A Human Factors Approach to the Design of Visual Information in the Highway Environment. Visual information in the highway environment affects drivers' perception, behaviour, and accident propensity. Using a range of methods and approaches, issues of key importance in road design will be addressed, e.g. (1) how increasing visual clutter in the road environment affects accident-producing behaviour, (2) how certain road situations create particular problems for the increasing number of older drive ....A Human Factors Approach to the Design of Visual Information in the Highway Environment. Visual information in the highway environment affects drivers' perception, behaviour, and accident propensity. Using a range of methods and approaches, issues of key importance in road design will be addressed, e.g. (1) how increasing visual clutter in the road environment affects accident-producing behaviour, (2) how certain road situations create particular problems for the increasing number of older drivers, and (3) how the road environment can be redesigned to reduce fundamental perceptual errors made by drivers. The proposal will generate new guidelines for how future road design can be optimised to minimise crash rates.Read moreRead less
Congestion management in key road networks of a major city through real time data collection, intelligent forecasting and real time routing. The project researches the issues for allowing Australian Road Traffic Authorities to automatically capture road traffic data, forecast traffic flows and smartly route traffic flows to avoid congestion on road networks. This will lead to several benefits, such as (a) reducing traffic congestion, shorten travel time and lower pollution, (b) better utilizati ....Congestion management in key road networks of a major city through real time data collection, intelligent forecasting and real time routing. The project researches the issues for allowing Australian Road Traffic Authorities to automatically capture road traffic data, forecast traffic flows and smartly route traffic flows to avoid congestion on road networks. This will lead to several benefits, such as (a) reducing traffic congestion, shorten travel time and lower pollution, (b) better utilization of existing road infrastructure by diffusing traffic to alternate routes, (c) provide economic benefit by allowing one to delay infrastructure expansion, (d) monitoring of aberrant behaviour by road users to ensure a safer road environment, and (e) improved flexibility in deployment of the Wireless Sensor Network to meet the needs of the road authorities and community.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354488
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Intelligent vehicles and road infrastructure (IVRI). The aims of the network are to integrate the activities of researchers and practitioners in the areas of vehicles and road infrastructure and through cross-disciplinary collaboration apply intelligent control systems to deliver mobility, which is safer for all users, reduces driver stress and environmental impact with increased local manufactured content and improved cost effectiveness. It is of great significance to provide a cohesive solutio ....Intelligent vehicles and road infrastructure (IVRI). The aims of the network are to integrate the activities of researchers and practitioners in the areas of vehicles and road infrastructure and through cross-disciplinary collaboration apply intelligent control systems to deliver mobility, which is safer for all users, reduces driver stress and environmental impact with increased local manufactured content and improved cost effectiveness. It is of great significance to provide a cohesive solution to the transport problem considering all modes, environmental impacts, and economical and social considerations. This project should lead to a report identifying Australia's capability in this sector and a roadmap for a future research network integrating university and industry based research.Read moreRead less
Occupant Protection in Far-side Crashes. Regulations and interventions to protect far-side occupants in side impact crashes do not currently exist, even though far-side occupants account for up to 40% of harm in real world side impact crashes. Through a comprehensive test schedule this research will develop an understanding of occupant biomechanics and injury mechanisms during far-side collisions. Current dummy bio-fidelity can then be assessed and improved, appropriate far-side test measures d ....Occupant Protection in Far-side Crashes. Regulations and interventions to protect far-side occupants in side impact crashes do not currently exist, even though far-side occupants account for up to 40% of harm in real world side impact crashes. Through a comprehensive test schedule this research will develop an understanding of occupant biomechanics and injury mechanisms during far-side collisions. Current dummy bio-fidelity can then be assessed and improved, appropriate far-side test measures developed, and recommendation for regulations made. It is anticipated that application of these test procedures will allow the development of innovative and world-leading far-side countermeasures that will ultimately improve vehicle occupant safety.Read moreRead less
iMATCH: Independent mobility, active travel and children's health. Policy interventions are used across Australia to improve children's independent mobility, to increase children's physical activity levels and social interaction, and to generate more sustainable travel behaviour, particularly for the journey to school. iMATCH provides a holistic and inter-disciplinary evaluation of policy interventions than is undertaken for most evaluations of school travel and children's travel behaviour polic ....iMATCH: Independent mobility, active travel and children's health. Policy interventions are used across Australia to improve children's independent mobility, to increase children's physical activity levels and social interaction, and to generate more sustainable travel behaviour, particularly for the journey to school. iMATCH provides a holistic and inter-disciplinary evaluation of policy interventions than is undertaken for most evaluations of school travel and children's travel behaviour policies and programs. By controlling for the influence of the built and social environment, the project will provide the necessary support to justify these policy interventions and to identify key improvements for their delivery, supporting more sustainable and healthy lifestyles for Australia's children.Read moreRead less
