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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Sustainable Waste-To-Bioproducts Engineering Center Laboratory Safety Project, Claudine Mock Aug 2024

Sustainable Waste-To-Bioproducts Engineering Center Laboratory Safety Project, Claudine Mock

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Laboratory accidents are common in teaching and research labs; these accidents can be injurious or even fatal. The consequences of each type of laboratory accident are different based on the activities performed and the hazardous materials used in each facility. However, the most common issue related to laboratory accidents is the lack of proper safety measures (e.g., poor handling of hazardous materials, not reporting incidents immediately, etc.). This project aimed to establish and strengthen best practices and procedures to ensure laboratory safety at the Utah State University Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center. To achieve this goal, different practices and measures were …


Evaluation Of Roadway Reconfigurations In Louisville, Kentucky, William Staats, Adam Kirk Aug 2024

Evaluation Of Roadway Reconfigurations In Louisville, Kentucky, William Staats, Adam Kirk

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 2009, Louisville Metro Public Works undertook its first roadway reconfiguration project, converting a section of Eastern Parkway (US 60A) from a four-lane undivided road to a three-lane section with a two-way left-turn lane and one travel lane in each direction. Since this initial project, Louisville Metro Public Works and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) have completed 40 roadway reconfigurations to reduce the number of through lanes and reassign existing right-of-way to other roadway users. Additionally, the agencies have 25 more planned or proposed reconfiguration projects. This report documents the safety and operational performance of reconfigured roads. Across all projects, …


Survey And Analysis Of Safety Components And Costs In Construction Projects In Egypt, Emad E. Etman Prof., Haytham Sanad Prof., Asmaa Ibrahim Khater Jul 2024

Survey And Analysis Of Safety Components And Costs In Construction Projects In Egypt, Emad E. Etman Prof., Haytham Sanad Prof., Asmaa Ibrahim Khater

Journal of Engineering Research

The difficulty of determining the factors that achieve safety on Egyptian construction sites as a result of multiple and different criteria and different relative weights of the criteria represents a challenge to achieve safety and a secure environment on construction sites. This issue has been of interest for many decades and continues to be a topic of discussion today because of construction project management is rapidly modernizing. The paper aims to identify the safety standards most commonly used on construction sites, and determine their relative weights as seen by the target audience and also estimate the cost of safety measures …


Two Heads Are Better Than One: Single Pilot Operation Threatens The Safety Of The Friendly Skies, Alexandria E. Rook May 2024

Two Heads Are Better Than One: Single Pilot Operation Threatens The Safety Of The Friendly Skies, Alexandria E. Rook

Arkansas Law Review

Boeing’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (“MCAS”), an automated piloting system, is only supposed to handle aircraft operations in very specific circumstances. Despite devasting results with MCAS, Boeing has another automated piloting system on the horizon that poses even more grave risks: Single Pilot Operation (“SPO”). Boeing—along


Longitudinal Spatial Trends In U.S. Pedestrian And Bicyclist Fatalities, Ossiris Rodriguez, Nicholas N. Ferenchak May 2024

Longitudinal Spatial Trends In U.S. Pedestrian And Bicyclist Fatalities, Ossiris Rodriguez, Nicholas N. Ferenchak

Civil Engineering ETDs

Between 2009 and 2022 in the United States (U.S.), pedestrian fatalities increased 82.3% and bicyclist fatalities increased 70.8%. Several studies have researched crash characteristics such as the people and roadways involved in these crashes. But where are these fatalities occurring within our regions and what spatial characteristics of these locations could be influencing this trend? We analyzed pedestrian and bicyclist fatality data from the last two decades using NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) in relation to built-environment and socio-economic characteristics (such as street network density, transit access, poverty, and educational attainment) obtained from the U.S. Census and the U.S. …


Securing The Skies: Safety-Constrained Decentralized Multi-Uav Coordination With Deep Reinforcement Learning, Jean-Elie Pierre May 2024

Securing The Skies: Safety-Constrained Decentralized Multi-Uav Coordination With Deep Reinforcement Learning, Jean-Elie Pierre

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

In the dynamic landscape of autonomous aerial systems, the integration of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) has sparked a paradigm shift, offering unprecedented opportunities and challenges in collaborative decision-making and navigation. This thesis explores the application of multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) for the planning and coordination of UAVs in complex environments.

