This section contains the most commonly asked questions about I-STREET.
- I-STREETTM facilities are used to demonstrate and develop emerging technologies and transportation solutions for real-world demonstration and testing. Our main goals are to:
- Improve mobility and safety on campus and around Gainesville;
- Facilitate the development and implementation of advanced technologies invented at UF;
- Quantify the minimum criteria for operators to safely engage with automated vehicles;
- Assist industry and foster collaborations for developing and testing prototype technologies;
- Become a model nationally and internationally for the use of advanced transportation technologies;
- Leverage the Living Lab to advance education, technology transfer and outreach to transportation professionals across the country.
Testing began in 2018 and will be ongoing throughout the entire 5-year duration of the project. It is anticipated that the open-road Living Lab will become a permanent fixture at the University of Florida and testing will go on indefinitely. The scope and duration of specific projects can be found on our Projects page.
The Living Lab is a joint effort between the University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI), the city of Gainesville and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT.) UFTI is leading the effort in coordinating projects and communicating the efforts to the public. For specific projects and their primary investigators, visit the Projects page. Dr. Pruthvi Manjunatha is the lead on this project and can be reached at pruthvim@ufl.edu.
Any time vehicles are being tested as part of the testbed measures are taken to ensure the safety of motorists, surrounding pedestrians and bicyclists. The level of risk for each technology is assessed based on the ISO 26262 ASIL risk assessment approach USDOT guidelines.
The UF NAVIGator have a driver in the vehicle at all times – even when running in autonomous mode.
The main goal of I-STREETTM is to improve the user experience and safety of pedestrians. This is achieved by making vehicles more aware of pedestrian presence at mid-block crossings and signalized intersections. Other potential applications include apps that make pedestrians aware of approaching vehicles, interact with traffic signals, and anonymously track pedestrian movement to improve planning efforts. All autonomous vehicles have a live person in them at all times.
Testing of technologies occurs on actual roadways – our open-road Living Lab. Various sensors and technologies have been installed at locations on the UF campus, the city of Gainesville and the surrounding roadways. Maps of planned infrastructure enhancements for each project are available on our Projects page.
An autonomous shuttle service operated between the downtown area and the UF campus. These vehicles were in operation in the Spring of 2018. Additionally, UF operates the NAVIGator, an autonomous vehicle developed here at UF. Connected vehicle technology is also being deployed to allow vehicle communication with other equipped vehicles and infrastructure, such as traffic signals. Information about all ongoing and planned projects can be found on our Projects page.
The I-STREET™ Team is testing technology related to three main areas:
- Safety Applications for improved public safety through connected vehicle systems; smart work zones using CV systems; improved bicyclist, skateboarders, scooter, and pedestrian safety; enhanced rail-road crossings notification and improved at-grade crossings; road weather notifications and the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in transportation management.
- Mobility Applications for improved traffic flow throughput and travel-time reliability for all modes through efficient and intelligent traffic signals; intelligent parking systems (cars and trucks); freight delivery applications; and improved first- and last-mile connectivity.
- Data Management Applications for cost-effective data sharing and management through the use of vehicular data for fleet management and public safety; the use of traffic data for predictive analytics, decision support systems, dashboard applications, and third-party dissemination using cellular/Wi-Fi/Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC); and improved data sharing agreements between private party and local/state agencies. The use of Internet of Things (IOT) elements can also play a role in I-STREET™.
There will be many opportunities for the community to get involved with testing of various technologies. The autonomous shuttle project will be open to the public and feedback is always appreciated. Mobile apps will be developed for many solutions and the use and feedback from these apps is vital to our evaluation of these technologies. Incentives to test certain applications will be posted on the website and through other media outlets. If you have any specific questions on how to get involved please feel free to contact Dr. Lily Elefteriadou at elefter@ce.ufl.edu.