Comprehensive Three-Dimensional Methodology for Design, Assessment, and Checking Process of Rural Roads

The planning and approval process for rural roads takes place in Germany iteratively within various design stages, each with a subsequent approval process. This gives rise to planning and approval times of approx. 15 - 20 years before a rural road is completed. A new kind of multi-stage methodology is currently being developed as part of a research project for the design, assessment and testing process for rural roads. Following the three-dimensional design in real time (stage 1) with an iterative 3D model at a special design workstation, a new kind of procedure with a sectoral power wall, a multi-functional box and special interactive tools are available for the assessment process in stage 2. As a result, it is possible to illustrate the assessment and decision processes in a better way and make everything clearer. After optimizing the route as a result of the assessment process, the subsequent stage 3 provides a quality check to integrate the route in its surroundings with the help of augmented reality tools – i.e. reality is cross-faded with virtual graphics. A real motion path can be selected or individual positions for the virtual cross-fading process. The theoretical principles for the individual stages in the compre-hensive methodology and the crucial hardware and software tools are available as prototypes for initial practical tests. The results obtained will flow directly into the optimization and validation of the comprehensive methodology.