TECHNICAL PAPERS
May 1, 2006

Modeling Driver Visual Demand on Three-Dimensional Highway Alignments

Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 5

Abstract

This research focuses on evaluating driver visual demand on three-dimensional (3D) highway alignments, consisting of combined horizontal and vertical alignments. Using a driving simulator, nine two-dimensional and 3D hypothetical alignments for two-lane rural highways were developed following the standard guidelines of the Transportation Association of Canada. Fifteen driver subjects drove in the simulator and data on visual demand were analyzed using different processing and statistical software. The results showed that visual demand on 3D curves significantly varied with the inverse of the horizontal curve radius and the inverse of the vertical curvature. Meanwhile, the subject age had a significant effect on visual demand. Models for evaluating visual demand on 3D highway alignments were developed for both curves and tangents. The developed models were verified and applied to 3D alignments to carry out a design consistency evaluation.

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Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Transportation Engineering
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 132Issue 5May 2006
Pages: 357 - 365

History

Received: Apr 28, 2005
Accepted: Aug 23, 2005
Published online: May 1, 2006
Published in print: May 2006

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Authors

Affiliations

Said M. Easa [email protected]
Professor and Chair, Civil Engineering Dept., Ryerson Univ., Toronto ON, Canada M5B 2K3. E-mail: [email protected]
Transportation Planner, iTRANS Consulting Inc., Toronto ON, Canada L4B 1J8. E-mail: [email protected]

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