MnDOT. This study considered the benefits of both travel time savings and travel time reliability and the valuations of travel time savings and reliability were derived from econometric models for individual drivers’ behavior. HOT lane users choose the lanes because of travel time savings and/or the reliability of the lanes whereas previous studies considered only travel time savings and exclusively relied on standardized economic value of travel time. This study estimated safety benefits from crash reduction using the Empirical Bayes method. Previous studies scarcely considered the benefits resulting from the conversion of HOV lanes to HOT lanes. This study also showed that “naïve” approaches tended to overstate safety benefits, which highlighted the importance of using a sound methodology.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Bus Rapid Transit Technologies: A Virtual Mirror for Eliminating Vehicle Blind Zones: Volume 2
    (Center for Transportation Studies, 2005-01) Sergi, Michael Knoll; Donath, Max
    The FTA has identified the concept of Bus Rapid Transit as a means to increase the efficiency of transit operations while maintaining transit’s proven safety record. According to the FTA website www.fta.dot.gov, “BRT combines the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses. It can operate on exclusive transitways, HOV lanes, expressways, or ordinary streets. A BRT system combines intelligent transportation systems technology, priority for transit, cleaner and quieter vehicles, rapid and convenient fare collection, and integration with land use policy.” Because of the limited right-of -way available to build new the FTA has identified lane assist as an emerging technology, which the premise behind lane assist technology is to unique environments, such as narrow lanes. Lane assist technology will allow desired higher operating speeds while maintaining the safety of the passengers, BRT public. Vehicle and the motoring BRT vehicles to operate at the increase the safety of BRT vehicles as they operate in the more will enable deployment of BRT systems. (and possibly dedicated) lanes for BRT operations. The third objective will be to develop long term relationships with Metro Transit, the Federal Transit Administration, bus manufacturers, and technology providers to develop and implement strategies to improve transit operations. For instance, improving the ability of a bus driver to merge into and out of traffic is a high priority. Improved bus guidance technology will make bus only shoulders a viable alternative throughout the country. Progress towards meeting this objective has been made, but considerable effort will have to be expended to make lane assist technology ubiquitous throughout the transit industry.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Comparative Effectiveness And Safety Of P2Y12 Inhibitors In The Secondary Prophylaxis Of Acute Coronary Syndrome
    (2021-07) Kumar, Arun
    One of the major problems among patients suffering from coronary heart disease especially acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is recurrent cardiovascular events following revascularization. Therefore, treatment with P2Y12 receptor antagonists and aspirin, widely known as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), is strongly recommended as secondary prophylaxis following revascularization. DAPT has been shown to be effective at reducing recurrent events and rehospitalization. However, it has also been shown to increase the risk of major bleeding events. Clopidogrel, a P2Y12 inhibitor, has been utilized for ACS management since its approval in 1997 with two additional P2Y12 agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2009 (prasugrel) and 2011 (ticagrelor). Compared with clopidogrel these newer agents have more potent and predictable antiplatelet aggregation profiles, attributed to consistent pharmacokinetics and dynamics. However, the evidence related to their safety and efficacy/effectiveness is inconsistent. Moreover, the evidence from the studies conducted in the US comes from electronic health records that may not be generalizable to a broader US population. In this dissertation, we sought to assess the comparative effectiveness and safety of different P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with ACS following revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using commercial claims and encounters (CCAE) and Medicare Supplement (MDCR) data samples of the MarketScan database that may represent a broader US population In the first aim of this dissertation, we looked at the treatment patterns of different P2Y12 inhibitors among patients with coronary heart disease. Recommendations for antiplatelet treatment with P2Y12 agents after revascularization vary across types of revascularization i.e., fibrinolysis, PCI, or coronary artery bypass grafting, and across different clinical characteristics. Aim 1 examined patterns of P2Y12 inhibitor utilization across a number of important characteristics including high