Road Markings for Machine VisionNCHRP Project 20-102(6)

Update to AASHTO SCOTE

June 2016

NCHRP Project 20-102

• Impacts of Connected Vehicles and Automated Vehicles on State and Local Transportation Agencies– 20-102(01) Policy and Planning Actions to Internalize Societal Impacts

of CV and AV Systems into Market Decisions – 20-102(02) Impacts of Regulations and Policies on CV and AV

Technology Introduction in Transit Operations– 20-102(03) Challenges to CV and AV Application in Truck Freight

Operations– 20-102(05) Strategic Communications Plan for NCHRP Project 20-102– 20-102(06) Road Markings for Machine Vision– 20-102(07) Implications of Automation for Motor Vehicle Codes– 20-102(08) Dedicating Lanes for Priority or Exclusive Use by CVs and

AVs– 20-102(09) Providing Support to the Introduction of CV/AV Impacts

into Regional Transportation Planning and Modeling Tools

Cameras to Detect Markings

Adaptive Headlights

• Potential

Benefit

• Demonstrated

Benefit

Lane Departure Warning

• Potential

Benefit

• Demonstrated

Benefit

Highway Safety Statistics

• Roadway departure crashes account for over half of all fatal crashes (51%)

Potential LDW Safety

• Decrease fatalities by 7,529 fatal per year in the US– Journal of Accident Analysis & Prevention, Vol 43, 2011

• Reduce roadway departure crashes 26.1%– NHTSA

• Reduce serious injuries 20.7%– NHTSA

LDW Experiences

• Not effective as other vehicle safety technologies (IIHS 2014)

• “we don’t see any evidence that these systems are helping drivers avoid being in crashes” (IIHS 2014)

• 2/3 of Honda owners turn off their LDW feature (IIHS 2016)

– Annoying warnings

Early TTI Studies

• Simulated Conditions

– Sun glare

– Wet conditions

• Flat v. structured markings

Machine Vision

video

Challenging Conditions

• Uniform road marking maintenance thresholds• Preventive pavement maintenance treatments• Horizontal curves• Roadway lighting• Nighttime conditions• Wet conditions• Snow conditions• Debris• Poor marking removal

Historic Coordination

HighwayInfrastructure

Industry

Vehicle Industry

Standards Standards

Needed Coordination

Standards

HighwayInfrastructure

Industry(FHWA, AASHTO)

Vehicle Industry(NHTSA,

SAE)

NCHRP 20-102(6)

• Road Markings for Machine Vision

• Objectives

– develop information on the performance characteristics of pavement markings that affect the ability of machine vision systems to recognize them

– provide data and recommendations that the AASHTO/SAE Working Group can use to quickly develop guidelines and criteria

Work Plan

• Kick-Off Meeting

• Review Policies & Machine Vision Technologies

• Identify Testing Conditions

• Conduct Closed-Course Testing

• Analyze Results

• Prepare Reports

Current Testing Requirements

• ISO 17361:2007 – No requirements on types of road markings – Lane markings must be in good condition and in accordance

with the nationally defined visible lane markings std– No requirements on the environmental conditions – Visibility range must be greater than 1 km

• NHTSA– High contrast and uniform pavement– Lane marking specifications adhering to MUTCD– Avoiding tests in inclement weather including rain, fog, snow,

hail, smoke, or ash

Field Data

Texas A&M RELLIS Campus

Markings (Level 1)

Markings (Level 2)

Markings (Level 3)

Markings (Level 4)

Markings (Level 5)

Test Markings

• Possible Markings

– Continuous white

– Continuous yellow

– Skip white

– Skip yellow

– Contrast markings

– Raised retroreflective pavement markers

– Raised non-retroreflective pavement markers

Test Conditions

• Daytime

– Weather (dry, wet)

• Nighttime

– Conditions (dry, wet)

– Continuous roadway lighting (on or off)

– Vehicle lighting (tungsten-halogen, LED, other)

Next Steps

• Identify and obtain vehicle industry data

• Synthesize all data sources

• Develop up to 5 marking levels

– Color and retroreflectivity

• Provide 3M and Ennis-Flint specifications

• Install markings at RELLIS

• Conduct testing

Sensor-Enhanced Markings

• Pilot testing of enhanced detection technologies

Making It Happen