CoExist - "AV-ready" transport models and road infrastructure for the coexistence of automated and conventional vehicles

CoExist bridges the gap between automated vehicles (AVs) technology, transportation and infrastructure planning.

This was achieved by enabling road authorities to get ready for the transition towards a shared road network of automated vehicles (AVs) and conventional vehicles, both in terms of vehicle penetration rates and levels of automation.

The arrival of AVs promise to reduce road space demand, improve traffic and safety. Therefore, AV-ready transport and infrastructure planning is key for the development of the cities. CoEXist addresses three key steps in transport and infrastructure development:

  • AV-ready transport modelling: Validated extension of existing microscopic and macroscopic transport models to include different types of AVs (passenger cars, light-freight vehicles, automation levels).
  • AV-ready road infrastructure: Tool to assess the impact of AVs on safety, traffic efficiency, space demand and development of design guidance for hybrid (AV-/CV-shared) infrastructures.
  • AV-ready road authorities: Elaboration of use cases in road authorities used to evaluate AV impacts on safety, traffic efficiency and road space requirements (with CoEXist tools) and making detailed hybrid infrastructure design recommendations.

Foster technological development

The technological development of microscopic and macroscopic traffic simulation tools, AV-simulators and AV control logics were fostered within CoExist.

Simulation of automated vehicles

Automated vehicles were simulated in four different European road authorities with different urban structures and traffic compositions.

Better understanding of the effects of increasing number of AVs

The AV-ready modelling and impact assessment tools developped during the project will lead to a better understanding of the effects of increasing number of AVs on urban road infrastructure.

Project website