Visibility Near Intersection Partially Obscured by Vegetation

Abstract

A technique has been developed to quantify the visibility of vehicles to drivers approaching, or stopped at, an intersection where vegetation intermittently blocks their clear line of sight. The technique yields visibility values associated with a specific intersection, movement of vehicles, and vegetative environment. A computer program developed around the technique allows a user to determine the effects of the size and locations of specific vegetative elements on the partial or total visibility of one vehicle from another vehicle's location. The software is used to analyze the effects of visibility from removing or modifying selected vegetation surrounding an intersection, or along the crossroads. The visibility technique is general and can be used in many types of visibility analysis. The paper provides an example using the technique to determine the visibility between moving crossroad vehicles. In another example the visibility that a driver stopped at a controlled intersection has of the crossroad and traffic on it is determined. The technique can be used alone or in conjunction with field observations for the planning or analysis of vegetation effects on intersection visibility ranging from residential to forest settings.