Evaluating the Interoperability of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and Signal Phasing and Timing Infrastructure

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) leverage advanced technologies to integrate driving systems that enable communication between vehicles, infrastructure, and surrounding traffic conditions, while also being capable of self-driving. CAVs use a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar to perceive their environment, while advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) enable them to make driving decisions without human intervention. The signal phase and timing (SPaT) message is a crucial component of CAV communication, facilitating connectivity between vehicles and infrastructure. When vehicles are moving on the road, the movements of the following vehicle should be subject to the speed of the leading vehicle. SPaT at the intersections provides real-time traffic signal information, such as the current state (red, yellow, green) and the timing of signal changes, to connected vehicles. This signal information allows CAVs to optimize their driving behavior, adjust speeds, reduce idling time, and improve fuel efficiency by anticipating signal changes. The V2I Deployment Coalition (now named the Cooperative Automated Vehicle Coalition, CATC) announced the SPaT Challenge in 2016 as a call to state and local Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to integrate dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) technology (5.9GHz radio range) in approximately 20 intersections in all 50 states by 2020. As of early 2020, 26 states including Nebraska have responded to the challenge, with over 2,000 total DSRC signals planned for installation through the end of the year. The CATC report also indicated the benefits of SPaT deployment including increasing safety, efficiency and reliability of the public transportation network, decrease in fuel consumption, and improve overall speed adjustments.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Programmed
• Funding: $185,796.00
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Nebraska Department of Transportation

  1500 Nebraska 2
  Lincoln, NE  United States  68502
• Project Managers:

  Halsey, Lieska

• Principal Investigators:

  Ho, Chun-Hsing

  Zhao, Li

  Liu, Qiang

• Start Date: 20250701
• Expected Completion Date: 20270531
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Connected vehicles; Traffic signal control systems; Vehicle to infrastructure communications
• Geographic Terms: Nebraska
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01945356
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Nebraska Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 10 2025 2:04PM