The first part of this thesis provides an introduction to single-agent reinforcement learning and MARL. We provide examples of the use of MARL for countering uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS). We formulate the Counter-UAS problem as a multiagent partially observable Markov decision process (MAPOMDP), and we propose Multi-AGent partial observable deep …


Safety Analysis In Ap-1000 Nuclear Power Plant Against Primary Loop Coolant Pump And Fuel Failures, Fabiano Gibson Daud Thulu, Hailemichael Guadie Mengsitu, Chifundo Tenthani, Paul Stone Macheso May 2024

Safety Analysis In Ap-1000 Nuclear Power Plant Against Primary Loop Coolant Pump And Fuel Failures, Fabiano Gibson Daud Thulu, Hailemichael Guadie Mengsitu, Chifundo Tenthani, Paul Stone Macheso

International Journal of Nuclear Security

This study focused on the best-estimated thermal-hydraulic calculations performed regarding the AP-1000 nuclear power plant (NPP) under primary coolant loop pump and fuel failures. Primary coolant pump and fuel failure transients are important design-basis accidents in NPP safety assessments. This work examined the primary reactor’s safety margins of fuel and cladding peak temperature, primary and secondary loop pressure, hydrogen formation, and primary and secondary flow rates.The Adaptive System Thermal-Hydraulics program was used in the simulation and event progression analysis. The results showed that the peak fuel surface temperature was kept below the licensing design limit. No observation of corium was …


Modeling Pedestrian And Bicyclist Crash Exposure With Location-Based Service Data, Yunwoo Nam, Jason Hawkins, Don Butler, Nicholas Aldridge, Mohammad Elayan, Kwant Il (Jason) Yoo May 2024

Modeling Pedestrian And Bicyclist Crash Exposure With Location-Based Service Data, Yunwoo Nam, Jason Hawkins, Don Butler, Nicholas Aldridge, Mohammad Elayan, Kwant Il (Jason) Yoo

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The rising popularity of non-motorized transportation has brought about safety risks. The inclusion of accurate traffic volume information is one of the key elements to produce robust outcomes when researching safety. The project investigates and enhances transportation safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, emphasizing the integration of Location-Based Services (LBS) data, particularly StreetLight data, to analyze traffic volume and associated risks. The calibration process demonstrates the significance of traffic volume as a key variable influencing prediction accuracy across pedestrian, bicyclist, and vehicle models. The crash analysis reveals a strong correlation between crash counts and traffic activity, with noteworthy findings emerging at …


The Elements Of Governance And Their Association With Aviation Safety Oversight Effectiveness, João Souza Dias Garcia Apr 2024

The Elements Of Governance And Their Association With Aviation Safety Oversight Effectiveness, João Souza Dias Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

States and their respective national civil aviation authorities promote the improvement of the global civil aviation system by developing and enforcing safety regulations for aircraft design, operations, personnel training, infrastructure, and air traffic management, among other topics. For many years, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has driven the continuous improvement of states’ safety oversight functions, supporting them in evaluating the effectiveness of these functions by conducting audits under the Organization’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP). While the benefits of these assessments have been broadly recognized, scholarly literature on the factors commonly associated with safety oversight effectiveness across states …


Safety Investigation Of Crash Rates During Hurricane Evacuations, Amelia K. Lawson Mar 2024

Safety Investigation Of Crash Rates During Hurricane Evacuations, Amelia K. Lawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study aimed to investigate crash rates across four distinct periods—evacuation, re-entry, emergency, and non-emergency—during Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Irma (2017), and Michael (2018). A notable gap in existing research pertains to understanding crash rates during these critical phases of hurricane events. By addressing this gap, this research contributes to a deeper comprehension of evacuation transportation safety. The methodology employed ArcMap to construct an interactive map for data collection, encompassing key variables such as the number of crashes, traffic volumes, duration of each period under analysis, and roadway segment lengths for each hurricane. Evaluating the crash rate per million vehicular miles …