bleeding risk, history of stroke/trans-ischemic attack, and associated comorbidities. Our results show that in the year 2018, ticagrelor became the most prescribed drug among patients below age 65 years compared to clopidogrel and prasugrel. We also observed an increased utilization of ticagrelor among patients managed with PCI. However, regardless of age, clopidogrel was the most commonly used drug in patients revascularized using coronary artery bypass graft. Clopidogrel use was more common than other P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with higher comorbid indices, a history of stroke/trans ischemic attacks, and in patients with a high risk of bleeding. In the second and third aims, we assessed the effectiveness and safety of different P2Y12 inhibitors among ACS patients undergoing PCI respectively. Our results showed no difference in the primary effectiveness outcome, defined as any cardiovascular event at 30 days and 180 days observation between propensity score (PS) matched treatment cohorts in our combined CCAE and MDCR population. However, in the MDCR sample, we saw an 84% higher risk of hospitalization due to composite cardiovascular outcome in the female population associated with prasugrel compared to ticagrelor in 180 days outcome using a time to event analysis with Cox-regression hazard models. Additionally, in the CCAE sample, those who were managed with bare-metal stents (BMS) stent had a 43% lower risk of hospitalization due to composite cardiovascular outcome when prescribed prasugrel compared to ticagrelor at 180 days. We did not find any difference in hospitalizations due to composite major bleeding identified using the Cunningham algorithm in all of the PS matched comparisons across all the groups. However, we found a significant 44% increased risk of hospitalization because of major bleeding with prasugrel compared to ticagrelor at 180 days. This study provides useful information related to coronary heart disease management and insight into how newer agents are being utilized in a real-world US population. We show a significant increase in the use of ticagrelor in younger populations undergoing a PCI. Multiple predictors of P2Y12 inhibitor use were studied. Although antiplatelet prescription guidelines were generally followed, the use of prasugrel among patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack was also observed which is contraindicated and may be worth additional investigation. Differences in the use of P2Y12 inhibitors across different patient clinical characteristics may have important policy implications and help to guide appropriate prescribing. Additionally, we observed that the female population benefited more from newer P2Y12 use in our study. Given the differential mechanism of sex on ACS prognosis, future studies are warranted to confirm this finding.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Deployment of a Snowplow Driver-Assist System
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2023-06) Davis, Brian; Schwieters, Katelyn; Morris, Nichole L.; Donath, Max
    Snowplow operators are often tasked with clearing snow from roadways under challenging conditions. One such situation is low visibility due to falling or blowing snow that makes it difficult to navigate, stay centered in the lane, and identify upcoming hazards. To support snowplow operators working in these conditions, University of Minnesota researchers developed a snowplow driver-assist system that provides the operator with visual and auditory information that is suitable for low-visibility situations. A lane-guidance system uses high-accuracy Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and maps of the roadway to provide information to drivers about their lateral positions. A forward-obstacle-detection system uses forward-facing radar to detect potential hazards in the roadway. The design of the system, and in particular its interface, is guided by extensive user testing to ensure the system is easy to understand, easy to use, and well liked among its users. The system was deployed in two phases over the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 winter seasons. In total, nine systems were deployed on snowplows across Minnesota, four in the first winter season and an additional five in the second. Participating truck stations represented all eight MnDOT districts as well as Dakota County. Over the course of the deployment, additional user feedback was collected to identify system strengths and areas for improvement. The system was found to be a cost-effective addition to snowplows that increase driver safety, reduce plow downtime, and increase driver efficacy for plowing operations, thus providing support to operators working in demanding, low-visibility conditions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Detection of Water and Ice on Bridge Structures by AC Impedance and Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy Phase I
    (University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, 2009-04) Evans, John F.
    We have carried out a preliminary evaluation of two approaches to low-cost sensing systems for monitoring ice and water on bridge deck surfaces. These sensing systems are based on the measurement of impedance of the sensor in contact with or close proximity to ice, water or aqueous solutions of deicing chemicals. Impedance analysis at lower frequencies allows for the determination of the presence of solutions of deicing electrolyte (a sort of “conductivity measurement"), while high frequency dielectric relaxation using time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes the physical state of precipitation and deicing chemicals on the deck or road surface (via dielectric relaxation). While we originally expected that both measurements would be required to reliably determine the condition of a bridge deck surface with regard to the presence of frozen water or deicing solutions, we have found that the TDR approach is adequate for this task. This suggests that a significant reduction in both the cost of development of practicable sensors and supporting software/electronics can be realized, as well as the ultimate cost of deploying a system based on TDR alone can be realized. As such, TDR becomes the focus for the next phase of development of these sensors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Detection of Water and Ice on Bridge Structures by AC Impedance and Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy Phase II
    (Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, 2013-08) Evans, John F.
    During Phase I of this project, we have carried out preliminary evaluation of a novel approach to low-cost sensing systems for monitoring ice, water and deicing solutions on road bridge deck surfaces. Our initial approaches included the techniques of alternating current impedance and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of responses from simple passive metal sensors. These preliminary results indicated that the second approach of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy was far more promising. Furthermore, likely implementations would be significantly more economical using lower-cost electronics modules connected to passive sensors. Our choice for implementation of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy is based on the measurement of high-frequency components of pulse waveforms reflected from the sensor and using time domain reflectometry (TDR). The information content of these waveforms is strongly influenced by the dielectric properties of the media of interest (ice, water or aqueous solutions of deicing chemicals) in contact with or in close proximity (microns) with passive metal conductors, which comprise the sensor. These high-frequency dielectric relaxation measurements using TDR probe the physical state of precipitation and deicing chemicals on the deck or road surface by the detailed examination of the frequency response waveforms returned after the application of a fast rise-time excitation pulse. Signal processing of the acquired waveforms involves taking the derivative of the response followed by digital filtering and subsequent wavelet analysis to emphasize and distinguished low vs high frequency components of the waveforms reflected from the sensors. Determination of the state and nature of the precipitation, solutions or air in contact with a given sensor is made on a statistical basis via correlation of responses to calibration waveforms collected under known conditions for a given sensor. The software to carry out these signal processing tasks in implemented using LabVIEW.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Detection of Water and Ice on Bridge Structures by AC Impedance and Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy, Phases III and IV: Continued Field Testing and Refinement of Novel Water and Ice Sensor Systems on Bridge Decks
    (Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, 2013-08) Evans, John F.
    During Phases III and IV of this project it was determined that the physical attributes of the prototypes developed during the earlier work was inappropriate for bridge deck installations. Mn/DOT engineers required that they be planar and not require drainage through the deck. As RWIS platforms had been widely deployed on decks throughout the state, we decided to adhere to the RWIS geometric format. This necessitated a significant re-engineering of the sensor hardware before installation and testing at remote bridge sites could proceed. To that end extensive development of a robust sensor meeting these requirements was developed and tested without compromise to the earlier performance results. In large part the maintenance of performance was achieved through a significant modification of the software to include Wavelet analysis of the raw data in the determination of surface state of the sensor platform (ice vs air vs water vs electrolyte present on the sensing electrode structure). The combined regression results for raw TDR responses treated by three analysis procedures are shown to give rise to very reliable results. Unfortunately, remote field testing of sensors installed on bridge decks was not accomplished.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effectiveness of Marketing Campaigns for Grade Crossing Safety
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 1998-01) Stackhouse, Stirling
    This project examined grade crossing safety and human factors through a variety of research methods: focus groups, a telephone survey, a literature review, and an analysis based on a new approach by Neil Lerner. Learner notes that drivers should not be treated as reckless, inattentive speeders. Instead, they should be considered decision makers who use information of limited quantity and quality against a background of knowledge shaped primarily by their experience of trains rarely appearing when they cross. Researchers found no evidence that additional education programs or public awareness campaigns had any lasting effect on the frequency of grade crossing accidents. Researchers also found no evidence suggesting that bigger or brighter or other modifications of traditional signs or signals led to favorable changes in drivers' behaviors at grade crossings. The report concludes that using available sensor-processor-message display technology, configured in a way to promote improved driver decision making, offers the potential for grade crossing accident reduction. Researchers recommend additional studies to investigate this potential for grade crossing accident reduction.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Expanding Landowner Adoption of Snow Control Measures Through a Better Understanding of Landowner Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-12) Current, Dean; Motschke, Collin; Serra, Airton Jr.; Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, Diomy
