Value dimensions of autonomous vehicle implementation through the Ethical Delphi

Using the Ethical Delphi method, this research seeks to understand how professionals relate to ethical socio-spatial implications of possible widespread autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment in cities and societies, and to distil values that can shape AV futures. First, we sought to understand whether professionals engage in ethical thinking and reasoning regarding AV implementation, and the ethical considerations and values they use. We found that professionals give a range of arguments and rationales stemming from different value dimensions. Responses show evidence of engagement in ethical thinking, the use of ethical arguments, and an appeal to ethical values. Secondly, we mapped the value dimensions pertinent to AV implementation and ranked them to reflect their importance as perceived by respondents. Thirdly, we categorise the value dimensions into four groups: dominant, important but neglected, less prioritised, and less elucidated value dimensions, through which possible gaps in the conceptualisation of societal implications of AV implementation are brought to the fore. Finally, this study contributes our experience of applying the Ethical Delphi as a method for the ethical evaluation of novel (urban) technologies.