Performance evaluation framework of Wyoming connected vehicle pilot deployment program: summary of Phase 2 pre-deployment efforts and lessons learned

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to present a summary of the performance measurement and evaluation plan of the Wyoming connected vehicle (CV) Pilot Deployment Program (WYDOT Pilot). Design/methodology/approach This paper identified 21 specific performance measures as well as approaches to measure the benefits of the WYDOT Pilot. An overview of the expected challenges that might introduce confounding factors to the evaluation effort was outlined in the performance management plan to guide the collection of system performance data. Findings This paper presented the data collection approaches and analytical methods that have been established for the real-life deployment of the WYDOT CV applications. Five methodologies for assessing 21 specific performance measures contained within eight performance categories for the operational and safety-related aspects. Analyses were conducted on data collected during the baseline period, and pre-deployment conditions were established for 1 performance measures. Additionally, microsimulation modeling was recommended to aid in evaluating the mobility and safety benefits of the WYDOT CV system, particularly when evaluating system performance under various CV penetration rates and/or CV strategies. Practical implications The proposed performance evaluation framework can guide other researchers and practitioners identifying the best performance measures and evaluation methodologies when conducting similar research activities. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research that develops performance measures and evaluation plan for low-volume rural freeway CV system under adverse weather conditions. This paper raised some early insights into how CV technology might achieve the goal of improving safety and mobility and has the potential to guide similar research activities conducted by other agencies.

Nonparametric Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines Models for Investigating Lane-Changing Gap Acceptance Behavior Utilizing Strategic Highway Research Program 2 Naturalistic Driving Data

“…Additionally, another complementary Roadway Information Database (RID) was utilized that contains dataset from the SHRP2 mobile data collection project and other existing dataset from public and private sources ( 23 ). Note that these unprecedented datasets have been used in many studies to investigate driver behavior in addition to traffic safety and operations ( 24 – 30 ).…”

Assessment of Drivers’ Perceptions of Connected Vehicle–Human Machine Interface for Driving Under Adverse Weather Conditions: Preliminary Findings From Wyoming

“…The Wyoming CV applications were classified into five categories based on their function and communication technologies (Gopalakrishna et al, 2016): category 1: forward collision warning (FCW), category 2: distress notification (DN), category 3: situational awareness (SA), category 4: work zone warnings (WZW), and category 5: spot weather impact warning (SWIW). A detailed illustration of the existing communication and traffic control devices along the Wyoming I-80 corridor and the DSRC locations that are deployed on the corridor can be found in Ahmed et al (2019a).…”

Safety Performance Assessment of Connected Vehicles in Mitigating the Risk of Secondary Crashes: A Driving Simulator Study

“…In this regard, various CV applications, by leveraging advisory/warning messages transmitted in the CV environment, can affect driving behaviors and increase drivers’ situational awareness ( 36 – 42 ). Several studies have summarized the effects of various CV applications on safety enhancement on the I-80 corridor, including forward collision warnings (FCWs), weather and road surface traveler information messages (TIMs), and DNs ( 43 – 51 ). FCWs inform CV drivers about impending collisions, which can directly enhance drivers’ situational awareness and help them to avoid front-to-rear vehicle collisions in the forward path of travel.…”

“…Moreover, DNs can reduce the time required for roadway clearance, which, in turn, would reduce the risk of SCs. CVs can communicate a distressed status when the vehicle’s sensors detect an event that might require assistance from the emergency services, or when the vehicle operator manually initiates a distressed status ( 44 ). With the lack of real-life CV data, several of the previous studies have investigated the safety performance of CVs using simulation-based analysis, either traffic simulations or DS experiments ( 55 ).…”