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Human-centered geometric design of roads using an autonomous vehicle problem

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Conference

Middle Atlantic ASEE Section Spring 2021 Conference

Location

Virtual

Publication Date

April 9, 2021

Start Date

April 9, 2021

End Date

April 10, 2021

Page Count

19

DOI

10.18260/1-2--36302

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/36302

Download Count

435

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Paper Authors

biography

Sushobhan Sen University of Pittsburgh

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Dr. Sen is a postdoctoral research associate in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He received his PhD in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2019, where he was the instructor of record for a senior design class for two semesters and a teaching assistant in various classes for four. He earned two certificates in teaching pedagogy and scholarship, as well a fellowship to train future faculty members. His research interests include developing sustainable cities by mitigating heat pollution and improving roadway infrastructure through advanced computational techniques.

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biography

Jeffery R Roesler University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Associate Head and Director of Graduate Studies and Research

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Abstract

Geometric design of roads is a key component of an undergraduate civil engineering curriculum. At the University of Illinois, geometric design is taught in a senior design class for upperclassmen and new graduate students. In order to encourage critical analysis of design standards, especially human-related factors, a new design project was implemented that incorporates Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). Working in multi-disciplinary teams, students were required to develop new geometric design standards for fully autonomous AVs together with human cyclists on a principal arterial in Puerto Rico. The class was given an introductory lecture on AVs, after which they were required to review the literature, modify existing standards, and implement the findings into their roadway designs. The teams evaluated the human-related aspects of design by re-considering multiple geometric design parameters for AVs, as well as interaction between AVs and cyclists. All teams recommending that lane width, perception reaction time, and stopping sight distance criteria be modified, while no team recommended that speed limit and maximum rate of superelevation be modified. All teams recommended that cyclists be separated from AV lanes, with most teams recommending a shared shoulder. During peer assessment, students also expressed strong satisfaction with their teams while working on this futuristic roadway problem.

Sen, S., & Roesler, J. R. (2021, April), Human-centered geometric design of roads using an autonomous vehicle problem Paper presented at Middle Atlantic ASEE Section Spring 2021 Conference, Virtual . 10.18260/1-2--36302

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