    Previous research demonstrated the ability of snow fences to significantly lower both public and private costs related to the control of blowing and drifting snow. Follow-up research specifically addressed the knowledge of MnDOT staff and attitudes and practices related to the promotion and implementation of snow control measures. These efforts identified a need for a better understanding of landowners' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to snow control measures to develop more effective outreach and foster the adoption of snow control measures. We identified four regions of the state with highway corridors with snow problems. In each region, we carried out listening sessions with landowners and MnDOT personnel, and based on those sessions while applying the KAP (knowledge, attitudes and practices) methodology, we designed a landowner survey to explore landowner knowledge, attitudes and practices related to snow problems and the willingness of landowners to implement snow fences to address the problems. The survey was carried out once prior to an outreach effort and then again after the outreach effort to measure any changes in landowner knowledge, attitudes and practices resulting from the effort. We found that landowners were generally not aware of MnDOT's program to address snow problems and were able to identify constraints to adoption as well as incentives that might be required to promote adoption. We also identified the most acceptable channels for outreach to landowners as well as ways to better structure the MnDOT program to address constraints identified by landowners and provide the assistance and incentives needed to promote greater adoption.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Factors Influencing Policy and Political Leadership in Improving Roadway Safety
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2018-03) Center for Transportation Studies
    This study built on recent work to examine further the factors influencing policy and political leadership in adopting evidence-based policy countermeasures and integrated performance-based approaches such as Toward Zero Death (TZD) to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries. Specifically, this study sought to increase understanding of the policy context for safety and how special interest group influence at the state and local level plays a part in roadway safety policy promotion and adoption. The study focused on six states in the Midwest – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin – and engaged legislators, state agency officials, and special interest stakeholders to better understand the challenges and opportunities for improving roadway safety through public policy. The study expanded on an assessment tool applied to quantifying policy countermeasure adoption in each of the six study states and created a similar tool for gauging special interest group activity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Force reflecting pneumatic hand tools.
    (2009-12) Johnson, Peter Knox
    Pneumatic hand tools have been used for many decades. These tools help users accomplish tasks with much less effort than is required with manual tools. However, one significant drawback of pneumatic tools compared with manual hand tools is that the user is disconnected from the output forces the tool is creating. This has various safety and functionality issues. A pair of pneumatic powered loppers was developed to demonstrate the potential of force-multiplying, pneumatically powered hand tools with haptic control. A purely mechanical control system was tested and found to provide proportional feedback over the range of operating conditions. The work required to cut through different sizes of dowels and branches was also calculated and tested against the prototype to determine the amount of compressed air needed to operate the loppers. It was determined that the loppers could have an onboard, high pressure tank that could provide enough energy for average homeowner use. For commercial use a larger external tank would be required.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Gender Mainstreaming in City Comprehensive Plans, A Transportation Focus
    (2020-04-16) McDonnell, Ania
    Gender mainstreaming is an effective tool to shape policies and planning in order to equally benefit all genders. This paper addresses gender mainstreaming practices with transportation policies, specifically with city comprehensive plans. Transportation is necessary for individual mobility, access, and economic engagement with society. Due to the economic disparities among groups of people, low-income people and women are often faced with different spatial and time mobility. Transportation policy is driving the planning process directly on the local level, through city comprehensive plans, specifically in the transportation section. City comprehensive plans are a broad and general document that set the vision for the city planners and policy makers for the next 20 years. This paper analyzes four city comprehensive plants transportation section alongside existing gender disparities in transportation to address whether the plans are serving the needs of all people and the existing disparities in the transportation system. Gender and transportation are overlooked in the present because there are no measures, guidance, or participation of users in the planning of the document or the systems in place. This paper goes beyond just quantifying gender and gender disparities, by utilizing a mixed-method approach to understand the needs to create a more equitable and inclusive system.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Harrison Neighborhood Crime and Safety Data.
    (2002) Minneapolis Neighborhood Information System
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    How Do Complete Streets Matter for Communities? The Case of Richfield, Minnesota
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2020-07) Phinney, Robin; Fonseca, Camila; Bean, Nathan; Zhao, Jerry Zhirong
    Municipalities across Minnesota have turned to Complete Streets in an attempt to develop more usable roads for their residents. This report investigates how Complete Streets are reshaping one Minnesota community. In 2013, Richfield, a suburb of Minneapolis, enacted a particularly innovative Complete Streets policy. Known locally as "Richfield Sweet Streets," the program has led to the reconstruction of several major roads across the city. Richfield's Sweet Streets program is unique in that it incorporates a modal hierarchy in which users are prioritized differently in road redesign and reconstruction. It relies on extensive community engagement, aiming to improve outcomes for individuals and the community as a whole. This research presents a baseline analysis of how Richfield's Sweet Streets projects are affecting the local community, while identifying a set of methods and measures for future research. The analysis draws on multiple sources of data to better understand the nature and consequences of Richfield's Sweet Streets for user experience and livability, economic vitality, transportation and safety, and individual and community health. The research aims to illustrate Richfield's innovative approach to transforming its transportation infrastructure while providing a roadmap for future analyses of the impacts of Richfield's Sweet Streets.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Identifying and Reconciling Stakeholder Perspectives in Deploying Automated Speed Enforcement
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2017-05) Peterson, Colleen; Douma, Frank; Morris, Nichole L.
    Speeding is a public-health crisis, making up approximately a third of roadway deaths each year in the United States. One countermeasure with clearly documented efficacy to reduce speed is automated speed enforcement (ASE). Public acceptance of ASE, however, has been marginal with many drivers calling into question its need and legality. This project used surveys and interviews to better understand public rejection of ASE and to strategically provide individualized information to determine whether opinions can be shifted toward a more favorable view of ASE. Statistically significant movement on ASE opinion was achieved after respondents engaged with a tailored survey addressing their particular ASE concerns. Those who changed their opinion were more engaged (e.g., considered the opposite of their current stance more fully) and were persuaded by evidence of safety benefits resulting from reduced speeds and effective speed reduction with ASE deployment.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The impact of street characteristics on older pedestrians’ perceived safety in Shanghai, China
    (Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2020) Wu, Hao; Zhang, Zhaoxi; Chen, Yong; Jiao, Junfeng
    Land-use patterns and rapid urban sprawl greatly influence older adults’ mobility in China. Older pedestrians’ safety issues are crucial because these people are more frequently injured in traffic accidents. This research aims to investigate what street characteristics influence perceived safety among older pedestrians in Shanghai, China. A mix of research methods containing both quantitative and qualitative analyses were employed. The researchers recruited 68 elderly urban dwellers who each agreed to take a perceived safety survey using 39 simulated streetscape images that contained 12 street characteristics extracted from four sectional zones of streets. Ordinal logit regression was performed to investigate the impact of street characteristics on older pedestrians’ perceived safety. A semi-structured, in-depth interview was conducted with 8 out of the 68 participants. It was found that the street interface type, elevation differences, footpath width, paver directions, isolation facility type, and vehicle traffic all affected pedestrians’ perceived safety after adjusting for individual demographic attributes and the physical limitations of the participants. Understanding the street characteristics related to perceived safety will contribute to making more inclusive and walkable cities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Impacts of Minnesota’s Primary Seat Belt Law
    (Center for Excellence in Rural Safety, University of Minnesota, 2012-03) Douma, Frank; Tilahun, Nebiyou
    In the spring of 2009, the Minnesota Legislature changed the state’s seat belt law, making not wearing a seat belt a “primary” offense, where officers can ticket drivers for not wearing a seat belt even if no other traffic law is broken. Using data from the Minnesota Crash Records Database provided by the Department of Public Safety, the study utilized two methods of analysis, first comparing actual crash data from July 2009 – June 2011 to expected data based upon trends from July 2004 - June 2009, and second, comparing the expected post law change injury types estimated from the July 2006 – June 2009 crash data to the actual post primary crash data from July 2009 through June 2011. Results of seat belt use and public opinion surveys were also reviewed. This study estimates that there have been 68 - 92 fewer fatalities from motor vehicle crashes, and 320 - 550 fewer serious injuries since the primary seat belt law went into effect. This improved safety record translates into at least $45 million in avoided hospital charges, including a direct savings of nearly $10 million or more tax dollars that would have paid for expenses charged to government insurers. The primary seat belt law has enjoyed the support of over 70% of all Minnesotans and observed use of seat belts statewide has risen from 86.7% in 2008 to an alltime high of 92.7% in 2011.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Roadway Maintenance Phase I: Developing a Robotic Roadway Message Painter Prototype
    (Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2012-05) Rosandich, Ryan G.
