Date Approved
2025
Degree Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department or School
College of Engineering and Technology
Committee Member
Kasim Korkmaz, PhD
Committee Member
Rui Chen, PhD
Committee Member
Alankrita Pandey, PhD
Committee Member
Giri Jogaratnam, PhD
Abstract
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are one of the advanced technologies that is being developed, and infrastructure modifications supporting AVs will be the next major research that is needed. A systematic literature review methodology is used to explore key parameters needed for implementation of AVs. The key parameters are analyzed against economic implications, costs and projected benefits of the integration of Level 4 and Level 5 AVs into the highway system, offering a nuanced understanding of deployment of AV technologies. The research aims at developing a guideline and framework for highway infrastructure readiness for AVs, a toolbox for policy makers and government agencies to use. Infrastructure cost models and readiness assessments of implementation of AVs on highways indicated that cost-benefit analysis is a good measure to understand economic impacts of the implementation. The key parameters, cost models and readiness assessments, are studied separately, focusing on isolated technological assessments at a time or specific infrastructural planning. This study addresses these gaps with mixed-method framework that combines systematic parameter identification with cost-benefit analysis, integrating the parameters like infrastructure modification requirements, consumer acceptance, and policy implementation costs into a unified framework for highway-based AV deployment. The study uses cost-benefit analysis framework with the technology readiness assessment model to develop a guideline and evaluation framework to combine the research findings of all the parameters and propose a formula to provide quantified cost-benefit analysis tool. The development of this framework evaluates from concept development to operational deployment. The integration of AVs into the existing transportation framework is a multifaceted endeavor that demands attention to infrastructure modifications, policy implications, and consumer perceptions. The proposed framework operationalizes these parameters into a normalized, comparative formula that enables quantitative evaluation of AV-related infrastructure investment scenarios. This framework assesses the readiness of AVs infrastructure, integrating economic and policy costs with readiness stages by aligning capital investments, operational dependencies and regulatory and consumer readiness. The framework supports a phased, evidence-based evaluation of AV infrastructure both economically and technologically allowing policymakers to prioritize investments based on both cost-effectiveness and deployment maturity.
Recommended Citation
Pillala, Soujanya, "Developing a guideline and feasibility tool for highway infrastructure readiness for autonomous vehicles" (2025). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 1313.
https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1313