Stantec expert looks at future of driverless cars
Stantec’s Rod Schebesch discusses what’s at stake in the transportation revolution
With sensors on major roads tracking volunteer vehicles and the first test of a driverless shuttle in the works, Alberta is on the cusp of a transportation revolution.
Rules set now will have huge consequences, said Stantec automated and connected vehicle expert Rod Schebesch.
Based in Calgary, Schebesch travels the world for the large architecture and engineering company, advising cities, highway departments, universities and resorts on the implications of this new technology. He also helped launch Edmonton’s connected vehicle project.
Postmedia reporter Elise Stolte sat down with him recently to pick his brain on what’s coming next and what’s at stake.
QWhat is Edmonton’s Active Aurora connected-vehicle project?
AA lot of public attention is focused on the vehicle itself, the self-driving car. But another part of this revolution in transportation technology is the ability to control traffic intelligently, said Schebesch.
That’s what Edmonton’s connected vehicle project is trying to do. It started about eight years ago with funding from all three levels of government, and involves sensors installed alongside Anthony Henday Drive, Whitemud Drive and 23 Avenue.
City vehicles, buses and other government vehicles are getting on-board sensors, which tell the city’s traffic management centre exactly where each vehicle is. The system uses those vehicles to identify congestion or traffic accidents, and eventually send warning messages to other connected vehicles.
It’s a baby step toward a new system where the roadway network advises self-driving vehicles where to go and warns them about speed limits, sharp curves and signal light changes.
“It’s like Google maps, but this is much more accurate and it’s a two-way communication system,” said Schebesch.
First, it will alert the driver. But “when your car is autonomous and connected, that message will go right to the car itself and the car will react. Then you get much greater compliance, which improves safety,” he said.
“That’s what is so powerful about this. We’ve never had anything like this before.”
QEdmonton’s now getting a pilot project with a public self-driving shuttle in October. We also hear a lot about Uber, Google and Tesla testing personal vehicles. What do you think will be the first widespread application of selfdriving technology here?
A“The shuttles are great because they enhance transit,” Schebesch said. They travel at low speeds, perfect for moving through residential neighbourhoods and getting people to LRT and high frequency transit routes.
It solves that “first mile, last mile” problem, he said. Plus, by supporting mass transit, shuttles can get people out of their cars, supporting denser communities. If there’s an easy shuttle to LRT, developers can build communities focused on welcoming, walkable places with less space taken up by parking and roads.
Without the cost of paying a driver to be on standby, a city could have an autonomous shuttle available on demand for residents in a certain area, like ordering a bus pickup with a cellphone.
They’re being tested now in 20 countries, including on public roads. The same type of shuttle that’s coming to Edmonton was tested last winter in Minneapolis, said Schebesch. “If you look at the climate, they’re quite similar — lots of cold, lots of snow.”
The fixed sensors in Edmonton’s connected vehicle pilot project could help because they’re not affected by snow. They could give an additional locator point for the shuttle.
Companies and cities just need to keep running pilot projects, he said. “Let the public get up to speed. Let the media get up to speed. Because there’s a lot of naysayers.”
QYou’re saying you want shuttles to be promoted. But what about personal vehicles?
AThat question gets to the downside of self-driving technology, said Schebesch. Because you can read the paper or write an email while in the car, people may simply decide to live further away, increasing the environmental cost of driving and congestion on the roads.
“People may decide to live at Pigeon Lake and commute to Edmonton every day,” he said. There could also be “zombie cars,” vehicles sent to do other errands or park in a distant location while its owner is working. All of that will add up to more vehicles and more distance travelled by road.
That’s why it’s important for governments to start thinking about policy now, he said. That will influence which option sees mass adoption — the public shuttle or private car.
One potential policy tool is congestion pricing, he said. Since vehicles are going electric, governments will have to find an alternative to the gas tax anyway to subsidize roadway maintenance. With connected vehicles, governments could require selfdriving vehicles to be tracked and charge drivers for the amount they use the roads. That could discourage excessive personal use, while still allowing it for those who need the option.
QNow the crystal ball. How quickly will this move?
A“It’s starting now. It’s great to hear these announcements,” said Schebesch, referencing the pilot project announced Wednesday. “The public will catch up. I’m looking forward to maybe my kids not having a driver’s licence.”