{{Short description|Ohio self-driving vehicle initiative}} {{Infobox organization | name = DriveOhio | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | logo = DriveOhio_logo_2018.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|2018|01|18}} | founder = | founding_location = | extinction = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = | type = Governmental organization | status = | purpose = | headquarters = Columbus, Ohio | location = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} --> | region_served = | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | leader_title = | leader_name = Preeti Choudhary | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | parent_organization = ODOT | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | website = {{URL|drive.ohio.gov}} | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = }}
'''DriveOhio''' is an initiative within the Ohio Department of Transportation that aims to organize and accelerate smart vehicle and connected vehicle projects in the state of Ohio.<ref name="about-driveohio">{{Cite web|url=http://drive.ohio.gov/about-us/|title=DriveOhio {{!}} About Us {{!}} Smart Mobility Testing and Deployment|website=drive.ohio.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> It offers to be the single point of contact for policy makers, agencies, researchers, and private companies to collaborate with one another on smart transportation efforts around the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/03acfee125ec465ea9a04e8656df6f2a|title=Kasich creates center to advance Ohio's smart vehicle hopes|website=www.apnews.com|date=18 January 2018|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref>
==Mission== DriveOhio's mission is to serve as Ohio's central hub for "smart mobility", which it defines as the use of technology to move people and goods from one place to another as effectively as possible.<ref name="about-driveohio"/> In principle this includes all modes of transportation, including autonomous vehicles, drones, and ride sharing services. However, the initial focus of DriveOhio is to enable cars to connect with and communicate with highway infrastructure, through a fiber optic road network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=207722|title=Ohio Capitol Connection|website=www.hannah.com|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> Specific mission items for the center are established in Ohio Executive Order 2018-01K,<ref name="executive-order">{{Cite web|url=http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Portals/0/%21EX%202018-01K%20%28Drive%20Ohio%29%20SIGNED%20_1.pdf|title=Ohio Signed|website=governor.ohio.gov/|access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref> which refers to DriveOhio as "the statewide center for smart mobility":
* Establish communication between the agencies building Ohio's infrastructure and the organizations which are developing mobility technology. * Serve as the point of contact for mobility technology organizations that want to innovate in Ohio. * Help Ohio's government to plan for the future of transportation technology. This includes the development of policies, goals, recommendations, and operating standards. * Help to locate financing for new technology. * Work with other state agencies to help Ohio workers transition toward future transportation jobs.
==History== DriveOhio was formed through an executive order by Ohio Governor John Kasich on January 18, 2018. The desire to attract investments and jobs in Ohio was a motivator for creating the program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180118/state-creates-driveohio-to-capture-smart-transportation-research|title=State creates 'DriveOhio' to capture smart transportation research|access-date=2018-06-27|archive-date=2018-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173417/http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180118/state-creates-driveohio-to-capture-smart-transportation-research|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jim Barna, formerly the Chief Engineer for ODOT, was made executive director of the new organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dot.state.oh.us/news/Pages/Gov-Kasich-Launches-DriveOhio.aspx|title=Gov-Kasich-Launches-DriveOhio|website=dot.state.oh.us|access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://columbus.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Jim-Barna-DriveOhio-Bio4.pdf|title=Jim Barna Drive Ohio Bio|website=columbus.org|access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref> Besides establishing DriveOhio, the executive order also mandates that all state vehicles be equipped with on-board communication devices by 2023.<ref name="executive-order"/>
Less than a month after formation, on February 8, 2018, DriveOhio held its first Smart Mobility Summit as a public/private exchange of ideas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://drive.ohio.gov/news/Smart-Mobility-Summit-Columbus-Feb-8/index.html|title=Smart Mobility Summit educates stakeholders and partners on latest developments|website=drive.ohio.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-week-infrastructure-4-driveohio-richard-threlfall/|title=My Week in Infrastructure. No 4: DriveOhio|date=2018-02-09|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en}}</ref>
On May 9, 2018, Executive Order 2018-04K was signed, which authorizes autonomous vehicles to begin testing in Ohio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Portals/0/%21%21%21EO%202018-04K%20%28Signed%205_9_18%29.pdf|title=Governor Ohio|website=www.governor.ohio.gov|access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/09/ohio-allows-self-driving-car-tests/|title=Ohio approves self-driving car tests on public roads|work=Engadget|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US}}</ref> Participating companies and municipalities are required to coordinate through DriveOhio.
On July 9, 2018, the Transportation Research Center, an automotive proving ground near East Liberty, broke ground on a new facility for testing autonomous and connected vehicles called the SMARTCenter. This center will offer a variety of test scenarios for evaluating autonomous vehicles, and will be equipped with the wireless sensors used by connected vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trcpg.com/blog/2018/07/09/transportation-research-center-inc-breaks-ground-smartcenter/|title=Transportation Research Center, Inc. Breaks Ground on SMARTCenter - TRC|work=TRC|date=9 July 2018|access-date=2018-07-10|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710225310/http://www.trcpg.com/blog/2018/07/09/transportation-research-center-inc-breaks-ground-smartcenter/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Structure== The executive director is appointed by and reports to the current Director of ODOT, and may staff the organization as necessary. There are also two all-volunteer boards, the DriveOhio Government Advisory Board and the DriveOhio Expert Advisory Board. The Government Board represents local government, and the Expert Board represents particular industries. The chairs of both boards are selected by the ODOT Director, and all other members are chosen by the Governor, with no set limit on the size of each board.<ref name="executive-order"/>
DriveOhio also absorbed ODOT's UAS Center division, formerly the Ohio/Indiana UAS Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.oh.us/divisions/uas/Pages/default.aspx|title=Pages - Welcome to the Ohio/Indiana UAS Center Home|website=www.dot.state.oh.us|language=en-us|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> The DriveOhio UAS Center is headed by Director Fred Judson,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://osuairport.org/news/2018/06/ohio-state-pilots-project-integrate-drones-transportation-infrastructure|title=Ohio State pilots project to integrate drones in transportation infrastructure|work=The Ohio State University Airport|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en}}</ref> and is headquartered at the Springfield–Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://drive.ohio.gov/drones-can-fly-beyond-line-of-sight-at-ohios-uas-center/|title=Drones Can Fly Beyond Line of Sight at Ohio's UAS Center - DriveOhio|website=drive.ohio.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> Its mission is to safely study and apply unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology in the State of Ohio.
