Digital Twin-Based Simulation Framework for Curve Speed Safety Estimation 

This tool was developed to determine safe speeds on horizontal curves, which are tailored to each vehicle type and road condition. It uses a physics-based digital twin framework for evaluating safe vehicle speeds on horizontal curves, developed in the Unity engine. The system integrates real-world geometric and elevation data to create a virtual replica of a selected roadway curve. Vehicles are simulated using a six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) vehicle dynamic model, capturing diverse vehicle classes, drivetrains, and weight distributions. A phase-based control system mimics realistic driving behaviors through curves. The developed framework can be used to accurately reproduce any horizontal curve and vehicle, using widely available data. This tool was validated against field speed data collected under dry and wet conditions, showing improved estimation accuracy compared to the traditional AASHTO-defined design speed. The developed system supports deployment through edge devices or connected vehicle platforms for real-time driver assistance applications. 

Link to the tool: TBD

Related Publication: A. Rahman, M. S. Salek,  W. Sarasua, M. Chowdhury. “A Digital Twin-Based Simulation Framework for Safe Curve Speed Estimation Using Unity” submitted to 2026 TRB Annual Meeting (Paper Number:  TRBAM-26-05287).