Criteria for Route Evaluation of Automated Buses

Automated buses are a component of future mobility concepts. However, these vehicles will only realize their full potential when they are highly automated, without a driver on board, and operate on public roads. In addition to the further development of vehicle technology, the planning of automated bus deployment represents an important field of research. The selection of suitable routes is influenced by various criteria related to infrastructure, road users, and the environment. There is limited literature on the criteria for the route evaluation of automated vehicles, and specifically, no studies exist concerning automated buses. To address this research gap and determine the weighting of these criteria, expert interviews and a case study were conducted. The expert interviews were utilized to identify the criteria that influence the operation of automated buses. Furthermore, the weighting of these criteria was determined, facilitating their prioritization. The case study examined the extent to which these criteria could be derived from publicly available data. With the criteria catalog developed in this work, transport authorities and transport companies will be able to assess entire operational areas regarding the deployment of automated buses and prioritize suitable routes at an early planning stage.