Knowledge Resources

The U.S. DOT sponsored a study to assess the business case for, or against, an integrated vehicle-based safety system (IVBSS) for transit buses. The study evaluated the technical, financial, and qualitative investment merits of seven systems, both as standalone systems and as an integrated system (i.e., IVBSS). The question addressed by the business case analysis was whether the Collision Avoidance Systems as either stand-alone devices or as integrated ones would be likely to reduce transit bus collisions. The cost-effectiveness of each system was measured by estimating the dollars saved by avoiding collisions (and therefore lowering repair costs, insurance payments, out-of-service costs, etc.). System costs included capital acquisition and installation (shown here as a combined "unit cost" per installation). Annual operating and maintenance costs were based on an hourly labor rate of $23.50, and 30 minutes of service each month for a year ($23.50 x 0.5 x 12 =$141.00).

Cost Element	Forward Collision Warning System	Rear Collision Warning System	Side Object Detection System	Forward Object Detection System	Rear Object Detection System	Lane Departure Warning System	Pedestrian Detection System
Acquisition	$1500	$1449	$2550	$2350	$2550	$900	$1800
Installation	-	$188	$94	$94	$94	-	-
Training	$10	-	$120	$120	$120	$10	$10
Annual O&M	$141	$141	$141	$141	$141	$141	$141
Total Cost	$1646	$1778	$2865	$2665	$2865	$1046	$1946

The table above lists the cost estimates for unbundled systems. However, none of the systems is currently offered as a standalone product, and to esimate the likely actualy cost of systems, it is logical to base costs of likely construct likely combinations of systems. The table below presents cost estimates for seven bundled systems. The bundled systems are those that are logical to combine. Note that two of the combinations reflect commercially available products, whereas five are hypothetical (but logical) combinations. The costs for bundled systems is less than the sum of the component costs due to economies of scale. The acquisition costs of “ODS� and “CWS� are based on commercially available products. The other bundles are based on the cost of component technologies (e.g., or example, ODS Cocoon costs $400 dollars more than ODS because of additional cost of four rear sensors at $100 per sensor).

Cost Element	Forward Object and Side Object Detection*	Forward, Side and Rear Object Detection	Forward Collision Warning / Side Object Detection	Forward Collosion Warning / Lane Departure Warning*	Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warning / Pedestrian Detection	Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warning / Pedestrian and Rear Object Detection	Hypothetical Bundle of All Systems
Acquisition	$2,750	$3,150	$4,250	$1,800	$3,600	$5,450	$7,999
Installation	$94	$94	$94	$0	$0	$0	$94
Training	$120	$120	$130	$10	$10	$130	$130
Annual O&M	$141	$141	$141	$141	$141	$141	$141
Total Cost	$3,065	$3,265	$4,570	$1,946	$3,746	$5,676	$8,319

^* combination systems that are commercially available