Challenges facing simulator use in transportation research: lessons from a road safety case study

Over the last decade, the use of simulation in road and transportation research has become commonplace. Whilst commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products are frequently used, these devices are often designed primarily for use in training. They can therefore present challenges for use in the research environment, particularly for issues concerned with experimental control, data acquisition and fidelity. Transport researchers need to interact with simulator manufacturers more and more often to ensure that a fit-for-purpose product is developed to support unique research needs, and too often anecdotal stories associated with problems with interaction, coordination and communication are retold. This paper provides a case study of the design, development and implementation of road simulator that was procured to investigate how a novel in-vehicle warning technology influenced driving behaviour at rail level crossings. Disparate and conflicting expectations between the research team and simulator developer impacted the fidelity and tractability of the simulation, and unexpected issues arose with data collection, fusion and equipment calibration. Key lessons for future research practice are drawn from this case study. The paper emphasises the importance of interdisciplinarity for informing the design of simulation-based research and proposes concrete methods to innovate interaction and collaboration in similar research.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/26087078
• Authors:
  • Naweed, A
  • Balakrishnan, G
  • Thomas, M J
• Publication Date: 2014-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 60-70
• Serial:
  • Road and Transport Research
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: ARRB
  • ISSN: 1037-5783

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Behavior; Case studies; Drivers; Driving simulators; Highway safety; Research; Research projects
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Accuracy; Case study; Driver behaviour; Driving simulator; Research method; Road safety
• ITRD Terms: 8531: Case study; 1680: Simulator (driving)
• Subject Areas: Research; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01548104
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 17 2014 10:56AM