Simulation study of freeway work zone scenes for autonomous driving using Simulink and PreScan.

Area of Science:

• Traffic Engineering
• Autonomous Driving Systems
• Road Safety Analysis

Background:

• Freeway work zones present significant traffic safety challenges, especially with the advent of autonomous driving.
• High traffic accident rates in these zones necessitate in-depth analysis of potential conflict points.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze traffic conflicts within freeway work zones under autonomous driving conditions.
• To identify key factors influencing conflicts in warning and upstream transition areas.
• To propose safety recommendations for work zone design and operation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of freeway work zone scenes and traffic conflicts.
• Utilized the National Vehicle Accident In-depth Investigation System (NAIS) database for accident case studies.
• Developed a joint simulation platform using PreScan and Simulink for vehicle behavior simulation.
• Applied correlation analysis and gray correlation analysis to identify influencing factors.

Main Results:

• Identified key factors influencing potential conflicts in warning and upstream transition areas for non-lane-changing vehicles.
• Determined critical influencing factors for conflicts during lane-changing maneuvers (both main and target vehicles).
• Proposed specific length requirements for work zones and upstream transition zones.

Conclusions:

• Understanding vehicle behavior and conflict dynamics is crucial for autonomous driving in work zones.
• Specific design parameters for work zones and speed limit recommendations can enhance safety.
• This research provides a foundation for safer autonomous vehicle integration into work zone environments.