Integration Of Advanced Qualification Program Into Aviation Education, Jorge L. D. Albelo, Victor Fraticelli Rivera, Robert L. Thomas Mar 2024

Integration Of Advanced Qualification Program Into Aviation Education, Jorge L. D. Albelo, Victor Fraticelli Rivera, Robert L. Thomas

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The Federal Aviation Administration places aviation safety as a top priority, continuously striving to improve safety standards within the National Airspace System. In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration introduced the Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) as an alternative methodology for pilot training and evaluation. This study explores the impact of AQP-centered aviation education on student performance, particularly in the context of learning advanced jet transport systems. The AQP model, based on aligning training with operational aviation requirements, emphasizes cognitive skill training and evaluation. Theoretical foundations underpinning this study include Karp’s integrated aviation learning model, which seamlessly integrates various instructional approaches, fostering …


Smart Roadside Safety Vest, Nicholas Huttinger, Emily Stapleton, Susannah Smith Jan 2024

Smart Roadside Safety Vest, Nicholas Huttinger, Emily Stapleton, Susannah Smith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this project is to design a vest to be worn by pedestrians and cyclists, or anyone who may be working near traffic. This vest will utilize an LED display on the back of the vest to increase the visibility of the wearer and convey information to nearby drivers. The vest will also be able to detect and alert the wearer to approaching vehicles. If it is detected that the wearer has been involved in an accident, the vest will send a message to the wearer’s designated emergency contact(s), which will include the GPS coordinates of the wearer …


Policy Brief: Evaluation Of The Safety Of Pedestrian Crossing Treatments In Small And Rural Communities, Parsa Pezeshknejad, Dana Rowangould, James Sullivan Jan 2024

Policy Brief: Evaluation Of The Safety Of Pedestrian Crossing Treatments In Small And Rural Communities, Parsa Pezeshknejad, Dana Rowangould, James Sullivan

University of Vermont Transportation Research Center

TRC Policy Brief: Rural areas often lack adequate pedestrian infrastructure, resulting in elevated safety risks for pedestrians. The combination of higher speed limits and reduced driver awareness amplifies the potential for pedestrian collisions when crossing the roadway.

This study addresses uncertainty about the effectiveness of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and LED-embedded signs (LESs) as potential safety interventions. RRFBs and LESs are both pedestrian crossing treatments that allow pedestrians to activate lights to alert drivers of their intent to cross. RRFBs include horizontal LED lights mounted to the sign pole, while LESs include LEDs embedded in the edge of the …


The Characterization, Assessment, And Shear Strength Of Turfgrass Soil In North American Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Schmitt Jan 2024

The Characterization, Assessment, And Shear Strength Of Turfgrass Soil In North American Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Minimizing catastrophic injuries to racehorses, which also protects the riders, is critical for the future of the Thoroughbred racing industry. While the causes of catastrophic injuries are multifactorial, the condition of the racing surface is one of only a few factors that affects all horses in competition. Horse racing surfaces must retain enough shear strength to support the hoof of a Thoroughbred at a gallop. Turfgrass racing surfaces also require healthy turf to reinforce the footing while also achieving a high infiltration rate to allow races to run on the turf soon after or even during rain. This research is …


Assessing Past Airworthiness Directives And How Safety Management Systems May Benefit Aviation Product Design And Manufacturing, Damon Lercel Ph.D., Manoj Patankar Ph.D., Richard Steckel Ph.D. Jan 2024

Assessing Past Airworthiness Directives And How Safety Management Systems May Benefit Aviation Product Design And Manufacturing, Damon Lercel Ph.D., Manoj Patankar Ph.D., Richard Steckel Ph.D.