A theory-based approach to the design and evaluation of anti-speeding messages to target high risk road users' attitudes and behaviours. The proposed research offers three significant benefits. First, this research will develop an improved approach to aid the design and testing of road safety anti-speeding messages. Second, the research will identify the most effective advertising messages for different groups of drivers at risk of being involved in road-related trauma such as young males. Third ....A theory-based approach to the design and evaluation of anti-speeding messages to target high risk road users' attitudes and behaviours. The proposed research offers three significant benefits. First, this research will develop an improved approach to aid the design and testing of road safety anti-speeding messages. Second, the research will identify the most effective advertising messages for different groups of drivers at risk of being involved in road-related trauma such as young males. Third, through improving the persuasiveness of anti-speeding advertising messages, the research may contribute to a reduction in the extent to which drivers engage in speeding which, in turn, may lessen speeding-related road trauma which would have significant benefits not only for road safety but for public health more broadly. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0228900
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,000.00
Summary
Testing facility for heavily loaded bridge and barrier systems. Government and industry are increasing truck masses from current single articulated 42.5 tonne trucks to 160 tonne multi-bogie trucks. This will provide Australia with over $1 billion of potential benefits and an efficient and competitive transport industry. To capture these benefits and further progress Australia's economy, considerable collaborative research on a number of fronts must be carried out investigating how bridges and b ....Testing facility for heavily loaded bridge and barrier systems. Government and industry are increasing truck masses from current single articulated 42.5 tonne trucks to 160 tonne multi-bogie trucks. This will provide Australia with over $1 billion of potential benefits and an efficient and competitive transport industry. To capture these benefits and further progress Australia's economy, considerable collaborative research on a number of fronts must be carried out investigating how bridges and barriers can perform safely when subjected to very heavy traffic and impact loads under laboratory and typical service conditions. This application seeks funds for establishing a unique hi-tech testing facility in Australia vital for advancing such infrastructure technology.Read moreRead less
Vision Impairment and Fitness to Drive. Vision is fundamental to driving. Intuitively vision impairments will significantly affect fitness to drive. However the relationship between vision and crash risk is not well understood and current tests are unreliable. This study will describe the way in which specific vision conditions affect driving performance. The study will examine the effects of visual field loss on drivers' ability to monitor information, allocate attention and minimise the effect ....Vision Impairment and Fitness to Drive. Vision is fundamental to driving. Intuitively vision impairments will significantly affect fitness to drive. However the relationship between vision and crash risk is not well understood and current tests are unreliable. This study will describe the way in which specific vision conditions affect driving performance. The study will examine the effects of visual field loss on drivers' ability to monitor information, allocate attention and minimise the effect of distractions. Outcomes of the study will enable the development of evidence-based guidelines for assessment of vision for driving and effective countermeasures to enhance mobility and reduce crash risk.Read moreRead less
Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In additio ....Protecting Occupants in Vehicle Rollover Crashes. This project addresses a public health issue involving rollover crashes. It will help prevent 340 deaths, 6000 injuries and save $3.6 billion annually in Australia and many fold this number internationally. A dynamic rollover crashworthiness test protocol, that ensures efficient and economical vehicle rollover protection systems are designed and manufactured, will be provided to consumer and regulatory bodies to consider and implement. In addition, much needed Occupational Health & Safety information regarding vehicle rollover crashworthiness, which provide a safe work place environment for professional drivers and employees using vehicles, will be supplied to industry fleet managers, defence and emergency services.Read moreRead less
Variable Geometry Cooling Intakes for Passenger Vehicles. Cars reject engine heat via air forced through the grille, radiator and engine bay. The associated "cooling drag" increases total aerodynamic drag by 10-15% hence increasing fuel consumption. The highest heat load that needs to be rejected by the engine determines the quantity of cooling air, resulting in systems that are over designed for typical driving. This research provides a strategy of adjusting the cooling airflow to match the ....Variable Geometry Cooling Intakes for Passenger Vehicles. Cars reject engine heat via air forced through the grille, radiator and engine bay. The associated "cooling drag" increases total aerodynamic drag by 10-15% hence increasing fuel consumption. The highest heat load that needs to be rejected by the engine determines the quantity of cooling air, resulting in systems that are over designed for typical driving. This research provides a strategy of adjusting the cooling airflow to match the engine requirements (via variable geometry intakes that can be under the control of the engine management computer) offering substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions.Read moreRead less