Assessment of Autonomous Vehicle Sharing for Evacuation and Disaster Relief

Description: This project will explore how privately owned AVs may be used in pre-impact assisted evacuation and post-impact relief distribution in times of disaster. It will begin by investigating whether the public in South Carolina would be willing to share their future AV’s to assist with evacuation, as well as post-impact relief distribution in cases where trucks may be unable to travel to particular destinations due to infrastructure damage and height or weight limits which would be a concern for larger vehicles. The research team will identify and explore the public’s concerns about such a program, as well as other potential barriers and limits to sharing. This initial exploration will help determine the feasibility of AV sharing in times of crisis. Intellectual Merit: The overall goal of this project is to help prepare transportation and emergency management agencies for the future when AVs are more prevalent. It will be the first to gauge public opinion about this novel strategy for disaster management. Broader Impacts: A system of sharing AVs in times of crisis would reduce the government’s cost of assisted evacuation, save lives, and improve humanitarian relief distribution, all by engaging citizens to actively help 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: Completed
  • 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

    Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility

    Clemson University
    Clemson, SC  United States  29634

    Clemson University

    110 Lowry Hall
    Box 340911
    Clemson, SC  United States  29634-0911

    University of South Carolina, Columbia

    502 Byrnes Building
    Columbia, SC  United States  29208

    Benedict College

    1600 Harden Street
    Columbia, South Carolina  United States  29204
  • Managing Organizations:

    Clemson University

    110 Lowry Hall
    Box 340911
    Clemson, SC  United States  29634-0911
  • Project Managers:

    Murray-Tuite, Pamela

  • Performing Organizations:

    Clemson University

    110 Lowry Hall
    Box 340911
    Clemson, SC  United States  29634-0911

    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: 20181201
  • Expected Completion Date: 20200831
  • Actual Completion Date: 20210331
  • USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01690754
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility
  • Contract Numbers: 69A3551747117
  • Files: UTC, RIP
  • Created Date: Jan 11 2019 3:44PM