NOTE

Research in progress

BACKGROUND

In 2014, NCHRP Project 20-24(98), Connected/Automated Vehicle Research Roadmap for AASHTO, developed a research roadmap for connected vehicle (CV) and automated vehicle (AV) related policy, planning, and implementation issues facing state and local transportation agencies. This roadmap has served as a key reference for the panel overseeing NCHRP Project 20-102, Impacts of Connected Vehicles and Automated Vehicles on State and Local Transportation Agencies, in selecting tasks to fund as part of the NCHRP 20-102 effort.

In recognition that planning efforts in this area need to be continually updated to reflect changing conditions, NCHRP Project 20-102(19), Update AASHTO’s Connected Vehicle/Automated Vehicle Research Roadmap, began in 2018 to update the roadmap and is scheduled for completion in March 2020. A similar effort is needed through 2021.

OBJECTIVE

Building upon the efforts of NCHRP Projects 20-24(98) and 20-102(19), the objective of this project is to refresh the CV/AV research roadmap and to maintain the roadmap for the duration of the contract by providing regular updates as new and relevant information or issues are identified by the research team and NCHRP project panel. The research team will be expected to use many sources, including the literature, relevant AASHTO events, relevant research underway or planned by other research institutions, the annual Automated Vehicle Symposium sponsored by TRB and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and the TRB Forum on Preparing for Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility.

TASKS

Task 1. Meet with the NCHRP on Friday, January 10, 2020 in Washington, DC to establish the context, themes, goals, and criteria for future research conducted under NCHRP Project 20-102. The context, themes, goals, and criteria should reflect the multimodal objectives of the state departments of transportation (DOTs), the types of projects that NCHRP is best suited to address, and work being done by other research efforts in this space (e.g., vehicle manufacturers, federal DOT, Cooperative Automated Transportation (CAT) Coalition, Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund Study). Prior to the meeting, participate in a NCHRP-hosted web conference with the U.S. DOT and AASHTO to review the related work those organizations have underway and planned.

Task 2. Draft an updated CV/AV research roadmap to reflect the context, themes, goals, and criteria established in Task 1. The roadmap should clarify the primary purpose of NCHRP 20-102 projects in the aggregate, as well as their implicit vision for national outcomes. The roadmap should consider research needs identified in NCHRP and other research projects and describe relationships among the NCHRP 20-102 research themes and goals and those of related efforts. Engage the NCHRP 20-102 project panel and other key stakeholders in a webinar in April 2020 to review the draft roadmap, and finalize the roadmap based on this input. Repeat the webinar every 6 months to refresh the roadmap.

Task 3. By May 29, 2020, deliver a slate of potential research projects drawn from the Task 2 roadmap with a combined budget of approximately twice the funds available for programming through NCHRP 20-102 (estimated at $3,000,000). The slate should include phased efforts targeting longer-term goals. Problem statements should describe relationships to other research and deployment efforts, governmental and private sector stakeholders, and partners that could facilitate success in the research and its implementation. Prior to the meeting of the NCHRP 20-102 project panel at the 2020 Automated Vehicle Symposium, solicit and compile feedback on the proposed research from critical AASHTO committees and others. At the meeting, present the slate of potential research and the feedback to the panel.

Task 4. By May 28, 2021, deliver a second slate of potential research projects drawn from the Task 2 roadmap with a combined budget of approximately twice the funds available for programming through NCHRP 20-102 (estimated at $3,000,000). The slate should include phased efforts targeting longer-term goals. Problem statements should describe relationships to other research and deployment efforts, governmental and private sector stakeholders, and partners that could facilitate success in the research and its implementation. Prior to the meeting of the NCHRP 20-102 project panel at the 2021 Automated Vehicle Symposium, solicit and compile feedback on the proposed research from critical AASHTO committees and others. At the meeting, present the slate of potential research and the feedback to the panel.