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) continues to promulgate Safety Management Systems (SMS) across aviation organizations when it recently issued SMS requirements for EASA certificated Part 145 maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organizations and Part 21 Design & Manufacturing (D&M) organizations. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has no such rule in place for these U.S.-based organizations, which may challenge those doing business in countries where EASA policies apply. Given that a majority of the United States’ D&M and MRO population is made up of smaller organizations, it is likely a U.S. SMS regulation will require justification of the …


Development And Evaluation Of Blind Spot Detection Safety System Based On 2d-Lidar Technology As An Optimization For Adas Systems, Timothy J. Sutton Jan 2024

Development And Evaluation Of Blind Spot Detection Safety System Based On 2d-Lidar Technology As An Optimization For Adas Systems, Timothy J. Sutton

Honors College Theses

Distracted driving poses a significant safety hazard and will only exacerbate as the number of modern-day distractions increases. To mitigate this problem, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features, such as blind spot detection, have been pivotal for the safer operation of vehicles. Towards the same objective, the goal of this research is to utilize 2D LiDAR sensors to create a blind spot detection system that will detect objects and surfaces that are outside of the driver’s field of view. A comparative analysis was conducted by developing a 2D LiDAR-based system utilizing NVIDIA Jetson Orion Nano and Python alongside an ultrasonic-based …


Comparative Analysis Of Aviation And Ground Transportation Safety Standards Applicable To The Integration Of Unmanned Aircraft Operations, Andrew Walker Jan 2024

Comparative Analysis Of Aviation And Ground Transportation Safety Standards Applicable To The Integration Of Unmanned Aircraft Operations, Andrew Walker

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This study performed a comparative analysis of SMS in both the aviation and ground transportation industries to identify any gaps that may impact aviation safety by incorporating UAS operations within the ground transportation industry. The study reviewed relevant literature and compared the FAA SMS and FMCSA SMC policy components. The study also compared the implementation of OSHA requirements within the aviation and ground transportation industries. After reviewing the relevant policy components, the study finds that differences in safety standards between the FAA SMA and FMCSA SMC would impact safety. The study recommends that the SMC incorporate process descriptions for SRM …


Current States , Prediction And Prevention Suggestions For Water Hazard Accidents In China’S Coal Mines, Sun Wenjie, Li Wenjie, Ning Dianyan, Ren Lingfeng Dec 2023

Current States , Prediction And Prevention Suggestions For Water Hazard Accidents In China’S Coal Mines, Sun Wenjie, Li Wenjie, Ning Dianyan, Ren Lingfeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

At present, the pattern of coal resource development in China has changed, but the water hazard accidents that restrict the safety production of coal mine still occur from time to time. In order to explore the characteristics and laws of water hazard accidents in coal mines in China and scientifically study and judge the evolution trend of water hazard accidents, study was performed in terms of the year, region, accident level and influencing factors of water hazard accidents, with the nationwide water hazard accidents from 2001 to 2022 as the statistical objects. Meanwhile, the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model was …


Dam Failure And Incident Investigations, Nathaniel Gee Dec 2023

Dam Failure And Incident Investigations, Nathaniel Gee

Theses and Dissertations

There are multiple dam failures and dam safety incidents every year in the United States. There are currently no standard policy requirements for when or how to conduct failure or incident investigations. This paper first reviews one of the most significant failures in US history, the failure of Buffalo Creek Dam No. 3 in order to explore the impacts of one significant failure on dam safety policy in the US. The paper then explores the currents state of the industry by reviewing 58 different dam failure or incident investigation reports based on incidents that occurred in the United States from …


Assessing The Effectiveness Of Nuclear Security Training And Education In Ghana, Michael Nii Sanka Ansah, Boris Stepanov Pavlovich, Paul Atta Amoah, David Okoh Kpeglo, Simon Adu, Bright Kwame Afornu Dec 2023

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Nuclear Security Training And Education In Ghana, Michael Nii Sanka Ansah, Boris Stepanov Pavlovich, Paul Atta Amoah, David Okoh Kpeglo, Simon Adu, Bright Kwame Afornu

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Growing attention is being given to nuclear power across several African countries, including in Ghana. The world is depending on nuclear energy as a reliable and efficient means of energy generation. Ghana as a country is developing nuclear energy; thus, equal attention must be directed toward nuclear safety and security. Ghana is gradually developing interest in and is devoting substantial required resources to educating and training on nuclear security to meet the standards required by international bodies. Institutions such as the Nuclear Safety and Security Centre and the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission …


