title: Driving simulator validation of driver behavior with limited safe vantage points for data collection in work zones.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study is aimed at validating a driving simulator (DS) for the study of driver behavior in work zones. A validation study requires field data collection. For studies conducted in highway work zones, the availability of safe vantage points for data collection at critical locations can be a significant challenge. A validation framework is therefore proposed in this paper, demonstrated using a fixed-based DS that addresses the issue by using a global positioning system (GPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The validation of the DS was conducted using objective and subjective evaluations. The objective validation was divided into qualitative and quantitative evaluations. The DS was validated by comparing the results of simulation with the field data, which were collected using a GPS along the highway and video recordings at specific locations in a work zone. The constructed work zone scenario in the DS was subjectively evaluated with 46 participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The objective evaluation established the absolute and relative validity of the DS. The mean speeds from the DS data showed excellent agreement with the field data. The subjective evaluation indicated realistic driving experience by the participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of GPS showed that continuous data collected along the highway can overcome the challenges of unavailability of safe vantage points especially at critical locations. Further, a validated DS can be used for examining driver behavior in complex situations by replicating realistic scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Civil Engineering Department, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA. Electronic address: ghbham@uaa.alaska.edu.
authors.forename: Ghulam H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Bham
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Missouri University of Science Technology, Rolla, MO, USA. Electronic address: mleu@mst.edu.
authors.forename: Ming C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leu
authors.affiliation: Chrysler Group, Auburn Hills, MI, USA. Electronic address: mkv359@mst.edu.
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallati
authors.affiliation: Integrated Engineering Solutions, Pullman, WA, USA. Electronic address: dm2nf@mst.edu.
authors.forename: Durga R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D035841:Behavioral Research; D003198:Computer Simulation; D060389:Construction Industry; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017751:Safety Management; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Driving simulator; Global positioning systems; Safety; Validation; Vantage points