Demands of Autonomous Vehicles on Urban Infrastructure : A Study of required transformations and global adaptability to AVs

Abstract: This paper aims to assess the limits of urban fabric for the autonomous vehicles and demands of AVs on the infrastructure. It includes the existing road situation and required transformation for successful adaptability of this smart mobility in future. It is predictable that the cities ought to be reshaped before this advanced autonomous technology takes over our roads and makes the current vehicular mobility less popular or perhaps obsolete. To host AV´s, the future city will have to be smart and data-driven. This paper also discusses different aspects of autonomous vehicle technology and their suitability. For the roads and networks to be suitable for self-driving vehicles, the infrastructure will surely be upgraded according to the level of automation that will rule the roads in a specific location. Three standard models are developed in attempt to create different scenarios for successful operation of driverless cars on roads of various functional natures. First of all, the paper introduces the concept of smart cities and its components. Then it unfolds the technological aspects of autonomous mobility and its related challenges. After a brief overview of the basic concepts, the paper primarily discusses the demands of autonomous vehicles on infrastructure in terms of standard road widths, lanes, geometry, complexity, parking needs and trafficability. The paper further proceeds with case studies from three different geographical locations. The model scenarios are implemented on these cities to evaluate possibility of their existing infrastructure to accommodate self-driving cars. These hybrid model scenarios are crucially important part of this research as they contribute to final conclusions and suggestions. However, they need further development and work in near future for further research in this field.