Investigation of infrastructure measures to support automated shuttles at major events


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Investigation of infrastructure measures to support automated shuttles at major events

Context

The use of highly automated shuttles (Level 4) in mass transit offers potential for the efficient and flexible connection of venues at large-scale events. Vehicles at this level operate independently in predefined areas without constant human supervision and require a comprehensive overall system consisting of vehicle technology, operating software, and digital infrastructure.

The successful integration of such shuttles at events places special demands on the local infrastructure, particularly regarding temporary and permanent structural adjustments such as barriers, parking and stopping prohibition zones, as well as specific marking and guidance systems.

To ensure the safe and efficient operation of autonomous shuttles, structural and organizational conditions must be created that match the dynamics and volume of crowd flows at major events. This includes the flexible adaptation of infrastructure to varying traffic volumes, for example through the establishment of temporary restricted zones, additional stop areas, and clear route specifications.

Based on various scenarios of pedestrian flows, the boundary conditions for automated shuttles are derived in order to develop concrete infrastructure requirements that make the use of this technology safe and reliable for different event sizes.

Objectives

  • Investigation of the application possibilities and practical challenges of Level 4 shuttles for mass transport at events.

  • Analysis of the infrastructural requirements, particularly with regard to digital networking (V2X), and necessary structural adjustments.

  • Analysis of the impact of different crowd flows on the planning of Level 4 shuttles for large-scale events.

Requirements

  • Fundamental knowledge in the field of road traffic planning or traffic engineering.

  • Familiarity with the basics of automated driving.

  • Above-average initiative as well as a diligent, conscientious, and independent way of working.