Development of Traffic Accident Information System
using Geographic Information System (GIS)
Development of a Traffic Accident Information system
The development of an integrated traffic accident information system is prompted . organizational restructuring wit focus management has to be adopted by government in order to delineate and relegate certain function which are integral to the overall system . recent developments in computer technologies can be utilized in order to aid manual work in the work of traffic accident data warehousing.
Figure 1 shows that network configuration for the proposed Traffic Accident Information System . in this proposed system , several remote sites shall be connected in a Wide Area Network (WAN). A cost-effective netwoek connection can be established using dial-up network protocols. Remote sites include the five traffic management districts in Metro Manila and PNCC for the North and South Expressway data.
Figure 1. Network Configuration
A central site shall maintain the database and map server. Te central sit shall also be equipped with plotting and external storage devices for achieving purposes.
In such a system, information from the traffic accident investigation report forms are directly encoded via an interface program. The application shall be constructed under a Client/server Architecture as shown in figure 2. reporting police stations shall only need to forward their reports to the district office for proper processing and input. Thus , accident reports can be updated on a daily or weekly basis to prevent backlog. The system shall also update the master database at the central site. The central site, on the other hand , shall prepare accident' black spots' and data processing and report preparation for the whole coverage area .
Figure 2. Applications Architecture
Geo- referenced Traffic Accident Data
Presently, the existing TAIR forms considers the following referencing system : a ) XY Map Number , b) X and Y-coordinates, Route Number, KM station, 100m Station, Nope Map number, and Node Numbers. However, the aforementioned systems have not been utilized. This sis due to the fact that there has not been and overall authoritative system that is in place yet.
The current referencing system adopted the TAIR are non-earth based references. Although, not fully implemented the TMG HQ are set toe encode accident locations manually. Thus there is a big backlog of accident records that has yet to referenced. Te problem is even made more complication by the non-submission and incomplete forms. A further constraint is that the km-post system only cover national roads.
Relevant work at the Department of Public Works and Highways sere on-going through the Road Information and management support System (RIMMS) Project . the RIMMS Project hopes to create the ground work for a Location Referencing system (LRS) that will cover the entire country.
Central to the system is the utilization of GIS technology. Utilization of such a cost-effective technology offers big potential fro information delivery. The use of GIS would ease the work of geo-referencing accident data. Proper and accurate spot maps can be established. Moreover, accident data can be tied with other spatial data such as road characteristic and intersection geometry, to cover a full - range of analysis
Areas of Improvement
Several areas of improvement are identified as requisites for an efficient traffic accident information system., as follows:
- Better traffic accident investigation procedure ( eg. Accident site measurements, reconstruction ),
- adherence to the official Traffic Accident Investigation Report (TAIR) from
- creation of an integrated traffic accident database system ,
- geo-referencing of accident occurrences
- utilization of available cost-effective technologies ( eg. Geographic Information System, Global positioning System),
- utilization of Client/server network architecture for better information delivery, and
- training and education of traffic accident invest gars in the field of accident investigation and reconstruction .
conclusion
the benefits and potential of the creation a traffic accident information system is great. It is implement able and realistic, only concerned government agencies, research institution , as well as , the private sector should participate in an overall program for traffic safety. Cost-effective technologies like GIS can be utilized to provide a reliable system.
Recommendations
The research is still in the initial stage . several initial and general recommendation, however, are put forth as follows :
- strengthen institutional organization and link-ups towards the efficient collection, reporting and monitoring of road traffic accidents.
- strengthen training activities for accident investigation and reporting.
- employ cost-effective and innovative solutions t traffic accident data reporting and monitoring, such as geographic Information systems .
- establish better accident investigation standards and reference system .
The creation of such a system can greatly improve information delivery among concerned government agencies and the private sector s well . furthermore , the system shall be in support of an overall traffic safety and highway improvement program.
References
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Coordinating consultants (1994), Philippine National Police Traffic Accident Report from Manual of Instruction and Examples, IBRD Assisted Highways management Project Road Safety Component, November 1994 .
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Research Meetings with Traffic Accident Section, DPWH and RIMMS Project .
