Monday, April 02, 2007

Predicting Highway Crashes

This TechReview article on 'Predicting Highway Crashes' states how researchers have developed computer modeling software to better identify traffic accidents:

The program--the first of its kind in the nation--is based on historical crash data. It uses existing statistical and mapping software to create a color-coded geographical display of the accident-risk levels on segments of roadway throughout the state.

"The model is saying, 'This area has a higher risk than this area at this specific time of having this specific type of crash,' which lets us predict where and when there are going to be higher risks of crashes," says Christopher Holloman, the project leader and the associate director of the Statistical Consulting Service in Ohio State's Department of Statistics. Currently, the model is being used by the Ohio State Highway Patrol to monitor roadways and position troopers. Eventually, the researchers would like to feed the data to drivers through mobile devices or portable navigation systems.

The predictive crash model was initially developed as a tool to help the Ohio State Highway Patrol better prevent accidents and explore the reasons some roads are riskier than others... So on a particular day, one could look and learn which roadways have the highest risk of, for instance, alcohol-related crashes.


More towards Intelligent Transport Systems...

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