Feasibility assessment of the use of transit bus driving simulators : final report.

Trombly, Jeffrey W.; Riecken, Mark; Rephlo, Jennifer; Miller, Sheryl · 2012 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office

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Summary

This report assesses the feasibility of using existing transit bus driving simulators to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s multimodal connected vehicle research initiative. The primary motivation is to reduce the high costs and time requirements associated with field operational tests for safety, mobility, and environmental applications. By determining if current driver training simulators can be rapidly modified to emulate field environments, the study aims to facilitate more efficient product design, evaluation, and stakeholder demonstrations. The assessment specifically examines two application areas: a pedestrian warning system for transit vehicles at signalized intersections and a vehicle-to-vehicle warning system for right turns in front of transit vehicles leaving bus stops. The methodology involved a comprehensive review of literature and industry practices regarding bus simulator technology, alongside direct engagement with simulator manufacturers and transit agencies. The study evaluated three alternative approaches: using low-cost, low-fidelity simulators for driver opinion data; modifying moderate-cost, medium-fidelity simulators for experimental research; and utilizing high-fidelity simulators for detailed vehicle and driver performance data. The assessment analyzed technical feasibility, including the ability to replicate visual environments and alert capabilities, as well as economic feasibility by comparing vendor costs and required resources. The literature review highlighted that while bus simulator technology has advanced significantly, with options ranging from desktop systems to high-fidelity units with motion platforms and wide field-of-view displays, the community of practice remains smaller than that of other vehicle simulation sectors. Key findings indicate that current bus driving simulators are technically feasible for supporting the initiative’s purposes, provided specific modifications are made to software and hardware to represent the required driving environments and alert systems. The study identified that high-fidelity simulators, such as those manufactured by FAAC and Doron, offer the necessary realism for rigorous testing but entail higher initial and ongoing costs. Conversely, lower-fidelity options, such as the STSIM software system, present cost-effective alternatives for gathering driver opinion data, though they may lack the physical fidelity required for certain performance metrics. The economic analysis suggested that while high-fidelity solutions are expensive, they may be justified for comprehensive data collection, whereas lower-fidelity systems are suitable for preliminary evaluations. The significance of this report lies in its conclusion that adapting existing transit bus simulators is a viable strategy for accelerating connected vehicle research. By leveraging these tools, agencies can conduct preliminary testing and stakeholder demonstrations more efficiently than through traditional field tests. The report recommends selecting simulator alternatives based on specific research needs, balancing cost against the required level of fidelity. This approach supports the broader goal of enabling safe, interoperable wireless communications among vehicles and infrastructure by providing a practical, cost-effective pathway for evaluating new transit technologies before full-scale deployment.

Key finding

Current transit bus driving simulators are technically feasible for supporting connected vehicle research applications, but they require specific hardware and software modifications to emulate field environments and integrate alert systems, with costs varying significantly based on the required fidelity level.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• simulator training transfer
• simulator validity fidelity
• simulator sickness

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Methodological Resource: tool software, validation psychometrics
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model