Generative AI (GenAI) and Transportation: Applications in Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Safety Platform

Course Description

This course introduces the application of Generative AI (GenAI) to improve Vulnerable Road User (VRU) safety in transportation systems. Participants will learn how GenAI can be leveraged to develop data-driven safety interventions for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. The course covers foundational concepts of GenAI and its distinctions from predictive machine learning, along with practical applications in transportation safety analysis. Participants will learn to integrate spatial analysis tools like ArcGIS with GenAI workflows to identify high-risk crash locations, generate risk narratives, and produce evidence-based countermeasure recommendations. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to apply AI-powered tools in creating safer transportation environments for all road users.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand GenAI for Transportation Engineering, especially for VRU.

2. Understand VRU Safety Fundamentals: Identify the key factors that make pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users vulnerable, including vehicle speed, road design, and visibility issues.

3. Explain the five core principles of the Safe System Approach as defined by FHWA, including shared responsibility and proactive safety design.

4. Analyze how GenAI simulates rare crash scenarios, trains autonomous systems, and supports emergency response planning.

5. Generate Standardized Crash Summaries: Use GenAI to parse unstructured crash reports and produce concise, consistent summaries for analysis.