Hardware In The Loop Test Stand For Battery Management System Validation In Shipboard Controls, Cole Dawson Tschritter Aug 2023

Hardware In The Loop Test Stand For Battery Management System Validation In Shipboard Controls, Cole Dawson Tschritter

Electrical Engineering Dissertations

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, large-scale power systems have relied on power generation always exceeding the total load demand. Though this is most often the case, there are rare occurrences where failures in the generation, distribution, or even planning, that have led to situations where load demand quickly surpasses the generation capacity. In such cases, uncontrolled shedding of loads occurs, leading to brownouts or blackouts that can have catastrophic impact to both people and property. Advanced architectures, such as microgrids, offer a variety of improvements that are aimed at mitigating or even preventing these failures. Improvements include distributed power generation, active source and …


Evaluation Of Sic Thermomechanical Performance Safety Limits For Triso With Bison, Carlotta G. Ghezzi Aug 2023

Evaluation Of Sic Thermomechanical Performance Safety Limits For Triso With Bison, Carlotta G. Ghezzi

Doctoral Dissertations

The relatively recent growing development of advanced reactors such as High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) and Fluoride-Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactors (FHRs) has led to increasing need for safety analysis of TRISO fuel, which is utilized by such reactors. For these designs to be licensed, safety limits are to be determined for the adopted fuel and its constituents during reactor operation and design basis accidents to prevent fission products release.

The first goal of this dissertation is understanding how TRISO components material properties influence SiC response during transients. The relative impact of material properties and transient features, as well as burnup and power …


Digital Challenges And Opportunities Of Addressing On-Site Productivity And Safety On Construction Job Sites: An International Perspective, Ahmed Hassan, Ankur Mitra, Mark Mulville, Alan Hore Jul 2023

Digital Challenges And Opportunities Of Addressing On-Site Productivity And Safety On Construction Job Sites: An International Perspective, Ahmed Hassan, Ankur Mitra, Mark Mulville, Alan Hore

Conference papers

The slow pace of digital transformation in construction remains an impediment to the industry’s evolution. Despite rapid developments in digital technologies, the vast bulk of data generated on construction job sites remains underutilised due to the limited use of real-time data capture. The diffusion of digital solutions in construction depends on successfully capturing critical real-time data that can inform and contribute to more productive work patterns and safer job sites. Nevertheless, the construction industry’s fragmented nature has segregated the digital solutions offered by technology providers from the volatile challenges facing on-site construction practitioners.

This paper will present the early development …


Development Of Underground Utility Construction Course Curricula For The Granite Heavy Civil Minor, Jared T. Schlenker Jun 2023

Development Of Underground Utility Construction Course Curricula For The Granite Heavy Civil Minor, Jared T. Schlenker

Construction Management

This paper discusses the introduction of a new course into the Granite Heavy Civil Minor (GHCM) curriculum. This course revolves around underground utility construction and is designed to provide students with knowledge that neither the Construction Management nor Civil Engineering Departments provide. The additional curricula are comprised of underground construction safety, materials, and construction methods that will provide GHCM students with a competitive advantage when applying for jobs in heavy civil construction, further incentivizing the minor program. This senior project utilizes PowerPoint presentations that can either comprise an entire course or be added to existing courses as supplemental information


Investigating Disparities And Safety Equity In Pedestrian Nighttime Crashes In Michigan, Sia Isaria Mwende Jun 2023

Investigating Disparities And Safety Equity In Pedestrian Nighttime Crashes In Michigan, Sia Isaria Mwende

Masters Theses

For the past eleven years (2011 - 2021) in Michigan, 76 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes occurred at night. Over the same period, about 36 percent of pedestrian nighttime crashes were fatal or incapacitating (KA), while only 25 percent of daytime pedestrian crashes were fatal or incapacitating (KA). Previous studies suggest that, overall, poor neighborhoods and racial minorities are associated with more pedestrian crashes. With more fatal and incapacitating pedestrian crashes occurring at night, it is imperative to examine how these crashes are distributed by economic status and racial makeup. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the racial and …


