pacific nw transportation consortium region 10 Pactrans

Application of Augmented Reality and Tangible Interfaces to Minimize Workzone Effects on Mobility through Participatory Planning

PI: Joe Louis (OSU), Joseph.Louis@oregonstate.edu, ORCID: 0000-0002-2957-9146

Co PIs: none

AMOUNT & MATCH: $35,000 from PacTrans; $35,000 Match

PERFORMANCE PERIOD: 8/16/2018 – 8/15/2020

STATUS: Completed

CATEGORIES: Workzones, Planning, Augmented Reality

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PROJECT DATA: N/A

DESCRIPTION: This research uses augmented reality and virtual reality to provide real-time simulations of traffic flow through a work zone. Particularly, a tangible interface will be provided to enable stakeholders to physically interact with various work zone elements to view their effect on commuters in real-time. A review of the state of art and practice on the specification and standards for the design of highway work-zones will be performed to identify the key decision points. The Unity™ game engine will be utilized to create a reconfigurable highway work zone incorporating above decision alternatives and through which the flow of traffic will be simulated. The Vuforia™ augmented reality platform will then be used to enable users to create tangible markers to physically manipulate the work zone elements, resulting in changes that are immediately displayed in the ongoing traffic simulation. Finally the entire simulation will be set up on an AR sandbox interface that utilizes a camera and projector to enable decision-makers to physically affect the simulation by reconfiguring the work zone. It is expected this research will result in a novel interface to study and design work zones that enables rapid prototyping and simulation of different work zone configurations.