Erath, Alexander
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Virtual reality and choice modelling. Existing applications and future research directions
Research eliciting individuals’ preferences, including stated preference (SP) research, have long utilised imagery as stimuli to visualise either attributes or situations deemed too complex to be expressed verbally. The advent of Virtual Reality (VR) offers choice modelers with exciting new opportunities. This chapter outlines key concepts underlying VR and summarises previous research combining VR and choice modeling. It provides a framework of different dimensions that should be considered when developing VR experiments, including technological aspects (display technology and movement) and other aspects, such as survey duration, motion sickness and the representation of time. The chapter concludes with several ways to further combine choice modeling and VR.
Image-based reality-capturing and 3D modelling for the creation of VR cycling simulations
With this paper, we present a novel approach for efficiently creating reality-based, high-fidelity urban 3D models for interactive VR cycling simulations. The foundation of these 3D models is accurately georeferenced street-level imagery, which can be captured using vehicle-based or portable mapping platforms. Depending on the desired type of urban model, the street-level imagery is either used for semi-automatically texturing an existing city model or for automatically creating textured 3D meshes from multi-view reconstructions using commercial off-the-shelf software. The resulting textured urban 3D model is then integrated with a real-time traffic simulation solution to create a VR framework based on the Unity game engine. Subsequently, the resulting urban scenes and different planning scenarios can be explored on a physical cycling simulator using a VR helmet or viewed as a 360-degree or conventional video. In addition, the VR environment can be used for augmented reality applications, e.g., mobile augmented reality maps. We apply this framework to a case study in the city of Berne to illustrate design variants of new cycling infrastructure at a major traffic junction to collect feedback from practitioners about the potential for practical applications in planning processes.
Quantifying the effect of street design on driving speed on urban roads
Reducing driving speed is a key factor in improving road safety and combatting noise emissions. Over the last decades, many European cities and countries have reduced the speed limits of residential and neighborhood roads from 50 km/h (30 mph) to 30 km/h (20 mph) or even 20 km/h (12 mph). At the same time, there is a discussion the reduction of the speed limit on main roads in urban areas in several countries. Main roads in urban areas are different from residential roads in several ways, including, but not limited to type of trips, type of vehicles and the presence of public transport, and are therefore limited in design options to reduce speeds. The study at hand reports on a virtual reality study conducted in Switzerland using a driving simulator. To assess whether road design influences driving speed, participants were asked to drive through a series of streets in VR with varying speed limits and street designs. Speed and lateral position were recorded; in a follow-up survey, participants stated their preferred speed along the same segments and were asked about risk aversion. Results indicate that only certain designs result in slightly lower driving speeds, while controlling for self-reported risk aversion and driving style. Given the characteristics of main roads, measures reducing the (perceived) lane width are promising, but require further investigation.
Quantifying the effect of street design on driving speed on urban roads
Reducing driving speed is a key factor in improving road safety and combatting noise emissions. Over the last decades, many European cities and countries have reduced the speed limits of residential and neighborhood roads from 50 km/h (30 mph) to 30 km/h (20 mph) or even 20 km/h (12 mph). At the same time, there is a discussion to reduce speed limits on main roads in urban areas in several countries. Main roads in urban areas are different from residential roads in several ways, including, but not limited to the type of trips, vehicular mix and the presence of public transport, and are therefore limited in design options to reduce speeds. The study at hand reports on a virtual reality study conducted in Switzerland using a driving simulator. To assess whether road design influences driving speed, participants were asked to drive through a series of streets in VR with varying speed limits and street designs. Speed and lateral position were recorded; in a follow-up survey, participants stated their preferred speed along the same segments and were asked about risk aversion. Results indicate that only certain designs result in slightly lower driving speeds, while controlling for self-reported risk aversion and driving style. Given the characteristics of main roads, measures reducing the (perceived) lane width are promising, but require further investigation.