Augmented Reality Applications To Traffic Operations

A useful and very significant leap forward in simulation technology is to be able to evaluate synthetic simulated conditions in realistic settings. This technology is based on Augmented Reality AR . Augmented reality is a paradigm which creates a combination of real and virtual objects in REAL TIME (for example in movies they combine real and virtual objects but not in real time) in which the user cannot tell the difference between the real and augmented world. The AR technology can offer a very realistic environment for driving enhancement as well as driving performance testing under different scenarios. This can be achieved by adding virtual objects (people, vehicles, hazards, and other objects) to the normal view while driving an actual vehicle in a safe environment. This paper documents a summary of AR technologies on the market, illustrates the different components of the Augmented Reality Vehicle System ARV System built at the University of Central Florida, and discusses the validation and application of such system to traffic engineering research. The ARV System is a promising tool for transportation research for improving roadway safety and decreasing the number of traffic collisions. Copyright ASCE 2006