Exploring Human Behavior

Safety R&D Program

WINTER 2022 | VOLUME 15

HUMAN FACTORS TEAM | biannual highlights

Source: FHWA

https://highways.dot.gov/research

TRAVEL LANE

Current Research: 

 Guidelines on Variable Message Sign (VMS) Messaging During Nonrecurring 

Events has concluded the data collection process. This project, led by Michelle Arnold, 

is investigating drivers’ responses to VMS signs that display unique messages 

describing events such as inclement weather or traffic incidents.

 Exploring the Effects of Vehicle Automation and Cooperative Messaging on 

Mixed Fleet Eco-drive has begun offsite data collection. This study aims to evaluate 

interactions between drivers, automated driving systems, and in-vehicle cooperative 

messages displayed at signalized intersections. For more information, contact 

Jesse Eisert.

 Enhancing Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Detection and Volume Data Through 

Advanced Imaging Techniques held its kickoff meeting on October 6, 2021. The 

objectives of this study are to test the capabilities of commercially available forwardlooking infrared (FLIR)–integrated thermal sensors to detect VRUs and evaluate the 

appropriateness of the associated count data for measuring exposure. Data collection 

for this project, led by Laura Mero, will begin soon.

 Highway Driving Simulator—CARMA Integration has begun with the Human 

Factors Team releasing the first version of the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 

Center (TFHRC) Digital Twin project, the common simulation scene environment to 

be used as a common database between the Highway Driving Simulator (HDS) and 

CARMA platform tools. The CARMA Everything-in-the-Loop (XiL) Team has begun 

testing the Digital Twin scene successfully by demonstrating a CARMA Sim vehicle 

running in the CARMA simulation program around the TFHRC campus roads. Contact 

Brian Philips for more information on this project.

New FHWA Web Resource Features Human Factors Projects

The new Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Research and Technology (R&T) 

Program Portfolio web pages are one-stop shop resources that highlight select FHWA 

R&T activities, initiatives, and projects—including human factors research. To learn more 

about the Human Factors program and its projects, which are focused on automation, 

driver behavior, pedestrians, and bicyclists, please visit https://highways.dot.gov/

research/rtportfolio/safety-human-factors.

Brian Philips – Human Factors Team Lead 

brian.philips@dot.gov  202–493–3468 

Michelle Arnold michelle.arnold@dot.gov 

202–493–3990 

Ann Do ann.do@dot.gov

202–493–3319

Jesse Eisert jesse.eisert@dot.gov

202–493–3284

Laura Mero laura.mero@dot.gov

202-493-3377

Leidos – Human Factors on-site support

TRU Simulation + Training – Highway 

Driving Simulator on-site support

Meet the Team

Figure 2. Image of the CARMA-HDS integration project. Source: FHWA

Figure 1. FLIR Camera at an Source: FHWA

intersection at the TFHRC.
biannual highlights

FHWA-HRT-22-036 

HRDS-30/1-22(WEB)E

https://highways.dot.gov/research https://doi.org/10.21949/1521727

THE ROAD AHEAD

Looking forward:

 Development of Pedestrian-Intersection Crash 

Modification Factors. 

The tech brief and technical report are to be published for the 

Development of Pedestrian-Intersection Crash Modification 

Factors project. For more information, contact Ann Do, 

Laura Mero, and Jeff Shaw.

 Driver Acceptance of Vehicle Automation—FunctionSpecific Automation Applications. 

The project has completed its data collection. The goal of 

this research, led by Brian Philips, is to investigate key driver 

acceptance and safety issues of vehicles with low levels of 

automation. The final two technical reports are currently 

being written.

 TFHRC Virtual Reality Lab Renovation and Upgrades. 

Work continues on development and updates to TFHRC’s 

onsite virtual reality lab. The Human Factors Team will furnish 

the room with advanced virtual reality compatible equipment 

such as headsets, bicycles, and treadmills. The team has 

completed installation of a simulated sidewalk and crossing 

space in the lab for future simulated VRU projects.

 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.

The 101st Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting will 

be held from January 9 to January 13, 2022, in Washington, 

DC. The Human Factors Team will be presenting and 

exhibiting recent research.

MILEPOSTS

Recent activity: 

 VRU Research Update to Human Factors 

Coordinating Committee.

Laura Mero presented an overview of the Human Factors 

VRU research at the Human Factors Coordinating Committee 

meeting on October 27, 2021. 

 Pedestrian Dummy Test. 

The Human Factors Team tested advanced adult, child, and 

bicyclist dummies for use with automated vehicles testing on 

November 3–4, 2021, at TFHRC. The team plans to utilize these 

dummies for VRU research applications. 

 Human Factors Truck Platooning Twinning with European 

Commission (EC) Ensemble Project.

A quarterly virtual meeting held in September for the Human 

Factors Truck Platooning Twinning project was led by

Michelle Arnold. The project is an international collaboration 

between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the EC to 

share information, such as project progress between teams, 

and to address challenges of truck platooning prior to early 

deployment. Member organizations in attendance included 

FHWA, Leidos, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied 

Scientific Research, and the Gustave Eiffel University.

 Impact of Roadway Lighting on Nighttime Crash 

Performance and Driver Behavior Briefing. 

Michelle Arnold held a project briefing on September 28, 

2021, for the second Strategic Highway Research Program 

Implementation Assistance Program (IAP) phase 3 project, 

Impact of Roadway Lighting on Nighttime Crash Performance 

and Driver Behavior. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute 

shared some results of phase 3 of this IAP project. The State 

lead for the project is Washington State Department of 

Transportation.

 Traffic Control Device (TCD) Consortium Pooled Fund 

Study (PFS).

The TCD PFS 2021 fourth-quarter meeting was held virtually 

on November 1, 2021. Laura Mero is the lead for this PFS. 

 InterchangeSE: A Federated Multimodal Simulation 

Environment for Studying Interactions Between Different 

Modes of Travel.

On September 27, 2021, Iowa State University demonstrated 

to FHWA the architecture that they developed to incorporate 

different types of simulators, such as pedestrian, bike, or 

vehicle, into one simultaneous, shared simulation experience. 

FHWA plans to leverage the results of the researchers’ work 

and apply it toward future in-house research tools. Contact 

Jesse Eisert for further information.

Figure 3. The Human Factors Team testing detection of an Source: FHWA

articulated child pedestrian dummy.