Safety First Means Safety Fits- An Awareness Campaign For Inclusive Ppe Designed For Women, Reagan Kellen Tonda Jun 2023

Safety First Means Safety Fits- An Awareness Campaign For Inclusive Ppe Designed For Women, Reagan Kellen Tonda

Construction Management

The construction industry has long overlooked the unique needs of women in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE), leading to discomfort and safety risks. This paper presents the "Safety First Means Safety Fits" social media awareness campaign, which aims to increase awareness about the importance of size-inclusive PPE for women and the progress being made in the industry. The campaign utilized social media, specifically Instagram, as a platform for dialogue and information distribution. The campaign involved the creation of an Instagram account (@safetyfits_CP) and the development of six posts addressing various aspects of women's PPE. The posts were promoted through …


Inventory, Operations, And Safety At Free Right-Turn Ramps, Aemal Khattak, Jonathon Camezind, Mm Shakui Haque May 2023

Inventory, Operations, And Safety At Free Right-Turn Ramps, Aemal Khattak, Jonathon Camezind, Mm Shakui Haque

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This research focused on traffic safety and operational performance of rural, minor approach stop-controlled intersections with free right-turn (FRT) ramps. The objectives of the research were to:

  • Create a statewide inventory of rural FRT ramp intersections and provide to the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT),
  • Using NDOT 10-year crash data, conduct statistical safety analysis of rural FRT intersections extending ¼-mile in each direction from the intersection,
  • Study vehicular operations at rural intersections with and without FRT ramps including a comparison of vehicular conflicts, and
  • Develop guidelines for operations and safety tradeoffs to assist with NDOT projects on maintaining similar locations, …


Personal Protective Equipment Usage And Injury Type, Nathan Giannini May 2023

Personal Protective Equipment Usage And Injury Type, Nathan Giannini

Construction Management

Workers in the construction industry have many injuries both minor and life-altering. The industry suffers from injuries of all kinds such as falls, electrocution, and being struck by flying objects. To protect against this, workers wear certain types of personal protective equipment (PPE) on construction sites as a last line of defense. The equipment available such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, respirators, and hearing protection either protects against acute injuries (those that occur instantly) or chronic injuries (those that occur over time). This study investigates whether the type of injury that PPE protects against, acute or chronic, affects the …


The Impact Of Albuquerque’S Bus Rapid Transit System On Pedestrian Safety, Martina Mercure Apr 2023

The Impact Of Albuquerque’S Bus Rapid Transit System On Pedestrian Safety, Martina Mercure

Civil Engineering ETDs

This project will explore the impacts of several traffic safety countermeasures and roadway design changes on pedestrian safety along the Central Avenue corridor of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The motivation behind this research is the communities concern for the increase in pedestrian fatalities in the US and specifically New Mexico. The research will have a specific focus on pedestrian safety, but we will also address traffic safety outcomes for motor vehicle users and bicyclists. The City of Albuquerque has taken note of the traffic safety issues on Central Avenue and has implemented or is in the process of implementing several countermeasures …


Enhancing Pedestrian-Autonomous Vehicle Safety In Low Visibility Scenarios: A Comprehensive Simulation Method, Zizheng Yan, Yang Liu, Hong Yang Apr 2023

Enhancing Pedestrian-Autonomous Vehicle Safety In Low Visibility Scenarios: A Comprehensive Simulation Method, Zizheng Yan, Yang Liu, Hong Yang

Modeling, Simulation and Visualization Student Capstone Conference

Self-driving cars raise safety concerns, particularly regarding pedestrian interactions. Current research lacks a systematic understanding of these interactions in diverse scenarios. Autonomous Vehicle (AV) performance can vary due to perception accuracy, algorithm reliability, and environmental dynamics. This study examines AV-pedestrian safety issues, focusing on low visibility conditions, using a co-simulation framework combining virtual reality and an autonomous driving simulator. 40 experiments were conducted, extracting surrogate safety measures (SSMs) from AV and pedestrian trajectories. The results indicate that low visibility can impair AV performance, increasing conflict risks for pedestrians. AV algorithms may require further enhancements and validations for consistent safety performance …