Perform Frequent Infrastructure Maintenance Including Road Markings, Traffic Signals, and Road Clearing of Obstacles to Improve Automated Driving System Capability on the Roadways.

Survey of the AV Industry Underscores the Importance of Avoiding Poorly Maintained Roadway Surfaces to Help Maintain Vehicle Sensors and Allow Automated Vehicles to Navigate the Roads Safely.

Date Posted
05/31/2022
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Identifier
2022-L01116

Caltrans Autonomous Vehicles Industry Survey of Transportation Infrastructure Needs

Summary Information

The current Automated Vehicle (AV) industry predicts that deployment will take place on public roads in the next decade. However, there is a need to understand the readiness of the current transportation infrastructure and research on improving AV performance. This study addressed this gap in research by conducting a survey targeted towards various AV industries to answer questions on what transportation infrastructure improvements were needed to improve AV performance. The research team conducted an online survey in June 2020 that resulted in 20 respondents from different sectors within the AV industry, including automated car and truck start-up companies, AV technology provider start-up companies, and traditional automotive manufacturers. In-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted with eight of the 20 survey respondents that participated. A wide range of topics were introduced including basic infrastructure features such as striping, signage, and potholes. Various advanced topics were also discussed, such as real-time information on road conditions, digital mapping, vehicle-to-roadside communication infrastructure and use of dedicated facilities for AV operations.

Lessons Learned

  • Perform frequent infrastructure maintenance to avoid deteriorated or low-contrast lane markings, cracks on the road, poorly placed signage, and poor traffic light illumination. Survey respondents stated that deteriorated lane markings may result in incorrect lane path being followed by AVs. Filled up cracks in parallel to lane markings can hinder AV detection of the lane or the lane width. Lane markings with low contrast may also be hard to detect making it unreliable for Advanced Driving Systems (ADS) and result in constant steering corrections. Poorly maintained roadway surfaces should be avoided to help maintain vehicle sensors and allow the AVs to navigate the roads safely. This study recommends having a policy for better maintenance of the infrastructure's physical elements as well as a policy for the maintenance of specific operational routes. In addition, the V2X policies, such as equipping the traffic signals with V2X information, should also be considered.
  • Understand the most important roadway characteristics or features that have the potential to benefit the ADS. These characteristics or features, as identified by the survey responses, are (1) digital map and signage; (2) lane markings; (3) work zone and incident information; (4) Vehicle to X (infrastructure, other vehicles, network, etc.) Communication, V2X data; (5) traffic signals; (6) general signage; and (7) lighting. The most expected digital infrastructures to help accelerate ADS deployment include work zone and road closure, traffic signal phase and timing, traffic congestion or real-time traffic information, general V2X, and HD maps.
  • Understand the local policies for dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations and charging stations. These types of policies are useful for Level 4 and Level 5 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J3016 (High Driving and Full driving Automation) deployments, if there are dedicated drop-off zones to facilitate AVs' loading and unloading that comply with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act Standards). Since many AV companies plan on deploying electric automated vehicles, it is also important to know about the number of charging facilities available.
  • Identify the policies needed at the federal level as well as state and jurisdiction. Policy on dedicated lanes on interstate highways is expected at the federal level. However, some respondents believed that defined zones with certain areas, was likely to be deployed first. This type of deployment may have more complications given the intersections and the signage. Therefore, policies on this area type can be targeted to make sure the lanes are properly marked, and roads are maintained. Some AV companies also expected state legislation to support commercial fleet trucks over 10,000 pounds.
  • Implement uniform policies and procedures that support ADS operating across multiple jurisdictions. Each state needs to develop a consistent approach for effectively engaging OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) for the AV testing or deployment. Survey respondents mentioned that they expect the infrastructure will improve over time, and AV technology will work with what's available.
  • Have a venue for engagement between the governmental agencies and the AV industry and develop standards or best-practice guidelines related to infrastructure. It is recommended to utilize the use of consortiums to improve industry engagement. There should be more government and industry collaborations happening where safety is concerned (e.g., develop tools and algorithms that would facilitate data sharing and data processing).
  • Reach an agreement on what communication protocol to use for AVs. It is suggested to have more than one communication path when it comes to a safety-critical input to the ADS. For example, a dedicated channel plus a cellular connection would be good for safety-critical inputs.

Caltrans Autonomous Vehicles Industry Survey of Transportation Infrastructure Needs

Caltrans Autonomous Vehicles Industry Survey of Transportation Infrastructure Needs
Source Publication Date
06/30/2021
Author
Alnajjar, Hella
Publisher
Prepared by California PATH Program, Institute of Transportation Studies for the Division of Research Innovation and System Information
Other Reference Number
Report No. CA21-3605
System Engineering Elements

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