Creating a Situation-aware Sensing Environment for Cyclists: An Innovative and Cost-effective Smartphone-based Approach
This research will assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a Biker Assistance System (BAS) in different roadway contexts using a prototype mobile application. The application would make use of smartphones’ onboard speaker and microphones to monitor potential hazards and help bicyclists avoid crashes. The application will detect potential hazards by emitting an imperceptible sound and interpreting its reverberations, thus becoming a “mini-sonar system.” When certain potential hazards are detected, the smartphone will alert bicyclists of the hazard. This new approach to preventing bicycle crashes has yet to be developed or tested to the researchers’ knowledge. This project has four components. First, the project team proposes to analyze existing crash data sources to understand the types of crashes that can be prevented or mitigated with BAS. Second, the team proposes the development of the BAS for at least two hazardous scenarios – right turning vehicle detection and front/overtaking vehicle nearing. Additional scenarios may be added based on the crash data assessment. Third, a bike simulator study will be conducted to determine effective alerts for selected hazards. Based on the simulator study outcomes, a list of multi-modular alerts will be recommended which can be easily understood and interpreted by cyclists under both day and night lights. These alerts will be included in the BAS prototype. Finally, the project team proposes testing the efficacy of BAS in these scenarios via physical testing and naturalistic observation using an instrumented bicycle. This naturalistic database will be used to identify the critical cyclists-vehicle interaction regions and scenarios. Future research will expand the sensing capacity to function in different crash scenarios, investigate cyclists’ interactions with different road users, and provide cyclists with feedback to avoid different types of on-road hazards.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $302084
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Contract Numbers:
69A3551747134
CTEDD 021-08
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Sponsor Organizations:
Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions & Dollars (CTEDD)
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX United States 76019University of Texas at Arlington
Box 19308
Arlington, TX United States 76019-0308Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions & Dollars (CTEDD)
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX United States 76019University of Texas at Arlington
Box 19308
Arlington, TX United States 76019-0308 -
Performing Organizations:
University of Texas at Arlington
Box 19308
Arlington, TX United States 76019-0308Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
505 10th Street, Suite 213
Atlanta, GA United States 30332 -
Principal Investigators:
Deb, Shuchisnigdha
Li, Ming
Watkins, Kari
- Start Date: 20210101
- Expected Completion Date: 20220531
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alertness; Bicycle travel; Cost effectiveness; Crash analysis; Crash data; Cyclists; Feasibility analysis; Highway safety; Innovation; Microphones; Monitoring; Passing; Prototypes; Right turns; Sensors; Smartphones; Visual perception
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01759647
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Center for Transportation Equity, Decisions & Dollars (CTEDD)
- Contract Numbers: 69A3551747134, CTEDD 021-08
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Dec 5 2020 6:16PM