title: Creating a driving profile for older adults using GPS devices and naturalistic driving methodology.
abstract: Background/Objectives: Road tests and driving simulators are most commonly used in research studies and clinical evaluations of older drivers. Our objective was to describe the process and associated challenges in adapting an existing, commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS), in-vehicle device for naturalistic, longitudinal research to better understand daily driving behavior in older drivers.Design: The Azuga G2 Tracking DeviceTMwas installed in each participant's vehicle, and we collected data over 5 months (speed, latitude/longitude) every 30-seconds when the vehicle was driven.Setting: The Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine.Participants: Five individuals enrolled in a larger, longitudinal study assessing preclinical Alzheimer disease and driving performance.  Participants were aged 65+ years and had normal cognition.Measurements:  Spatial components included Primary Location(s), Driving Areas, Mean Centers and Unique Destinations.  Temporal components included number of trips taken during different times of the day.  Behavioral components included number of hard braking, speeding and sudden acceleration events.Methods:  Individual 30-second observations, each comprising one breadcrumb, and trip-level data were collected and analyzed in R and ArcGIS.Results: Primary locations were confirmed to be 100% accurate when compared to known addresses.  Based on the locations of the breadcrumbs, we were able to successfully identify frequently visited locations and general travel patterns.  Based on the reported time from the breadcrumbs, we could assess number of trips driven in daylight vs. night.  Data on additional events while driving allowed us to compute the number of adverse driving alerts over the course of the 5-month period.Conclusions: Compared to cameras and highly instrumented vehicle in other naturalistic studies, the compact COTS device was quickly installed and transmitted high volumes of data. Driving Profiles for older adults can be created and compared month-to-month or year-to-year, allowing researchers to identify changes in driving patterns that are unavailable in controlled conditions.
authors.affiliation: Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Ganesh M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Babulal
authors.affiliation: Data and GIS Services, University Libraries, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Traub
authors.affiliation: Data and GIS Services, University Libraries, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Mollie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.affiliation: Data and GIS Services, University Libraries, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Addison
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Divisions of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science/Neurorehabilitation, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA; Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Roe
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; geographic information system; global positioning data acquisition systems; in-vehicle technology; naturalistic driving; older adults