Critical success factors for the adoption of AVs in sustainable urban transportation

Abstract

Before integrating Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) into transportation systems, it's important to evaluate various aspects to facilitate their adoption. Numerous factors are likely to be crucial in this process. This research investigates the critical success factors influencing the adoption of AVs in sustainable urban transportation through a hybrid fuzzy Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) approach. The primary aim is to identify key criteria and sub-criteria perceived by transport experts, shedding light on the complex dynamics of AV adoption. Methodologically, a fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) is employed to unveil cause-and-effect relationships among the main criteria, determining their respective weights. Subsequently, fuzzy Analytic Network Process (ANP) is applied to calculate the weights of criteria and sub-criteria based on the fuzzy DEMATEL results. The study considers seven major factor dimensions: economic, technical, operational, environmental, safety and risk, social and regulatory, and user acceptance. Key findings underscore user acceptance, financial costs, and environmental impact as the most pivotal criteria, emphasising their significance in the eyes of transportation experts. Contrarily, technological and operational criteria hold the lowest weight in the considered criteria for AV adoption in transportation networks. This research provides valuable insights into critical barriers and opportunities in the adoption of AVs, contributing to the advancement of sustainable urban transportation.