Methodology for field operational tests of automated vehicles

Over the past decade a large number of Field Operational Tests (FOT) have been conducted to test Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in real traffic conditions with thousands of drivers. In order to ensure scientifically sound studies a FOT methodology was developed in the FESTA project. Currently we are on the brink of a new series of large scale FOTs, testing automated and autonomous vehicles. A common FOT methodology serves the following purposes: (1) to ensure that a systematic and scientific approach is taken by FOTs, (2) to enable the assessment of the impact of large-scale introduction of ITS on safety, mobility, efficiency and environment, (3) to be able to compare results of different FOTs, and (4) to build a community and facilitate knowledge exchange. FESTA focuses strongly on the drivers of vehicles, and the changes in their behaviour when driving a vehicle that is instrumented with new systems. In FESTA, it is recommended that driving with an ITS is compared with driving without it (the baseline). However, what will be the focus of the new FOTs? And what will be the main research questions these FOTs will address? And what is the baseline? Three types of focus can be distinguished; centred on the user, the vehicle or the context. In this paper we discuss the requirements for a methodology that addresses these three types of focus. We investigate how the current FOT methodology may be adapted or may need to be completely changed. Special attention is given to the type of data that is needed for baselines and for answering research and impact questions

Data management and data sharing in field operational tests

In this chapter it will be discussed how data from Field Operational Tests of Intelligent Transport Systems can be managed and shared. The Field Operational Tests, where hundreds of users get to experience the latest systems, aim to assess the impacts that would result from a wide-scale implementation. Evaluation principles of Field Operational Tests will be explained, and a closer look will be taken at the data that is collected for carrying out the assessments. The widely used FESTA methodology for designing and conducting Field Operational Tests and Naturalistic Driving Studies already provides several recommendations for managing data. This methodology will be discussed and illustrated by examples of its use in European projects. As field test projects set out to collect a huge set of data, the projects themselves do not usually have the scope or the resources to analyze the data from every perspective. Therefore re-use of the collected data also by other projects with different research questions has the potential to generate a wealth of new knowledge about what is happening in the interactions between drivers, vehicles and the infrastructure. Data sharing is the focus of a European support action, FOT-Net Data. The support action is working, with international collaboration, to form a data sharing framework, a data catalogue, and provide detailed recommendations for sharing and re-use. Outcomes from this activity will be discussed. Ways of sharing different types of data will be described, including the necessary steps to be taken to open up the data

Data Management and Data Sharing in Field Operational Tests

In this chapter it will be discussed how data from Field Operational Tests of Intelligent Transport Systems can be managed and shared. The Field Operational Tests, where hundreds of users get to experience the latest systems, aim to assess the impacts that would result from a wide-scale implementation. Evaluation principles of Field Operational Tests will be explained, and a closer look will be taken at the data that is collected for carrying out the assessments. The widely used FESTA methodology for designing and conducting Field Operational Tests and Naturalistic Driving Studies already provides several recommendations for managing data. This methodology will be discussed and illustrated by examples of its use in European projects. As field test projects set out to collect a huge set of data, the projects themselves do not usually have the scope or the resources to analyze the data from every perspective. Therefore re-use of the collected data also by other projects with different research questions has the potential to generate a wealth of new knowledge about what is happening in the interactions between drivers, vehicles and the infrastructure. Data sharing is the focus of a European support action, FOT-Net Data. The support action is working, with international collaboration, to form a data sharing framework, a data catalogue, and provide detailed recommendations for sharing and re-use. Outcomes from this activity will be discussed. Ways of sharing different types of data will be described, including the necessary steps to be taken to open up the data