Use Cases
Context
This section outlines the primary use cases of our system, detailing how drivers interact with the system to enhance their driving experience and safety.
UC1. Create a Safe Route
Description:
Allows the user to create a custom route to a chosen destination by selecting preferences such as safest, shortest, or fastest route. The system considers historical and real-time road hazard data when determining the optimal path.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: User is in the vehicle and the application is active
Main Flow:
- User enters destination address
- User selects route preference (safest, shortest, or fastest)
- System analyzes historical and real-time hazard data
- System calculates optimal route based on selected preference
- System displays route on map with turn-by-turn directions
- User confirms route selection
Postconditions: Navigation begins with real-time alerts enabled
UC2. View Weather Conditions
Description:
Displays current weather information in a compact section of the interface, allowing the driver to quickly assess conditions without distraction.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Application is active and location services are enabled
Main Flow:
- System periodically retrieves current weather data for user's location
- System displays weather information in a non-intrusive widget
- Driver can glance at weather status without taking eyes off road for long
Postconditions: Weather information is continuously updated
UC3. View Road Map
Description:
Shows the map with the user's current location, nearby roads, and active events such as accidents, traffic jams, or weather hazards.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Application is active and GPS is enabled
Main Flow:
- System displays live map with user's current location
- System shows nearby roads and streets
- System marks active events on map:
- Accidents
- Traffic congestion
- Weather hazards
- Roadworks
- Driver can view comprehensive road situation awareness
Postconditions: Map is continuously updated with real-time information
UC4. Receive Safe Entry/Exit Instructions
Description:
Provides real-time instructions to safely enter or exit highways, such as adjusting speed to merge or exit efficiently.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Driver is approaching highway entry/exit
Main Flow:
- System detects driver's proximity to highway entry/exit
- System provides turn-by-turn guidance for:
- Optimal lane positioning
- Speed adjustment recommendations
- Merge/exit timing
- System displays:
- Clear lane guidance
- Distance to entry/exit
- Traffic conditions on target lane
- System provides voice guidance for hands-free operation
- Driver safely enters or exits highway
Postconditions: Driver successfully and safely navigates highway transition
UC5. View Hazard Alerts
Description:
Notifies the driver of potential hazards on the road, such as roadworks and obstacles.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Driver is navigating and hazards are detected
Main Flow:
- System detects hazards through IoT sensors or external data sources
- System determines if hazard is within alert radius (1.5 km)
- System displays alert to driver with:
- Type of hazard
- Distance and location
- Recommended action (if applicable)
- Driver acknowledges alert
Postconditions: Driver is aware of hazard and can take appropriate action
UC6. View Weather Alerts
Description:
Displays upcoming or ongoing weather events (e.g., heavy rain, fog, or strong winds) that may affect driving conditions.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Adverse weather conditions are detected or forecasted
Main Flow:
- System monitors weather data for driver's route
- System identifies adverse weather events
- System displays weather alert with:
- Weather event type
- Severity level
- Expected duration
- Safety recommendations
- Driver is informed and can adjust driving behavior
Postconditions: Driver adapts driving style to weather conditions
UC7. View Accident Alerts
Description:
Alerts the driver about accidents that have occurred on the route ahead, providing the option to reroute if necessary.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Accident is reported on or near the current route
Main Flow:
- System receives accident report from external data sources or users
- System analyzes if accident affects current route
- System displays accident alert with:
- Location and severity
- Impact on travel time
- Alternative routes (if available)
- Driver can choose to:
- Continue on current route
- Accept suggested alternative route
- Manually select different route
Postconditions: Driver has options to avoid accident-affected areas
UC8. View Priority Vehicle Alerts
Description:
Warns the driver when an emergency or priority vehicle (e.g., ambulance, police car) is approaching, allowing the driver to take appropriate action.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Emergency/priority vehicle is detected within 1 km radius
Main Flow:
- System detects proximity of emergency vehicle through:
- Dedicated emergency vehicle beacons
- Connected vehicle networks
- System calculates approach vector and distance
- System displays alert with:
- Vehicle type (ambulance, police, fire truck)
- Direction of approach
- Recommended action (move to shoulder, reduce speed)
- Driver takes appropriate action to facilitate priority passage
Postconditions: Driver safely yields to emergency vehicle
UC9. View Overtaking Alerts
Description:
Notifies the driver when another vehicle is overtaking, increasing driver awareness and safety.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Vehicle detection sensors detect overtaking vehicle
Main Flow:
- System monitors adjacent lanes for overtaking vehicles
- System detects vehicle in blind spot or approaching from behind
- System displays alert indicating:
- Direction of overtaking vehicle (left/right)
- Relative speed and distance
- Safety recommendation (maintain lane, increase awareness)
- Driver maintains awareness of surrounding traffic
Postconditions: Driver is aware of overtaking vehicles and reduces accident risk
UC10. Monitor Speed Limit and Current Speed
Description:
Detects the current speed limit for the road and continuously monitors the vehicle's current speed, alerting the driver when speed limit changes occur or when the vehicle exceeds the speed limit.
Primary Actor: Driver
Preconditions: Application is active and vehicle is moving on a road with defined speed limits
Main Flow:
- System retrieves current speed limit for the road using GPS location and map data
- System continuously monitors vehicle's current speed via GPS/speedometer
- System compares current speed with speed limit
- When speed limit changes:
- System displays notification: "Speed limit changed to XX km/h"
- System updates speed limit display on interface
- System provides audio alert for attention
- When vehicle exceeds speed limit:
- System displays warning: "You are exceeding the speed limit!"
- System highlights current speed in red/warning color
- System provides audio alert to notify driver
- System may suggest deceleration if significantly over limit
- Driver is informed of speed regulations and adjusts speed accordingly
Postconditions: Driver remains compliant with speed limits and is aware of speed limit changes
Tutors:
- Rafael Direito (rafael.neves.direito@ua.pt)
- Diogo Gomes (dgomes@ua.pt)
Group:
- Diogo Nascimento (dca.nascimento5@ua.pt)
- Duarte Branco (duartebranco@ua.pt)
- Eduardo Romano (eduardo.romano@ua.pt)
- Filipe Viseu (filipeviseu@ua.pt)
- Samuel Vinhas (samuelmvinhas@ua.pt)
Institution: Telecommunications Institute of Aveiro (ITAv)