Assessment of Autonomous Vehicle Sharing for Evacuation and Disaster Relief

Description: This research project begins a new line of inquiry that explores how privately-owned autonomous vehicles may be used in pre-impact assisted evacuation and post-impact relief distribution. The research team starts by investigating whether the public in South Carolina would be willing to share their future autonomous vehicle’s time to assist with evacuation and post-impact relief distribution, in the case where trucks are unable to complete a route. Such a situation may arise when there is some infrastructure damage and height or weight limits are a concern for the operational routes, but it is still safe to use smaller vehicles. The team also identifies and explores the public’s concerns and potential barriers and limits to sharing. This initial exploration will help identify the feasibility of a related future system. Intellectual Merit: The overall goal of this project is to help prepare transportation and emergency management agencies for the near future when autonomous vehicles are more prevalent. Broader Impacts: if such a system were developed, the government’s cost of assisted evacuation could be lowered and humanitarian relief distribution could also be facilitated. Benefits to society include additional resources for evacuation and obtaining relief supplies and active citizen engagement in helping their “neighbors.” Technology Transfer Plan: The project findings will be disseminated through a webinar for practitioners, the research community, and the public.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $172863
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747117

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Clemson University

  216 Lowry Hall
  Clemson, SC, SC  United States  29634

  University of South Carolina, Columbia

  502 Byrnes Building
  Columbia, SC  United States  29208
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility

  Clemson University
  Clemson, SC  United States  29634
• Project Managers:

  Murray-Tuite, Pamela

• Performing Organizations:

  Clemson University

  216 Lowry Hall
  Clemson, SC, SC  United States  29634

  University of South Carolina, Columbia

  502 Byrnes Building
  Columbia, SC  United States  29208

  Benedict College

  1600 Harden Street
  Columbia, South Carolina  United States  29204
• Principal Investigators:

  Murray-Tuite, Pamela

  Huynh, Nathan

  Comert, Gurcan

• Start Date: 20181205
• Expected Completion Date: 20210630
• Actual Completion Date: 20210331
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Disaster preparedness; Disasters and emergency operations; Evacuation; Public opinion
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01913004
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747117
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 25 2024 3:43PM