Implementation and Evaluation of an IoT-based VMS System for Agricultural Machinery Driving Information Notification

Objective: This study implemented an IoT-based Variable Message Sign (VMS) system to provide driving information notifications for agricultural machinery, aiming to prevent traffic accidents related to such equipment. To analyze its effectiveness, changes in the speed of general vehicles and drivers' perceived traffic safety levels were examined before and after the system's installation.<br/>Background: With the expansion of urban-rural complex areas and the increasing use of mobile agricultural machinery, traffic accidents involving general vehicles and agricultural equipment have become more frequent. Rural roads often feature traffic safety blind spots, such as curves and hilly sections, where drivers have limited visibility, necessitating new measures to prevent accidents. To address this issue, this study developed VMS technology to notify vehicle drivers of agricultural machinery driving information.<br/>Method: In this study, a VMS system for notifying agricultural machinery driving information was implemented and installed on two rural roads identified as highrisk for traffic accidents. To evaluate the system's effectiveness, the driving speeds of general vehicles were compared before and after the system's installation. Additionally, a survey was conducted with both agricultural machinery operators and general vehicle drivers to assess their perceived traffic safety.<br/>Results: A comparative analysis of general vehicle driving speeds in the two regions where the agricultural machinery driving notification system was installed showed an average speed reduction of 5.5% and 7.7%, respectively (p < .0001). Additionally, a post-installation traffic safety awareness survey showed that both agricultural machinery operators and general vehicle drivers' traffic safety awareness increased and their psychological burden regarding traffic accident risks decreased. These findings indicate that the system had highly positive effects for both agricultural machinery operators and general vehicle drivers.<br/>Conclusion: This study results demonstrate that the IoT-based VMS system for agricultural machinery driving information notifications effectively reduces the driving speed of general vehicles, thereby decreasing the likelihood of accidents involving agricultural machinery. Additionally, the system significantly improved traffic safety awareness among both general vehicle and agricultural machinery drivers, while reducing their psychological burden regarding accident risks. These findings suggest that this system can serve as an efficient solution for enhancing traffic safety on rural roads.<br/>Application: The IoT-based VMS system developed in this study for notifying agricultural machinery driving information has proven effective in preventing traffic accidents. These results highlight its potential to serve as a foundational technology for future widespread implementation and dissemination.