TravTek evaluation: Orlando test network study

The Orlando Test Network Study was one of a series of investigations conducted as part of the TravTek operational test of an advanced traveler information and traffic management system (ATIS/ATMS). The TravTek system consisted of the Orlando Traffic Management Center (TMC), the TravTek vehicles, and the TravTek Information and Services Center. The TMC broadcast updated travel times for TravTek traffic links to the TravTek vehicles once each minute. The TravTek vehicles broadcast their link travel times back to the TMC for transmission to the other TravTek vehicles. The vehicles were equipped to provide route planning, route guidance, and a data base of local services and attractions. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of alternative driver interfaces on driver performance, navigation performance, driver perception, driver preference, and willingness-to-pay. A controlled experiment was conducted in which up to six TravTek vehicles traveled the same origin to destination (O/D) pairings to evaluate six alternative information presentation configurations: five TravTek alternatives and a control configuration. Three visual display conditions were tested: a moving map display, a symbolic guidance display, and a condition with no visual display. Two aural conditions were tested in combination with the three visual conditions: synthesized voice guidance and no voice guidance. The six information presentation configurations were evaluated both in the day and at night. Five of six combinations utilized the TravTek and one configuration (no visual display and no voice guidance) was considered the Control condition. The drivers in the Control condition had to plan and navigate to their destination as "they normally would" without the use of automated route planning and route guidance. Data from 318 drivers are presented. TravTek benefits to individual drivers included travel time savings and a reduction in perceived workload. Both the moving map and simplified turn-by-turn visual displays were very effective compared to the Control condition, particularly when the visual displays were supplemented with synthesized voice guidance. User perception and performance data suggest that the system was easy to learn and easy to use. Participants in this study indicated that they would be willing to pay about $1000 for a system such as the one they drove.