Technical Reports – VEMI Lab /vemi University of Maine Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:28:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 Augmented Information in the Driving Environment: Increasing Pedestrian Safety with Augmented Reality Indicators for Older Adult Drivers in Maine /vemi/publication/augmented-information-in-the-driving-environment-increasing-pedestrian-safety-with-augmented-reality-indicators-for-older-adult-drivers-in-maine/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:42:36 +0000 /vemi/?post_type=publication&p=5441 This report describes the project activities conducted at 91¸£Àû’s VEMI Lab to address the increasing rate of vehicle-pedestrian collisions within the state of Maine and to improve older adult driving safety. Leveraging VEMI’s experience with virtual reality environments, human-subject research, and the lab’s fully immersive autonomous vehicle simulator, a proof-of-concept, computer vision-assisted augmented reality (CVAR) system was designed and tested by Maine drivers aged 65 and older. This system displays an augmented reality (AR) visual indicator (i.e., CVAR icon) on the simulated vehicle’s windshield whenever a pedestrian is detected in or around the roadway. The goal of this AR icon is to capture the driver’s attention and direct it toward the pedestrian, increasing situational awareness, expediting driving reactions, and helping prevent potentially fatal collisions.

Citation:

Brown, J.R., Fink, P.D.S., Movalia, R.M., Kastelein, M.E., James, K.J., Corey, R.R., & Giudice, N.A. (2025). Augmented information in the driving environment: Increasing pedestrian safety with augmented reality indicators for older adult drivers in Maine. Technical report for the Maine Department of Transportation and U.S. Federal Highway Administration. 

]]> Indoor Airport Wayfinding for Blind and Visually Impaired Travelers /vemi/publication/indoor-airport-wayfinding-blind-visually-impaired-travelers/ Tue, 12 Jul 2016 15:42:08 +0000 /vemi/?post_type=publication&p=1532 By conservative estimates, more than 4 million Americans have impaired vision, with the prevalence rising as the population ages. Wayfinding in complex public spaces, such as airport terminals, poses a major challenge for this group and adversely affects their mobility and quality of life.

Wayfinding refers to the ability to find one’s way to a desired destination. In an airport, critical wayfinding tasks include finding and passing through security, reaching a departure gate, traveling between gates to make a connecting flight, finding the baggage claim and ground transportation (taxi, bus, or rail), and finding relief stations for service animals. These wayfinding tasks must often be accomplished under time pressure. Other important wayfinding tasks include finding bathrooms, restaurants, and ticketing kiosks.

This project had three objectives: (1) to describe the demographics and wide range of visual impairment and wayfinding needs within the target population; (2) to explore challenges and solutions related to specific factors affecting airport wayfinding by visually impaired people; and (3) to develop three types of recommendations for enhancing accessibility of airport terminals: those having a broad consensus and which can be implemented in the near future, those requiring consultation with stakeholders for which alternative solutions need discussion, and those requiring technical research and development.

This technical note identifies best practices and recommendations for potentially viable solutions. This technical note is also intended to encourage discussion and raise questions for a broad audience including Federal Aviation Administration staff, airport administration, airline staff, people with interests in accessible transportation systems, vision rehabilitation specialists, visually impaired travelers, and members of the general public with an interest in accessibility.

Ultimately, solutions could be found through collaboration and consensus among stakeholders. Improved wayfinding and other forms of accessibility within airports require communication and shared responsibility of two major groups—those providing airport services and the users of those services.

Citation:

Legge, G.E., Downey, C., Giudice, N.A. & Tjan, B.S. (2016). Indoor Airport Wayfinding for Blind and Visually Impaired Travelers. Report to the Federal Aviation Administration, No. DOT/Faa/TC-TN16/54. http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/Download/Airport-Safety-Papers-Publications-Detail/dt/Detail/ItemID/572/Indoor-Airport-Wayfinding-for-Blind-and-Visually-Impaired-Travelers

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