Virtual driving trials to assist road sign design: a case study of Ohashi junction

This article describes the components of a virtual reality (VR) driving simulation system and its application to the design of a tunneled highway junction in Tokyo, Japan. The authors note that 3D models are often used in transportation planning to build support for proposals, share project information with the public, and to re-assess plan details. The simulator allows for road and transport plans to be experienced from a driver’s perspective in a real-time 3D environment. When implemented during the design process, user behavior information extracted from the virtual driving scenarios can be used to assist design. The authors describe the effectiveness of the VR tool as it was used for the safety assessment and design of signage and road markings for the Ohashi Junction project in Tokyo. Tunnel signage that was best received by the drivers in the virtual environment will be selected for implementation. The authors conclude that, despite some limitations, the tool was found to be useful for simulating real-time, lifelike driving conditions. The tool was particularly efficient for editing and visualizing different design decisions.