Project Overview
Project ID: 0092-25-23
Team: UW Teams and TAPCO
PI: Dr. Tom Shi
This project evaluates enhanced light crosswalk illumination systems designed to improve pedestrian visibility and driver detection under nighttime and adverse weather conditions. The field experiments were conducted at Madison and Milwaukee locations using controlled pedestrian-mannequin movement, vehicle approaches, multiple lighting configurations, and synchronized sensing equipment.
Participating organizations:
- WI Department of Transportation
- University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- TAPCO
Experiment at Madison Site
Location
Address: 400–412 S Dickinson St, Madison, WI 53703
Coordinates: 43.085778, -89.360770
The crosswalk is located near street parking. Mannequins were positioned on electric skateboards to simulate pedestrian movement.
Lighting Setup
- Crosswalk illuminator full setup: 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, and RGB
- Streetlight enhanced solution installed 10 feet before the crosswalk
- Lux meter for illuminance measurements
- Streetlighting dimmer with black tape to control light spill
Data Collection
- Dual-lens camera with GPS
- Button logger for detection time and lighting sensor
- External batteries for laptops and equipment
- Speed monitoring: 3 mph for pedestrian movement and 25 mph for vehicle approach
Video
Madison Experiment Settings
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Rounds | 124 rounds |
| Testing Dates | November 24–25, 2025 |
| Time Periods | 06:00 PM–11:00 PM and 07:00 PM–02:00 AM |
| Weather Conditions | Moderate rain during portions of testing |
| Lighting Configurations | 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, Ice Blue, Pure Blue, Sky Blue, Base Blue |
| Installation Heights | 10 ft, 12.5 ft, 15 ft |
| Scenarios | Obstructions, parked small vehicle, parked van, adult and child mannequins, no enhanced and enhanced streetlighting |
| Spill Control | None; illumination limited to the crosswalk |
Experiment Design at Milwaukee Location
The Milwaukee experiment was conducted on N Maryland Ave near the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee campus. The testing route used a U-turn design to create controlled vehicle approach conditions.
Equipment Setup
- Streetlight enhanced solution installed 10 feet before the crosswalk
- Mannequins on electric skateboards
- Crosswalk illuminator: 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, and RGB
- Lux meter, dual-lens camera, GPS, and button logger
Testing Parameters
- Mannequin speed: 3 mph
- Vehicle speed: 25 mph
- Detection time and distance measurements
- Lateral placement variations: 0 ft, 9.5 ft, and 16.5 ft
Video
Milwaukee Experiment Settings
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Rounds | 196 rounds |
| Testing Dates | January 7–9, 2026 |
| Time Periods | 05:00 PM–10:30 PM on Jan 7; 05:00 PM–10:30 AM on Jan 8–9 |
| Weather Conditions | Heavy and moderate rain during portions of testing |
| Lighting Configurations | 4000K, 5000K, 6500K, Ice Blue, Pure Blue, Sky Blue, Base Blue |
| Installation Heights | 7.5 ft, 10.0 ft, 12.5 ft |
| Lateral Placement | 0 ft, 9.5 ft, 16.5 ft from crosswalk |
| Mannequin Clothing | Dark-colored and light-colored outfits |
| Scenarios | Small vehicle parked, adult and child mannequins, and streetlighting variations |
Field Testing Conditions
The experiments were conducted under real-world conditions, including nighttime, rainy weather, and different lighting scenarios. These conditions were used to evaluate how enhanced crosswalk illumination affects driver detection and pedestrian visibility.
Collected Data Summary
| Data Stream | What We Recorded | Primary Use | Data Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPS | Continuous GPS trajectory data | Compute driver distance to crosswalk and timing relative to pedestrian events | Sensor data |
| Onboard Camera Video | Video of pedestrian on crosswalk and driver face | Identify pedestrian presence, driver attention cues, and event timing | 128 GB Madison; 120 GB Milwaukee |
| Illuminance Measurements | Vertical illuminance recordings | Quantify lighting exposure related to driver and pedestrian visibility | Sensor data |
| Pedal Log | Driver reaction traces and pedal inputs | Measure driver reaction and response timing near crosswalk events | CSV file |
Data processing and analysis are currently ongoing.
GPS Data Specifications
- Sampling rate: 125 Hz, or 0.008-second intervals
- Time format: Local timestamp in Madison timezone
- Position data: Vehicle latitude, longitude, and altitude above ellipsoid
- Velocity components: North, east, and vertical velocities
- Orientation data: Roll, pitch, and azimuth angles
- Uncertainty metrics: Standard deviations for position, velocity, and orientation measurements
GPS Data Columns
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
madison_time | Local timestamp in Madison timezone |
latitude | Vehicle latitude in degrees |
longitude | Vehicle longitude in degrees |
height | Vehicle altitude above ellipsoid |
north_velocity | Velocity toward north in m/s |
east_velocity | Velocity toward east in m/s |
up_velocity | Vertical velocity upward in m/s |
roll | Roll angle, representing vehicle tilt |
pitch | Pitch angle, representing forward tilt |
azimuth | Heading or yaw angle in degrees |