    A large-scale prototype for a robotic roadway message painter was developed, built, and tested. The system is a gantry-style robot capable of painting a four-by-eight-foot area and is based on off-the-shelf linear motion components, readily available motion control hardware, and commercial operator interface software. The system is mounted on a modified trailer that can be manually rolled around for positioning or towed behind a vehicle. The system is equipped with a standard automatic paint head and airless paint pump. Software was developed for the system that enables it to paint a variety of characters and symbols on the roadway. An operator interface was also developed that allows an operator to easily select the painting operation to be conducted and to monitor and control the actual painting process. The software resides in a laptop computer that communicates with the robotic painting system in real-time using a dedicated Ethernet connection. The system was used to determine the feasibility of painting with or without stencils and to determine many design parameters for the eventual development of a commercially viable system for painting symbols and messages on roadways. It is expected that the system will eventually enable states, counties, and municipalities to improve the safety, productivity, and flexibility of their pavement marking operations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Roadway Maintenance Phase II: Developing a Vision Guidance System for the Robotic Roadway Message Painter
    (Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2013-02) Rosandich, Ryan G.
    Repainting existing roadway markings (turn arrows, STOP messages, railroad crossings, etc.) is an important task for transportation maintenance organizations. MnDOT estimates that over 75% of symbol and message painting is the repainting of existing markings. It would be extremely valuable for an automated painting system to have a vision guidance capability whereby an existing mark could be repainted accurately with little operator input. In this project a vision system was developed that is capable of identifying existing painted pavement markings and determining their dimensions, location, and orientation. Techniques were also developed whereby this information could be used to determine the location of the marking in the workspace of a painting robot to enable it to accurately repaint the marking. The vehicle-mounted robotic painter is still being built and tested, so final test results will not be available until the vision system can be completely integrated with the painter, and the two can be tested together. The accuracy of the projection produced using the techniques developed in this project would suggest that the final system will be capable of repainting pavement markings almost exactly where they appear on the roadway. Expected benefits of the deployment of a vision-guided robotic painting device include improved operator safety, improved productivity, and improved flexibility in roadway marking and repainting operations. Eventual users of a device using this technology could be city, county, state, and federal government agencies and private companies or contractors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Influence of Autonomous and Partially Autonomous Vehicles on Minnesota Roads
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2023-05) Espindola, Andre; Alexander, Lee; Rajamani, Rajesh
    This project focuses on experimental tests of the performance characteristics of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on highways and local roads in Minnesota. The project provides detailed data characterizing AV performance, which in turn can be used to inform the transportation community on implications for infrastructure maintenance, winter road maintenance, work zone guidelines, safety, and traffic capacity. The experimental work presented here makes use of a new autonomous vehicle purchased by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota. The key aspects of the autonomous functions of the vehicle studied in this project include winter performance and implications for road maintenance, characterization of the driving performance of the AV and its likely influence on safety, traffic flow and fuel economy, and the ability of the AV to handle work zones and the implications on changes needed to the guidelines for work zones. The project documents the major challenges and obstacles ahead in the way of true autonomy on Minnesota roads, but also outlines further areas for research with which it will be possible to facilitate the improvement of the capabilities of autonomous vehicles in Minnesota in the future.