NTL Record

Title Making Driving Simulators More Useful for Behavioral Research: Simulator Characteristics Comparison and Model-Based Transformation, Summary Report
Record ID 61527
Personal Name
Creator
Philips, Brian H.; Morton, Tom
Corporate Creator University of Iowa. National Advanced Driving Simulator; Woodward Communications, Inc.
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and Development; United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety Research and Development
Publication Date 20150300
Language English
Abstract A central issue in making simulators useful for highway and traffic engineers concerns how well driver behavior in the simulator corresponds to driver behavior in the real world. Simulator fidelity plays a central role in matching behavior in the simulator to behavior on the road. Simulator fidelity often refers to the features and appearance of the simulator. The degree to which behavior in the simulator matches behavior on the road defines behavioral fidelity. This project characterized the physical fidelity and behavioral fidelity of four simulators. These four simulators represent a road range of fidelity and cost. Data collected from these four simulators begin to address the question of how simulators can support highway and traffic engineers. Overall, the results show that simulators with high physical fidelity demonstrate high behavioral fidelity and are likely to provide good estimates of mean speed in typical engineering applications such as roundabouts and roadway treatments designed to moderate drivers' speed. A detailed analysis of both physical fidelity and behavioral fidelity suggests the need to carefully assess the match between simulator features and the properties of the roadway design issue. A model-based transformation was developed to relate data collected in the simulators to data collected on the road. Future research should examine physical fidelity in more detail and its relationship to behavioral fidelity across a broader range of driving behavior parameters.
Rosap ID dot:39836
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/39836
TRT Terms Simulation; Accuracy; Behavior; Data analysis; Driving simulators; Human factors; Performance measurement; Virtual reality
General Subjects Driving simulator; Physical fidelity; Behavioral fidelity; Roadway design; Roundabout; Simulator fidelity; Simulators; Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor
Geographical
Coverage
United States; Iowa
TRIS Online
Accession No
1560240
Contract Number DTFH61-09-C-0003; DTFH61-09-F-00027
Report Number FHWA-HRT-15-016
Availability Federal Highway Administration
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/61000/61500/61527/15016.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository