(intense music)
- [Narrator] With growing numbers of crashes
involving buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians,
researchers have developed
smart intersection technologies
that use a variety of advanced systems
to warn people of possible safety issues.
The three phase TxDOT Innovative Project is complete,
and was a multi-year cooperative effort
led by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute,
with Texas A&M University, the City of College Station,
and Brazos Transit District as partners.
Researchers designed, tested, piloted,
and demonstrated candidate applications
through an automated and connected vehicle test bed
at the Texas A&M University Systems Rellis Campus.
- Texas is not alone in seeing
a steep increase in the number of pedestrians
and bicyclists killed in roadway crashes.
In fact, pedestrians and bicyclists fatalities
have increased 69% in Texas over a decade ago.
- The first phase of the project
looked at defining the issues,
and we held 25 meetings throughout the state,
a variety of workshops and round table forums
to really help define the issue, define the problems,
where are those conflicts occurring?
And at the same time, we also took a look at
what are the AV and CV technologies
that could help us address those issues?
One of the places that was identified
where those types of crises might occur
and tend to occur is at intersections.
So in phase two, we took the intersection as the focus
and at the Rellis Campus on the Texas A&M University TTI
developed a smart intersection,
and then did a proof of concept test,
which included Brazos Transit District
and buses communicated through DSRC radio
with the traffic signal system to alert pedestrians
that a bus was either turning right or left.
- The alerts are intended to catch people's attention,
even if they're deaf or visually impaired,
or if they are distracted by a device.
- [Alert System] Caution bus turning.
(Alert System alerting in Spanish)
- We were also able to,
working with the Texas A&M Transportation Program,
pilot test a collision warning system
on one of the A&M buses,
it's called the Rosco Mobileye Collision Warning System,
and it alerts the driver if pedestrians or bicyclists
are getting too close to the bus,
and it looks like crash could occur.
So in phase three, we were able to take that technology,
and move it to the Texas A&M campus
and instrumented an intersection,
Penberthy and George Bush Drive on the campus,
use the City of College Station traffic signal system,
they were one of the collaborators on the project.
And then we equipped 10 of the Texas A&M University buses
with DSRC radios.
The Mobileye technology had improved,
they were able to detect pedestrians
in lower light conditions.
And so again, working with Texas A&M University,
we were able to collaborate
and put two of those new units on buses,
on their new buses that they had just received,
and monitor that technology also.
- The possibilities and benefits of this particular project
are far reaching for transit districts.
It would make it a safer route for fixed routes.
It's safer for the pedestrians.
It's safer for the bicycles.
And it's just safer for the traveling public for,
to have these alert systems,
and to be able to let folks know what the intentions are
of the drivers.
- Anytime we can reduce the risk of a crash,
especially between a large vehicle
and a vulnerable roadway user, it's a success.
So far, all the surveys indicate that the smart intersection
is effective in alerting people at intersections.
And that the Mobileye is effective
at alerting the drivers of near misses
or people in their blind spots.
We have an opportunity to use technology
to avoid some almost certainly fatal crashes.
So it's our responsibility to advance
and share that technology
- [Narrator] For more information,
and to find the publications for this project,
please visit the TxDOT Research Library
at the link shown below.