Connected vehicle applications for adaptive overhead lighting (on-demand lighting) : final research report.

Final research reportPDFTech ReportDUNS: 0031370150000EIN: 54-6001805Adaptive controlDedicated short range communicationsDistractionDriversHighway safetyHuman factorsMobile communication systemsStreet lightingSurveysVisual perceptionUnited StatesConnected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation CenterGibbons, Ronald BPalmer, MatthewJahangiri, ArashVirginia Tech Transportation InstituteConnected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation CenterUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationUniversity Transportation Centers Program (U.S.)US Transportation CollectionThe Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has developed an on-demand roadway lightingsystem and has tested the system\ue2\u20ac\u2122s effect on driver visual performance. On-demand roadwaylighting can dramatically reduce energy usage while maintaining or increasing vehicle andpedestrian safety. The system developed by VTTI uses connected vehicle technology (CVT),wireless lighting controls, LED luminaires, and a stand-alone processor on the Virginia SmartRoad to sense vehicles and turn on roadway lighting only when needed.During this research project, the use of on-demand, or just-in-time, lighting was investigated withrespect to assessing driver distraction, and to human factors, including a driver\ue2\u20ac\u2122s ability to visuallydetect and recognize on-road objects and pedestrians. The developed on-demand lighting systemdescribed above utilized dedicated short range communication (DSRC), connected vehicleinfrastructure (CVI), and centralized wireless lighting controls, and was used with VTTIdevelopedin-vehicle instrumentation and custom software. The software allowed the study offorward preview time in terms of forward lighting distance needed for drivers to detect roadsidepedestrians and hazards.Visual performance testing revealed a relationship between speed and the amount of forwardlighting needed to detect pedestrians and hazards on the side of the roadway, and a small, butstatistically insignificant, practical difference in visual performance between on-demand lightingand continuously-on lighting conditions. A survey of participant reactions indicated that the publicgenerally accepts on-demand lighting and does not find it distracting as long as a minimum lightingcondition is met. The survey also found that participants felt the system provided a safe drivingenvironment. The main application for an on-demand lighting system would be on roadways withlittle traffic at night and higher accident rates, or higher conflict areas such as intersections,pedestrian crossings, and merge areas