Validation of an urban environment for pedestrian behavior analysis in full immersive virtual reality

The consequences of a road crash for vulnerable road users (VRUs), especially children, are more severe compared to car drivers; in addition, child mortality rates are predominantly attributed to road crashes. With the recent advancements in technology, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a valuable tool for researching crash-related phenomena. This study's primary objective is to validate the use of a VR headset as a tool for investigating pedestrian behavior. The authors conducted tests on 122 middle school children, subjecting them to 15 scenarios involving road-crossing and strolling tasks. Kinematic data, specifically speed, were collected and statistically analyzed, comparing it to existing literature. The results obtained align with prior naturalistic studies, affirming the device's suitability for studying pedestrian behavior. Notably, no abnormal behaviors were observed during strolls. Furthermore, the riskiest behaviors, characterized by higher speeds, were predominantly associated with non-signalized crossings. These findings, in addition to validating the scenarios and tools used in this study, highlight the importance of designing intersections that minimize crash risks and educating children about road safety and crossing-related dangers.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2024.02.004
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146524000577
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/23521465
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Baldassa, Andrea
  • Orsini, Federico
  • De Cet, Giulia
  • Tagliabue, Mariaelena
  • Rossi, Riccardo
  • Gastaldi, Massimiliano
• Conference:
  • 25th Euro Working Group on Transportation Meeting (EWGT 2023)
  • Location: Santander , Spain
  • Date: 2023-9-6 to 2023-9-8
• Publication Date: 2024

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 24-31
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Procedia
  • Volume: 78
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 2352-1465
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/23521465/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Crosswalks; Pedestrian safety; School children; Urban areas; Virtual reality
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01918223
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 2024 5:20PM