Ph.D. Thesis Defense Announcement

Examining the Role Of Automation Technology in Transportation Interactions: How Vehicle Affordances Affect Equity and User Well-Being

By: Christian Douglas

Molecular Sciences and Engineering 1222
https://gatech.zoom.us/j/94927419491

2026-11-13 11:00 AM ET

Dr. Adjo Amekudzi-Kennedy, Dr. Sofía Pérez-Guzmán, Dr. David Ederer, Dr. Mark Tschaepe

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) and vehicle automation technology come in all shapes and forms. Vehicle producers are including advanced technology in new vehicles, and ride-hailing companies are deploying AVs in cities across the United States. As such, it is crucial to look across all levels of automation to evaluate the usability of vehicle automation technology and AVs. This research examines the ability of transportation features and technology to provide affordances (i.e., aspects of the environment providing functionality) to a diverse set of potential users. This work employs a variety of methodological approaches to answer the central research question of how vehicle automation technology provide affordances to human drivers. This mixed-methods, interdisciplinary research addresses this fundamental and guiding research question by (1) advancing a disciplinary understanding of equitable transportation technology; (2) gathering the insight and experience of vehicle users, designers, and regulators; and (3) utilizing a hypothetical lane reduction scenario to explore the potential affordances, and disaffordances, resulting from interactions between vehicles at varying levels of automation. Findings can be used to advise vehicle producers on inclusive vehicle design practices, inform policy guiding nascent vehicle technology, and help future researchers understand the direction these new technologies are going and the threats they can pose to individual safety and well-being.