Connected and Automated Vehicles: Resources to Assist Local Agency Preparation
Resources last updated 12/18/2020
Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) offer potentially transformative and far-reaching impacts to the transportation system—and other associated, reliant fields. This may include impacts to safety, congestion, personal mobility, land use, socio-economic characteristics, and the economy. However, realized benefits will be directly tied to how well public agencies prepare for these emerging technologies. Ideally, agencies interested in implementing CAV technology should consider the following:
- Gaining Knowledge of the Technology and Infrastructure Requirements: this includes basic understanding of the physical CAV hardware, operational limitations, adoption timeline, and infrastructure required to support field deployment. Infrastructure needs may range from CV-based equipment to less obvious requirements for safe AV operation (e.g., consistent, well-maintained lane striping).
- Assessing Potential of CAV Deployment: although significant uncertainties exist, it is important for agencies to assess whether CAV implementations are practical and address their unique needs. There are many possible applications of CAV technology in both urban and rural settings.
- Identifying and Pursuing Preparatory Actions: supporting local CAV deployment can take many forms: updating internal planning documents, policies, and procedures, legislation, financial investment, updating communication infrastructure, engaging potential partners, etc. If possible, being involved in existing initiatives (such as LaDOTD's CAV planning efforts) is also suggested.
It is clear preparing for CAVs is a challenging task. LTAP has created the following list of curated resources to assist local agencies in preparing for CAV technology. The collection is not meant to be exhaustive, but to provide key resources to initially inform and assist local agencies in their own preparatory efforts. The list will be continually updated.
The main CAV-related efforts in Louisiana are also summarized and categorized by legislative, administrative, and research activities. This list will also be continually tracked and updated.
Items in bold are linked to the resources. List items marked with (***) and in green are noted as especially useful resources.
If you have questions, feedback, or would like to learn more about this topic, please e-mail Christopher.Melson@la.gov.
Gaining Knowledge of the Technology and Infrastructure Requirements
Click on the tabs below to see list of corresponding resources.
- ***ITS-JPO: Various Connected Vehicle Resources [On-going] — ITS-JPO offers a wealth of resources to assist agencies in CV deployment, including providing: basic CV information, insightful module on USDOT’s CV program, list of implemented CV applications, CV deployer resources to assist interoperability of ITS equipment, resources produced from the on-going CV Pilot Deployment Program, among others.
- ITS-JPO: Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program [On-going] – The NYC CV Pilot, THEA CV Pilot, and WY DOT CV Pilot showcase a wide-variety of CV applications and necessary efforts to implement them.
- DriveOhio: The Future of Smart Mobility [On-going] – Projects under the DriveOhio “umbrella” also showcase a wide-variety of CV deployments, including: Connected Marysville (connected signals in a small community), 33 Smart Mobility Corridor (enhanced corridor monitoring across rural and urban areas), and several other urban-focused CV deployments.
- OR DOT: Inventory of Connected Vehicle Applications as Part of Preparing a Possible Oregon Road Map for Connected Vehicle/Cooperative Systems Deployment Scenarios [2016] – Although dated, provides comprehensive list and discussion of deployable CV applications.
Assessing Potential of CAV Deployment
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- ***FHWA: Connected and Automated Vehicles: A Primer for Planners [On-going] – Provides fundamental CAV information for planners and well-curated list of resources related to planning techniques to address CAVs.
- NCHRP 896: Updating Regional Transportation Planning and Modeling Tools to Address Impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles: Executive Summary and Guidance [2018] – Includes detailed information and guidelines for state DOTs and MPOs to help update their modeling and forecasting tools to address expected impacts of CAVs on transportation supply, road capacity, and travel demand components.
- CTR: Bringing Smart Transport to Texans: Ensuring the Benefits of a Connected and Autonomous Transport System in Texas [2016] — Although focused on TX, provides a variety of high-quality analyses to capture CAV impacts, including safety and economic effects.
- CDM Smith: CAV Traffic Simulation Literature Review[2019] — Provides summary of past CAV-related traffic simulation studies, including overview of: CAV penetration rates used, software and models utilized, and how risk/uncertainty was captured.
- FHWA: CAV-Related Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation Research [On-going] — There is a variety of on-going, FHWA-sponsored research to develop AMS tools for evaluating CAV implementations, notably: Developing “Highway Capacity Manual” Capacity Adjustments for Agency Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Operational Planning Readiness; Developing Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) Tools for Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Applications; and Enabled Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) for Cooperative Automated Vehicle (CAV) Applications. Efforts not of practical use, but worth being aware of.
Identifying and Pursuing Preparatory Actions
Click on the tabs below to see list of corresponding resources.
- AASHTO: Transportation Systems Management and Operations Guidance [2014] — Presents guidance and tool for agencies to utilize the TSMO capability maturity model. Not specific to CAVs, but important resource for agencies implementing TSMO-related programs.
- ***FHWA: Guidelines for Applying the Capability Maturity Model Analysis to Connected and Automated Vehicle Deployment [2017] — Presents an in-depth, CAV-specific capability maturity model to assist agencies in developing successful CAV deployments/programs. Used by several agencies to inform their CAV efforts: examples include IA DOT, FL DOT, and PA DOT.
- ***MnDOT: Preparing Local Agencies for the Future of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles [2019] — Develops recommendations (a toolbox) to assist local agencies in preparing for CAVs, focusing on the short-term and leveraging ongoing activities and resources.
- Various: Examples of Agency Preparatory Actions [On-going] – Agencies have planned and prepared for CAVs in varying ways. The following are illustrative examples: IA DOT’s Cooperative Automated Transportation (CAT) Service Layer Plan, MD DOT’s Connected & Automated Vehicle Strategic Framework, FL DOT’s Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) Business Plan, VA DOT’s Connected and Vehicle Program Plan, MN DOT’s Connected and Automated Vehicle Council, and CO DOT’s Connected and Autonomous Technology Program.
- NCHRP 289: Business Models to Facilitate Deployment of Connected Vehicle Infrastructure to Support Automated Vehicle Operations [2020] – Outlines the necessary methods, tools, and data to make the business case for CAV infrastructure investment, including building strategic, economic, financial, and implementation support.
Read the following article from the Winter 2020-21 issue of Technology Exchange:
