Designing infrastructure for AVs in rural and remote Australia: built environment futures

Overview

https://research.qut.edu.au/designlab/https://research.qut.edu.au/designlab/

As automated vehicles (AVs) begin to operate beyond controlled industrial environments and into the complex realities of rural and remote public roads, existing infrastructure must evolve to support their safe, reliable, and socially accepted deployment. From road geometry and signage to connectivity, rest stops and ecosystem interfaces, the built environment will play a critical role in enabling AV integration. However, rural infrastructure is often underfunded, poorly maintained, or not designed with automation in mind. Working within the ARC Training Centre for Automated Vehicles in Rural and Remote Regions (AVR3), this PhD project focuses on understanding and reimagining these infrastructural needs through a human-centred and context-sensitive approach. This PhD project will explore how rural roadways and their surrounding environments can be better designed and adapted to support AV technologies in ways that are socially inclusive, environmentally sensitive, and technically viable.

Research activities

As part of this PhD project, the student will:

• conduct fieldwork and site analyses in collaboration with regional councils and industry partners to identify infrastructure gaps and pain points for AV deployment
• map and model the interaction between AV systems and existing road and roadside environments using real-world and simulated data
• engage with local communities, planning authorities, and AV developers to identify needs and concerns about infrastructural change
• use human-centred and participatory design methods to develop future-focused infrastructure interventions that support AV operation, safety, and acceptance
• contribute to the development of design and policy guidelines for AV-compatible rural infrastructure for industry and government partners of the AVR3 Centre.

Outcomes

The project aims to deliver:

• a typology of rural and remote infrastructural challenges specific to AV deployment
• innovative infrastructural design concepts, policies, and strategies tailored to regional contexts
• tools and frameworks to evaluate the social, environmental, and technical impacts of AV infrastructure interventions
• recommendations to government and industry for upgrading infrastructure in ways that align with safety, equity, and sustainability goals
• academic publications in design research, transport planning, infrastructure studies, and HCI.

Skills and experience

Ideal candidates will have:

• a background in:
  • urban or regional planning
  • architecture
  • design
  • transport engineering
  • civil engineering
  • rural studies
  • geography
  • a related field
• experience in qualitative and/or spatial research methods such as:
  • site observation
  • mapping
  • interviews
  • scenario planning
• interest in emerging mobility technologies, infrastructure futures, and systems thinking
• strong skills in stakeholder engagement and the ability to work across disciplines
• familiarity with simulation tools, GIS, or environmental modelling is desirable but not essential.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

Explore our research scholarships

Keywords

• autonomous vehicles
• built environment
• infrastructure design
• rural and remote regions
• transport planning
• road safety
• human-centred design
• mobility futures
• av readiness
• infrastructure innovation

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.