Roadway Design Models:Streamlining Conversion for Driving Simulation

Shawn AllenThe National Advanced Driving Simulator

Mid-Continent Transportation Research Symposium 2013

The National Advanced Driving Simulator

Background• Visualization

– Look and feel of project– Design proof of concept– Buy-in from project stakeholders– Limited presentation of operational aspects

• Driving Simulation– Virtual “computerized” model– Test drive of appearance AND operation– As with visualization, comes in many “flavors”.. Ie, levels

of simulator fidelity

Current Parallel to Virtual Testing

Test Drive It Before You Build It• Virtual proof of concept

– Build it in a computer before you actually build it in the real world

• Determination of satisfactory conditions• Public relations

Visualization Case StudiesMnDOT Highway 61 Bridge Project

Hwy 99 Alaskan Way Tunnel

Is a Driving Simulator aGood Test Case?

http://www.madsciencemuseum.com/msm/pl/billboard_experiment

Making A Case for Driving Simulators• FAA guidelines permit pilot training on certified

simulators to substitute for actual hands-on in the real-world

• Extensive simulation use across industry sectors

http://www.graphit.hu/Tecnomatix/Products/Plant%20Simulation.aspx

http://newshopper.sulekha.com/boeing-787-flight-simulator_photo_1481525.htm

Uses of Driving Simulation for Transportation Visualization

• Research• Training• Outreach• Human factors and operational evaluation:

– Speed selection– Lane selection– Gap acceptance– Sign comprehension and compliance– Workzone driving performance

FHWA Simulator Case Study

• Diverging Diamond Interchange

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/07048/

Transportation Model Conversion to Driving Simulator Model

Transportation model

Driving simulator model

Transportation Design Model

• Goal: “hands-free” conversion• Significantly more data than needed for

simulation• Access to required elements requires

adherence to design standards or robust interrogation algorithms, or both

Elements Required* for Simulation

  DOT Design file Simulator AttributeVisual Model X X

Road centerline X XLateral profile X X

Lanes X XJunctions X X

Pavement surface X XSurface type X X

Shoulders, ROW X Grading (fill, granular, special, side slopes, pavement bottom, 

earth fill)

X

Underlayment X  

*Characteristics for NADS simulators

Design Model Data Processing

Simulator Scenario file

NADSISAT

LandXML file

Bentley MicrostationDesign FileIowa DOT

XMLtoTrivisual

NADSBeX

visuals file

.top.crdr.road.isxn

XMLtoLRIlogical

NADSlrigeneration

Simulator visualization

tilegen NADSlricc

NADSLRI file

NADSBLI file

Prototype Converter Tool

Existing MiniSim Simulator Production Pipeline

visualizer

.pet.corr.pathElev. map

visual data pathway

logical data pathway

simulator input data

Iowa DOT/InTrans Converter Prototype Technical Report

Issues Encountered

• Challenges accessing source data• Invalid data in test model (source)

Boundary data spikes Triangulated surface errors at overpass

Future Steps

• Identify & secure project funding– Proposal under review for University of Iowa to become a

University Transportation Center• Improve surface processing to include texture• Improve data algorithms for general-purpose

– More model design types– Greater project complexity– Smooth junction connectors

• Include additional attributes– Lane markings, signage, etc.

Thank You!

Virtual Iowa City Simulator Model

contacts@nads-sc.uiowa.edu

Acknowledgements

• The Iowa Department of Transportation• Center for Transportation Research and

Education at Iowa State University• Charles Hixon III, Bergman Associates• Michael Manore, Vispective Management

Consulting