==Projects== The agencies which participate in DriveOhio oversee a variety of transportation-related projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://drive.ohio.gov/projects/|title=DriveOhio {{!}} Projects {{!}} Smart Mobility Projects in Ohio|website=drive.ohio.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> * '''U.S. 33 Smart Mobility Corridor'''. A 35-mile section of U.S. 33 will be furnished with fiber-optic cable and dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) units, placed every 600 meters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.33smartcorridor.com/|title=Ohio's 33 Smart Mobility Corridor|website=Ohio's 33 Smart Mobility Corridor|language=en|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/07/us-route-33-to-test-v2i-tech/|title=US Route 33 to test V2I tech – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=7 June 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://csengineermag.com/article/ohios-connected-vehicle-testbed/|title=Ohio's connected vehicle testbed - Civil + Structural Engineer magazine|work=Civil + Structural Engineer magazine|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202257/https://csengineermag.com/article/ohios-connected-vehicle-testbed/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * '''Connected Marysville'''. The City of Marysville and ODOT will be equipping some of their vehicles, along with the vehicles of volunteers, with onboard units to communicate with the highway DSRCs. Honda, which operates the Marysville Auto Plant, will also be providing onboard units for the vehicles of local employees. These joint efforts are expected to result in 10% of all Marysville traffic being able to actively communicate with the highway infrastructure. The vehicle data will initially be used in conjunction with smart traffic signals to try to improve traffic flow and safety. It is also claimed to eventually provide guidance to snow and ice cleanup crews.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/high-tech-corridor-in-marysville-cruising-towards-self-driving-cars|title=High-tech corridor in Marysville cruising towards self-driving cars|last=Durant|first=Maria|work=WSYX|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US}}</ref> * '''I-670 SmartLane'''. A nine-mile section of I-670 will be turned into the state's first "smart lane", in which the highway shoulder can be enabled as an extra lane on demand. Construction began on June 27, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DriveOhio/status/1011953184514953221|title=DriveOhio on Twitter|website=Twitter|language=en|access-date=2018-06-27}}</ref> * '''Smart Columbus'''. The City of Columbus received $50 million in grants to build a smart transportation system. The initiative has many ongoing projects and is seeking additional funding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://datasmart.ash.harvard.edu/news/article/how-columbus-accomplishing-its-smart-city-vision|title=How Columbus is Accomplishing its Smart City Vision|work=Data-Smart City Solutions|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en}}</ref> The city offers a "Smart Columbus Experience Center" to the public.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.columbusunderground.com/smart-columbus-launching-experience-center-downtown-we1|title=Smart Columbus Launching Experience Center Downtown|date=2018-03-20|work=ColumbusUnderground.com|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Other projects === * '''I-90 Lake Effect Corridor'''. A 60-mile section of Interstate 90, located in the far northeast "Snow Belt" corner of the state, will have DSRC units installed along its length. Wireless units will also be installed on public service vehicles to test the communication system. This area was chosen as a pilot because of its dangerous lake-effect snow conditions. I-90 is part of the "Smart Belt Coalition" between Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/northeast_ohio_accelerates_sel.html|title=Northeast Ohio accelerates self-driving vehicle effort: here's how it all will work|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US}}</ref> * '''Ohio Turnpike'''. Similar to the I-90 project, the Ohio Turnpike will also receive DSRC units, along with units in a set of test vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/10/ohio_turnpike_commission_approves_communications_system_for_connected_and_autonomous_vehicles.html|title=Ohio Turnpike Commission approves communications system for connected and autonomous vehicles|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US}}</ref> * '''Ground-Based Detect and Avoid Drone Pilot'''. The UAS Center is partnering with the Air Force Research Laboratory in a test program to fly UAS aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS) beyond visual line of sight. This requires the development of an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system to track commercial flights, drones, and low-altitude passenger craft.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.popsci.com/drone-traffic-management-system|title=This new system could help air taxis and drone deliveries avoid crashing|work=popsci.com|access-date=2018-06-29|language=en-US}}</ref> Another facet of the project is provided air-based traffic monitoring on the 33 Smart Mobility Corridor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.auvsi.org/industry-news/ohios-33-smart-mobility-corridor-study-use-uas-monitor-traffic-and-roadway-conditions|title=Ohio's 33 Smart Mobility Corridor to study use of UAS to monitor traffic and roadway conditions|date=2018-06-14|work=Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en}}</ref> * Possible future projects include an I-75 smart corridor that extends up into Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.limaohio.com/news/306427/ohio-looking-to-be-leader-in-autonomous-testing|title=Ohio seeks bigger role in testing of self-driving cars - The Lima News|date=2018-06-23|work=The Lima News|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202452/https://www.limaohio.com/news/306427/ohio-looking-to-be-leader-in-autonomous-testing|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Transportation in Ohio Category:Intelligent transportation systems Category:Traffic management Category:Unmanned ground vehicles