Introduction

The ORITE human factors and ergonomics laboratory focuses on the relationship of the automobile driver to the road environment, especially in terms of improving traffic flow and driver safety and comfort. Research topics include traffic signs, pavement markings, curve delineation, Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS), work zones, traffic signals, and other related technologies. The core research efforts have focused on nighttime visibility of pavement markings and legibility and visibility of traffic signs under varying conditions, such as nighttime, rain, snow, and fog. Improved visibility and legibility of traffic control devices allows for a longer driver reaction time and less stress. These in turn lead to greater driver comfort and better driver decisions, ultimately resulting in fewer driver errors and traffic accidents, especially by elderly or impaired drivers.

Major sponsors of ORITE Human Factors research include the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Ohio (ODOT) and other state departments of transportation, and industry.

Featured Projects

Recent and current research projects and studies include(Click on the underlined titles to read abstracts or executive summaries of project reports):

• Improved Work Zone Design Guidelines and Enhanced Model of Travel Delays in Work Zones
• Field Evaluation of Unlighted Overhead Guide Signs Using Older Drivers
• Unlighted overhead guide sign feasibility study comprising a field evaluation and a photometric study
• Retroreflectivity measurements of pavement markings and traffic signs
• Visibility measurements and modeling of pavement markings of different widths, colors, locations, configurations, etc.
• Legibility measurements and modeling of traffic sign text and symbols
• Evaluation of ODOT Roadway/Weather Sensor Systems (RWIS) for Snow and Ice Removal Operations and winter maintenance decision-making systems evaluation
• RWIS Pavement sensor bench test
• Evaluation of a Real-Time Travel Time Prediction System in a Freeway Construction Work Zone
• Evaluation of CTCLS Series Traffic Signal Load Switches in the Field — Bulb Life Determinations, and Development of a Group Relamping Model -- Group Relamping Model Spreadsheet
• Evaluation of Ground Mounted Diagrammatic Entrance Ramp Approach Signs
• Evaluation of the Buckeye Crossbuck at Public, Passive Railroad/Highway Grade Crossings in Ohio
• License plate legibility evaluation

Facilities

ORITE features numerous state-of-the-art facilities to aid in human factors investigations, such as:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory
• Specialized Human Factors and Ergonomics in Transportation library
• Environmentally controlled climate chambers enabling reproduction of frost and dew on traffic signs
• Two experimental instrumented vehicles that utilize the DMI distance measurement system and are capable of computer-controlled driver eye scanning behavior and other vehicle parameter recording
• Eye-scanning behavior analysis software
• Pritchard 1980a and Spectra 650 photometers for luminance, illumination, and color measurements
• ART Inc. glare evaluation measurement instrument
• Cambridge visual stimulus generation system (black and white and color PC-based nighttime visualization system for visualization of computer simulation results)
• Vision tester and contrast sensitivity testing system
• Video recording and editing equipment
• Reaction time and information processing measurement equipment
• Retroreflectivity meter for traffic signs (ART 920) and pavement markings (Zehnter ZVR 1000)
• Radar and laser speed measurement devices

Specialized Human Factors and Ergonomics library software packages proprietary to the Human Factors and Ergonomics laboratory at Ohio University include:

• CARVE - nighttime retroreflective pavement marking visibility modeling software
• OCARD - curve delineation software
• TSLEP - legibility software for negative contrast (black on white) traffic sign text
• IRPE - nighttime retroreflective traffic sign or traffic control device visibility modeling software
• PCVISI - nighttime retroreflective traffic sign visibility modeling software
• LEGI - traffic sign detection modeling software
• LEGI-TS-PC software to predict the legibility if text on traffic signs for high luminance and contrast conditions
• Traffic signal group relamping spreadsheet
• Universal Interarrival Time Distribution Spreadsheets

Personnel

Dr. Helmut T. Zwahlen

List of Selected Papers and Reports

Research Assistants

• Andrew Russ
• Fazleena Badurdeen
• Erdinc Oner
• Sahika Vatan

Contact Information

For further information please contact:

Dr. Helmut Zwahlen 
Russ Professor Emeritus of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering 
Research Professor, Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment
114 Stocker Center
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 597 - 1790
(740) 593-2476

orite@bobcat.ent.ohiou.edu
zwahlen@ohio.edu

Copyright ©2004, Ohio University