The Use of High-Fidelity Real-Time Driving Simulators for Geometric Design
Thomas M. Granda, Gregory Davis, Vaughan W. Inman, John A. Molino · 2011
Roadway geometrics play an important role in road safety and mobility. The success or failure of a geometric design is directly related to whether or not the physical manifestation of the design elicits the appropriate responses from the driver. So roadways must be designed with the driver in mind. Driving simulators can play an important role in helping roadway engineers design and evaluate alternative roadway configurations that conform to driver expectations and maximize the probability that drivers react appropriately. This is especially true in the case of unique roadways that exist only in the design or early development stage. To help define the parameters of driving simulators that are used for geometric research, the physical and functional requirements of such driving simulators are discussed in terms of mechanical set-up, computer hardware and software requirements, and rendition of visual imagery. This is followed by a number of applied research examples in a variety of geometric areas such as intersections and interchanges, geometric design safety measure evaluations, countermeasures to problematic geometric elements, visibility, and speed management. These research examples are followed by a discussion of selected issues related to the use of driving simulators for evaluating highway geometrics. These examples include advantages and disadvantages of driving simulators, validation of driving simulators, and simulator sickness.