Digital Twin for Driving as Planning Support Tool

Digital tools for mapping are now an integral tool for navigation. Waze, Google maps have leveraged Satellite and Google Street imagery which allow us to have an accurate representation of any set of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. This technology evolved just a couple of months ago with the release in May 2023 of dynamic models of the Earth. Companies like Cesium, a Google backed up startup based in Philadelphia is offering Unity and Unreal models of the Earth, with an Application Programming Interface (API) that can be leveraged for any dynamic Geospatial application. While a number of drone applications have been developed, no solid test has been developed for a driving application. This proposal continues a project with Jitsik LLC, a small startup in Mixed Reality, testing the Unity and Unreal API of the Earth to create Virtual Reality models and extends the work for application as a planning support tool. The research team proposes to continue to focus on Roosevelt Blvd in Philadelphia, which has already been the subject of academic research (Dr.Guerra) and is at the center of ongoing advocacy work by Dr. Guerra’s PhD student Jay Arzu to redesign the Boulevard to improve safety and accommodate high-capacity transit infrastructure. The main idea is to develop drivable virtual models of existing conditions, as well as proposed infrastructural changes, such as lane removals, an elevated train, and exclusive bus only lanes. This environment will support the Environmental Impact Review process as state agencies develop locally preferred investment priorities and design alternatives to share with the public. The research team will also work with the City of Philadelphia to identify and install cameras on roadway segments that will receive speed camera enforcement based on new legislation. The team will develop digital twins for selected roadway corridors and control segments. The team will also collect camera data from before and after camera enforcement to examine how speed cameras affect driver behavior and use these data to simulate driver behavior for their digital twin simulator. By developing and interactive model, the team hopes to help residents better understand the implications of public policies, such as speed cameras and roadway redesigns, and democratize the review process, which currently often requires a basic understanding of plan views, sections, and other technical drawings for full citizen interaction. Please note that this project is a continuation of a year one project and includes the same partners.

• Record URL:
  • https://ppms.cit.cmu.edu/projects/detail/502

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $161039
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552344811

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Carnegie Mellon University

  Pittsburgh, PA  United States 

  Safety21 University Transportation Center

  Carnegie Mellon University
  Pittsburgh, PA  United States  15213
• Project Managers:

  Stearns, Amy

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Pennsylvania

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Guerra, Erick

• Start Date: 20240701
• Expected Completion Date: 20250630
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Behavior; Cameras; Digital twins; Drivers; Speed control; Transportation planning
• Geographic Terms: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01933402
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Safety21 University Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552344811
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Oct 13 2024 9:30AM