Statewide augmented information in the driver environment study

The purpose of this project is to increase lifelong independence and safe vehicle operation by improving access to environmental information while driving, particularly among older adults and people with visual impairments. By simulating a new framework for computer-vision assisted augmented reality (CVAR) in the driving environment, the research team intends to study how augmenting roadway elements (e.g., lines on the road, lane markers, and obstructions) improves overall operational performance. It is predicted that the universal design approach used in this work will not only substantially benefit older adult drivers but will also benefit all drivers. This is because the University of Maine (UMaine) CVAR solution can be used to improve access to roadway elements during situations of reduced visibility (e.g., at night or during inclement weather) while also highlighting an eventual suite of potential hazards (e.g., downed limbs, wildlife, and pedestrians). The work will expand UMaine's Virtual Environments and Multimodal Interaction Laboratory (VEMI Lab)’s current autonomous vehicle simulator (MOISIN: Multimodal Omnidirectional Immersive Simulator for Inclusive Navigation) to include a manual driving operational mode. Related software will also be developed to simulate new inclusive CVAR approaches that combine multisensory feedback with augmented visual information to expand access to a wide range of potential drivers. The resulting UIs will be tested in a series of user studies examining the impact on driving performance across various driving scenarios.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • MaineDOT Share – $50,000 UMaine Share (through TIDC grant) - $50,000

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $100,000.00
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Maine Department of Transportation

  16 Statehouse Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333-0016

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469
• Managing Organizations:

  Maine Department of Transportation

  16 Statehouse Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333-0016
• Project Managers:

  Pulver, Jeffrey

• Principal Investigators:

  Giudice, Nicholas

  Corey, Richard

• Start Date: 20250609
• Expected Completion Date: 20251031
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Augmented reality; Computer vision; Drivers; Driving simulators; Visually impaired persons
• Geographic Terms: Maine
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01959909
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maine Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 2 2025 1:53PM