Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator Fleets (2024)
Chapter: Front Matter
Automated Applications for Infrastructure
Owner-Operator Fleets
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*
OFFICERS
CHAIR: Carol A. Lewis, Professor, Transportation Studies, Texas Southern University, Houston
VICE CHAIR: Leslie S. Richards, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia
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Nancy Daubenberger, Commissioner of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul
Marie Therese Dominguez, Commissioner, New York State Department of Transportation, Albany
Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Newington
Chris T. Hendrickson, Hamerschlag University Professor of Engineering Emeritus, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Randell Iwasaki, President and CEO, Iwasaki Consulting Services, Walnut Creek, CA
Ashby Johnson, Executive Director, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), Austin, TX
Joel M. Jundt, Secretary of Transportation, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Pierre
Hani S. Mahmassani, W.A. Patterson Distinguished Chair in Transportation; Director, Transportation Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Scott C. Marler, Director, Iowa Department of Transportation, Ames
Ricardo Martinez, Adjunct Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA
Michael R. McClellan, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Atlanta, GA
Russell McMurry, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta
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Steward T.A. Pickett, Distinguished Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY
Susan A. Shaheen, Professor and Co-director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley
Marc Williams, Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, Austin
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
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Shailen Bhatt, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC
Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Steven Cliff, Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento
Rand Ghayad, Senior Vice President, Association of American Railroads, Washington, DC
LeRoy Gishi, Chief, Division of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Germantown, MD
William H. Graham, Jr. (Major General, U.S. Army), Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Zahra “Niloo” Parvinashtiani, Engineer, Mobility Consultant Solutions, Iteris Inc., Fairfax, VA, and Chair, TRB Young Members Coordinating Council
Sophie Shulman, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC
Karl Simon, Director, Transportation and Climate Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Jim Tymon, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC
Veronica Vanterpool, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
Michael Whitaker, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Vinn White, Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC
___________________
* Membership as of August 2024.
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1119
Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator Fleets
Shauna Hallmark
Maroa Mumtarin
Omar Smadi
Theresa Litteral
INSTITUTE FOR TRANSPORTATION
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Ames, IA
Subscriber Categories
Maintenance and Preservation • Transportation, General • Vehicles and Equipment
Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Systematic, well-designed, and implementable research is the most effective way to solve many problems facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local or regional interest and can best be studied by state DOTs individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation results in increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research.
Recognizing this need, the leadership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1962 initiated an objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques—the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). NCHRP is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of AASHTO and receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department of Transportation, under Agreement No. 693JJ31950003.
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was requested by AASHTO to administer the research program because of TRB’s recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. TRB is uniquely suited for this purpose for many reasons: TRB maintains an extensive committee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; TRB possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, universities, and industry; TRB’s relationship to the National Academies is an insurance of objectivity; and TRB maintains a full-time staff of specialists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those in a position to use them.
The program is developed on the basis of research needs identified by chief administrators and other staff of the highway and transportation departments, by committees of AASHTO, and by the FHWA. Topics of the highest merit are selected by the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation (R&I), and each year R&I’s recommendations are proposed to the AASHTO Board of Directors and the National Academies. Research projects to address these topics are defined by NCHRP, and qualified research agencies are selected from submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research contracts are the responsibilities of the National Academies and TRB.
The needs for highway research are many, and NCHRP can make significant contributions to solving highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement, rather than to substitute for or duplicate, other highway research programs.
NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1119
Project 14-42
ISSN 2572-3766 (Print)
ISSN 2572-3774 (Online)
ISBN 978-0-309-71004-6
Library of Congress Control Number 2024942428
© 2024 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the graphical logo are trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, APTA, FAA, FHWA, FTA, GHSA, or NHTSA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.
Cover photo: Test run for an autonomous street sweeper. Image courtesy of Shutterstock user Karavvanov_Lev, 1964129893.
NOTICE
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COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS
CRP STAFF FOR NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 1119
Monique R. Evans, Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Waseem Dekelbab, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs, and Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Camille Crichton-Sumners, Senior Program Officer
Mazen Alsharif, Senior Program Assistant
Natalie Barnes, Director of Publications
Heather DiAngelis, Associate Director of Publications
Alison Shapiro, Editor
NCHRP PROJECT 14-42 PANEL
Field of Maintenance—Area of Maintenance of Way and Structures
Mylinh Lidder, NvDOT (Retired), Reno, NV (Chair)
David L. Bergner, Monte Vista Associates, LLC, Mesa, AZ
Matthew J. A. Buckley, Whitman, Requardt and Associates, LLP, Wilmington, DE
Luke A. Lorrimer, Maine Department of Transportation, Augusta, ME
Nadereh Moini, New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, Lyndhurst, NJ
Kuilin Zhang, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Katherine A. Petros, FHWA Liaison
AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The research reported herein was performed under National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 14-42 by the Institute for Transportation (InTrans) at Iowa State University.
The authors would like to acknowledge the many individuals and organizations that made this research project possible. In particular, the authors would like to thank the various departments of transportation who participated in the survey and targeted interviews.
FOREWORD
By Camille Crichton-Sumners
Staff Officer
Transportation Research Board
NCHRP Research Report 1119 provides the current status of and barriers to the implementation and application of autonomous vehicles (AV) and other automated technologies that may potentially supplement or replace infrastructure owner-operator (IOO) fleets. Autonomous or automated technologies may reduce the risk of worker injury and ease workforce shortfalls in state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other IOOs. This report will be of interest to those seeking alternative ways to accomplish tasks that may pose a safety risk to workers, IOOs, those interested in the use of automated technologies in transportation, and those responsible for allocating transportation resources.
