Human Factors Design Guidelines for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) and Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO)

Campbell, J. L.; Carney, C.; Kantowitz, B. H. · 1998 · ROSA P / United States. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This document, published by the Federal Highway Administration in 1998, addresses the critical need for human factors design criteria for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) and Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO). As electronic and microcomputing technologies advanced, in-vehicle systems capable of acquiring, analyzing, and presenting travel information became feasible. However, a significant gap existed between the rapid development of these diverse technologies and the availability of standardized human engineering guidelines. The authors argue that the effectiveness of ATIS and CVO systems depends heavily on driver acceptance, the system’s ability to integrate with other driving tasks, and its conformity to driver physical and cognitive limitations. Consequently, this handbook was developed to provide designers, engineers, and human factors practitioners with concise, unambiguous, and traceable design guidelines to ensure safety, efficiency, and comfort. The guidelines were developed through a comprehensive, five-year project conducted by the Battelle Human Factors Transportation Center, comprising three phases: analytic, empirical, and integrative. The analytic phase involved literature reviews, functional descriptions, and comparable systems analysis. The empirical phase included studies on driver acceptance, the effects of inaccurate traffic information, workload, fatigue, and the benefits of multimodal displays. The integrative phase synthesized these findings into a handbook containing 75 distinct design parameters. Each guideline is presented in a two-page format: the left page provides the quantitative or qualitative recommendation, a 4-star rating indicating the level of empirical support versus expert judgment, and illustrative graphics; the right page offers supporting rationale, special design considerations, and key references. The content covers general display and control guidelines, as well as specific subsystems including routing and navigation, motorist services, safety/warnings, augmented signage, and commercial vehicle operations. The handbook provides specific recommendations for various design parameters, such as symbol contrast, height, luminance, font selection, and color coding. It addresses sensory modality choices, auditory message length, and the complexity of information presentation. For routing and navigation, it offers guidelines on the timing of auditory instructions, map orientation, and the presentation of lane position and incident information. For safety and warning functions, it details the presentation of road conditions, hazard warnings, and emergency vehicle approaches. The document also includes design tools for sensory allocation and equations for calculating parameters like symbol contrast and visual angle. The 4-star rating system helps users distinguish between guidelines based on high-quality, consistent empirical data and those relying primarily on expert judgment or design convention. The significance of this work lies in its role as a foundational resource for the design of Intelligent Transportation Systems. By bridging the gap between technological capability and human capability, the guidelines aim to prevent driver distraction and ensure that ATIS/CVO devices enhance rather than hinder driving performance. The document emphasizes that while these guidelines are not regulatory standards, they represent best practices derived from rigorous human factors research. They provide a structured framework for the conceptualization, development, testing, and evaluation of in-vehicle information systems, ensuring that future iterations of these technologies remain aligned with driver needs and limitations.

Key finding

The handbook provides 75 specific human factors design guidelines for ATIS and CVO systems, ranging from symbol contrast and color coding to auditory message length and control compatibility, to assist designers in creating systems that conform to driver physical and cognitive limitations.

Methodology

review

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• Applied Guidance: design guidelines