Safe-D Webinar Series: Development of a Connected Smart Vest for Improved Roadside Work Zone Safety

This project was an effort in addressing this problem through designing a wearable device to accurately localize, monitor, and predict potential collisions between work zones (WZs) actors based on their movements and activities, and communicate potential collisions to workers, passing drivers, and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). The project developed a prototype of a wearable worker localization and communication device (i.e., Smart Vest) that utilizes the previously developed Threat Detection Algorithm (Safe-D project 03-050) to communicate workers’ locations to passing CAVs and proactively warn workers and passing motorists of potential collisions. The research successfully completed project objectives and developed a working prototype of a smart vest. The product was evaluated through multiple field experiments, to assess the capability of the vest in accurately localize workers and detect proximity hazards. As a result, this research is expected to significantly improve the safety conditions of roadside WZs through prompt detection and communication of hazardous situations to workers and drivers.