IOOs in the transportation industry, public utilities, and emergency services are examining how AVs and automated technologies may be used to help alleviate workforce shortfalls. Significant benefits may be derived from the automation of several manually performed tasks. For instance, the use of autonomous fleets may increase staff productivity by allowing IOOs to direct staff resources to other tasks or new jobs, reduce exposure to unsafe job functions, or provide an opportunity for staff to develop new skills. Autonomous vehicles or automated technologies may include fleet vehicles, transit vehicles or shuttles, mowers and other maintenance vehicles, and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Under NCHRP Project 14-42, “Determining the Impact of Connected and Automated Vehicle Technology on State DOT Maintenance Programs,” Iowa State University (ISU) was asked to estimate the impact of dynamic connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies on roadway and transportation systems management and operations asset maintenance programs. This research is summarized in NCHRP Research Report 1084: Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology: Determining the Impact on State DOT Maintenance Programs, which provides a preliminary look at the CAV implementation and influencing factors for state DOT consideration. As an additional task, ISU was asked to identify AVs and other automated technologies that IOOs are piloting or implementing, determine the status of these applications, and suggest the next steps for advancing these technologies. The research team conducted a literature review and a state survey, and interviewed agencies to ascertain the status of their use of autonomous and automated technologies. State DOTs were surveyed and collectively indicated their interest in prioritizing the following functions in which to use automated technologies, noting their potential benefits. The functions include emergency and incident response, bridge inspection, work zone crash abatement, emergency condition assessment, traffic monitoring, construction inspection, and automated shuttles or buses. Members of local municipalities who have implemented the Federal Highway Administration’s Smart City applications were also surveyed.
Among the findings, the high costs of new technologies potentially prohibit testing and use and make it difficult to quantify the cost of implementation. Except for applications that use UAVs, most automated applications are being piloted, so there is insufficient data to evaluate performance. UAV technologies are mature and costs are quantifiable; however, state DOTs report using the technologies for multiple purposes, therefore, it is difficult to isolate costs for a given purpose. Agencies indicated a perceived benefit of automating processes but acknowledged additional skills are required for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of automated equipment and AVs. Existing regulations and policies may also restrict the use of automated and autonomous technologies. Additional research is needed to help reduce barriers to implementation.
NCHRP Research Report 1119: Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator Fleets and NCHRP Research Report 1084: Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology: Determining the Impact on State DOT Maintenance Programs, both derived from NCHRP Project 14-42, each have an accompanying PowerPoint presentation and an implementation plan. These resources are accessible by searching the National Academies Press website (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/) for NCHRP Research Report 1119: Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator Fleets and NCHRP Research Report 1084: Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology: Determining the Impact on State DOT Maintenance Programs.
CONTENTS
1.3 Autonomous Vehicle Technologies
Chapter 2 Information Gathering
3.2 Use of UAVs for Automated Processes
3.3 Processes that Would Benefit the Most from Automation
Chapter 4 UAVs for Bridge Inspection and Monitoring
4.1 Description of UAVs for Bridge Inspection and Monitoring
4.2 Examples of UAV Applications for Bridge Inspection and Monitoring
4.3 Summary of Applications for UAVs for Bridge Inspection and Monitoring
Chapter 5 UAVs for Emergency Response, Traffic Incident Detection, and Traffic Monitoring
5.1 Description of UAVs for Emergency Response, Traffic Incident Detection, and Traffic Monitoring
Chapter 6 Automated Work Zone Crash Attenuation
6.1 Description of Automated Work Zone Crash Attenuation
6.2 Examples of Automated Work Zone Crash Attenuation
Chapter 7 UAVs for Emergency Condition Assessment
7.1 Description of UAVs for Emergency Condition Assessment
7.2 Examples of UAV Applications for Emergency Condition Assessment
7.3 Summary of Applications Involving the Use of UAVs for Emergency Condition Assessment
Chapter 8 Automation-Assisted Snowplows
8.1 Description of Automation-Assisted Snowplows
8.2 Examples of Applications for Automation-Assisted Snowplows
8.3 Summary of Applications for Automation-Assisted Snowplows
9.1 Description of Autonomous Transit
9.2 Examples of Applications for Autonomous Transit
9.3 Summary of Applications for Autonomous Transit
10.1 Description of Autonomous Mowers
10.2 Examples of Applications for Autonomous Mowers
10.3 Summary of Applications for Autonomous Mowers
Chapter 11 Automated Garbage Collection
11.1 Description of Semi-Automated Garbage Collection
11.2 Examples of Applications for Automated Garbage Collection
11.3 Summary of Applications for Automated Garbage Collection
Chapter 12 Automated Pavement Maintenance
12.1 Description of Automated Pavement Maintenance Applications
12.2 Examples of Automated Pavement Maintenance Applications
12.3 Summary of Applications for Pavement Maintenance
Chapter 13 Automated Street Cleaning
13.1 Description of Automated Street Cleaning
13.2 Examples of Applications for Automated Street Cleaning
13.3 Summary of Applications for Automated Street Cleaning
Chapter 14 Summary of Findings and Suggestions
