Turner-Fairbank

Highway Research Center

https://highways.dot.gov/research

HUMAN FACTORS TEAM | biannual highlights

Exploring Human Behavior

Source: FHWA.

Safety R&D Program

SUMMER 2022 | VOLUME 16

TRAVEL LANE

Current Research:

 Enhancing Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Detection and Volume Data 

Through Advanced Imaging Techniques has completed data collection at the 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC). This study used different 

VRU types, including an articulated child pedestrian dummy (figure 1), a human 

pedestrian, an electric scooter rider, a bicyclist, and a wheelchair user—during 

both daytime and nighttime. Led by Laura Mero, this project seeks to evaluate 

the ability and appropriateness of infrared thermal sensors to detect VRUs and 

their count data.

 Research Key Automated Vehicle (AV) Safety Issues for Transportation Systems 

Management and Operations (TSMO) has finished data collection for the Response 

to Emergency Vehicles When Driving in a Mixed Vehicle Fleet study. This study used 

the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Driving Simulator (HDS) to 

evaluate the potential influence of cooperative technology and vehicle automation 

on a driver’s response to emergency vehicles. This project is led by Michelle Arnold.

 Investigate Key AV Human Factors Safety Issues related to Infrastructure 

has finished data collection for the Driver Interaction With Partial Driving Automation 

Technology When Passing Bicyclists in a Shared Use Lane study. This study, which 

took place in the FHWA HDS, explores the impact of vehicle automation on 

drivers’ interactions with VRUs. This project has also finished data collection for 

the Exploring the Effects of Vehicle Automation and Cooperative Messaging on Mixed 

Fleets Eco-Drive study. This study evaluates the effects of in-vehicle messages, 

AVs, and adaptive cruise control on driver behavior (figure 2) This project is led 

by Jesse Eisert.

 Human Factors Issues Related to Truck Platooning Operations has concluded 

data collection for both the first and second FHWA miniSimTM experiments, which 

evaluated the design of truck platooning signs. This project, led by Michelle Arnold, 

is investigating drivers’ behavior and reactions to simulated automated truck 

platoons in various conditions. 

 Evaluation of Additional Alternatives and Arrow Sizes for Overhead 

Arrow-Per-Lane (OAPL) Guide Signs , led by Laura Mero, has concluded data 

collection and is undergoing data analysis. This project examines partial-width 

OAPL sign designs and arrow sizes and the effects these characteristics have on 

driver comprehension.

 Evaluation of Aesthetically Treated Crosswalks , project has completed data 

collection for both pedestrian and vehicle studies. This project looks to determine 

the extent, if any, aesthetically treated crosswalks have on the perception and 

behavior of road users (drivers and pedestrians). This project is led by Ann Do.

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

Textron Systems, Highway Driving 

Simulator on-site support

Meet the Team

Figure 1. Photograph. An articulated child pedestrian 

dummy configured for thermal testing for the 

Enhancing VRUs project.

Source: FHWA.
biannual highlights

https://highways.dot.gov/research

THE ROAD AHEAD

Looking forward

 Human Factors Virtual Reality (VR) Lab 

Upgraded with New VR Equipment. 

The Human Factors Team has procured new VR 

equipment for TFHRC’s onsite VR Lab, including an 

omnidirectional treadmill and VR headsets that will 

allow human pedestrian participants to walk over 

larger areas in VR-based simulation. The team plans 

to use the treadmill to conduct pedestrian safety 

research in the future. For more information on this 

upgrade, contact Brian Philips.

 Automated Road Transportation 

Symposium 2022 (ARTS22). 

Members of the Human Factors Team will 

attend, in-person, ARTS22—a Transportation 

Research Board (TRB) annual conference, held 

July 18–21, 2022, in Garden Grove, CA. The 

team will present on the key human factors 

safety issues associated with operating AVs in 

different infrastructure situations, as well as under 

TSMO use cases.

MILEPOSTS

Recent activity 

 Ensuring Cooperative Driving Automation (CDA) 

and VRUs’ Safety Through Infrastructure. 

The research team on this project, led by Jesse Eisert, has 

completed their work, and the literature review has entered 

the publication process. This project examined the potential 

impact of automated driving system (ADS)-equipped 

vehicles and CDA technology on VRU safety, and the 

potential role of infrastructure for safe interactions. 

 2022 TRB Annual Meeting. 

Members of the Human Factors Team attended the 2022 TRB 

meeting, in-person and virtually, held January 9–13, 2022. 

The Human Factors booth provided information about 

ongoing research and featured a presentation of a pedestrian 

dummy riding the virtual reality bike simulator (figure 3).

 Final Presentation for Driver Acceptance 

of Vehicle Automation–Function-Specific 

Automation (Level 1) Applications. 

On January 4, 2022, the Human Factors Team gave the 

final presentation for the Driver Acceptance of Vehicle 

Automation–Function-Specific Automation (Level 1) 

Applications project, which was led by Brian Philips. The 

project included a series of experiments aimed at assessing 

drivers’ acceptance of, and safety issues related to, various 

advanced driver assistance systems.

 VR Presentation to the Human Factors Coordinating 

Committee (HFCC). 

On February 23, 2022, Jesse Eisert presented, virtually, the 

Human Factors VR capabilities and potential VRU research 

ideas using VR at the HFCC meeting. 

 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) World Congress 2022. 

Members of the Human Factors Team will demonstrate recent research with VRU safety using an articulated pedestrian dummy, 

associated infrastructure, and vehicle-based sensors. The demonstration will also feature potential research with the team’s 

VR bike simulator. 

Figure 2. Photograph. In-vehicle signal and display control system for Exploring the Effects 

of Vehicle Automation and Cooperative Messaging on Mixed Fleets Eco–Drive project.

Source: FHWA.
biannual highlights

https://highways.dot.gov/research

 Traffic Control Device (TCD) 

Consortium Pooled Fund 

Study (PFS). 

Led by Laura Mero, the TCD PFS 

2022 first quarter and second 

quarter meetings were held on 

February 24, 2022, and June 

2, 2022, respectively. The third 

quarter TCD PFS meeting will 

be held, in-person, September 

2022, in San Diego, CA. 

 TFHRC ITS America 

Leadership Visit.

On March 15, 2022, ITS America 

leadership visited TFHRC to learn 

about ongoing AV research. 

The Human Factors Team 

demonstrated cutting-edge VRU 

safety research using in vehicle 

sensors and a state-of-the-art 

articulated pedestrian dummy 

at TFHRC’s smart intersection.

 National Committee on 

Uniform Traffic Control Devices 

(NCUTCD) Presentations. 

On April 27, 2022, Jesse Eisert presented, virtually, an overview of the Human Factors Team’s pedestrian and bicyclist VRU projects at 

the Pedestrian Joint Task Force meeting. in June 2022, Laura Mero also presented an update of the VRU projects at the Pedestrian Joint 

Task Force meeting and an overview of relevant FHWA research at the Research Committee meeting. 

 Highway Driving Simulator Visual Upgrade. 

Renovations for the FHWA HDS at TFHRC are currently underway and anticipated to be completed by late summer 2022. The new 

system will use the latest upgraded hardware and software to produce world class realistic simulation scenes to enable the next 

generation of human factors driving research. Contact Brian Philips for more information on this project.

MILEPOSTS (continued)

FHWA-HRT-22-100

HRDS-30/8-22(WEB)E

https://doi.org/10.21949/1521930 Source: FHWA.

Figure 3. The Human Factors Team’s setup at the 2022 TRB Annual Meeting with an articulated dummy and virtual reality bike.