Automated Generation of Virtual Scenarios in Driving Simulator from Highway Design Data (SWUTC/10/476660-00018-1)

In 2008, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) began using a desktop driving simulator made by Realtime Technologies, Inc. This system comes with a library of different roadway segment types that can be pieced together to create driving scenarios. The current project explored ways to create custom roadway segments for use in the TTI driving simulator. The project initially attempted to use AutoCAD® Civil 3D® roadway drawings and export them for use in the simulator. This attempt was not successful because all roadway geometric design features could not be exported. Next, the project used commercially available threedimensional modeling software (Road Tools by Presagis, Inc.) and was able to create new roadway segments that were drivable in the simulator. These new roadway segments are not as precise as those created in Civil 3D®, but for most driving behavior studies conducted in the TTI simulator, researchers judged them to be sufficient.