Connected vehicle applications for adaptive overhead lighting (on-demand lighting) : final research report.
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2016-07-01
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Edition:Final research report
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Abstract:The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) has developed an on-demand roadway lighting
system and has tested the system’s effect on driver visual performance. On-demand roadway
lighting can dramatically reduce energy usage while maintaining or increasing vehicle and
pedestrian safety. The system developed by VTTI uses connected vehicle technology (CVT),
wireless lighting controls, LED luminaires, and a stand-alone processor on the Virginia Smart
Road to sense vehicles and turn on roadway lighting only when needed.
During this research project, the use of on-demand, or just-in-time, lighting was investigated with
respect to assessing driver distraction, and to human factors, including a driver’s ability to visually
detect and recognize on-road objects and pedestrians. The developed on-demand lighting system
described above utilized dedicated short range communication (DSRC), connected vehicle
infrastructure (CVI), and centralized wireless lighting controls, and was used with VTTIdeveloped
in-vehicle instrumentation and custom software. The software allowed the study of
forward preview time in terms of forward lighting distance needed for drivers to detect roadside
pedestrians and hazards.
Visual performance testing revealed a relationship between speed and the amount of forward
lighting needed to detect pedestrians and hazards on the side of the roadway, and a small, but
statistically insignificant, practical difference in visual performance between on-demand lighting
and continuously-on lighting conditions. A survey of participant reactions indicated that the public
generally accepts on-demand lighting and does not find it distracting as long as a minimum lighting
condition is met. The survey also found that participants felt the system provided a safe driving
environment. The main application for an on-demand lighting system would be on roadways with
little traffic at night and higher accident rates, or higher conflict areas such as intersections,
pedestrian crossings, and merge areas.
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