Display and analysis of crash data

This report describes the development and testing of a new Geographic Information System (GIS) application for the display and analysis of crash data stored in the Critical Analysis Reporting Environment (CARE) system. The primary objective of this study was to map crashes and correlate them with existing roadway features like bridges, crossroads, railroad grade crossings, etc. This application was developed to enable CARE data to be presented graphically on maps, which is not currently possible in CARE alone.The application utilizes the advantages of both CARE and GIS software. Reports can be created in CARE for detailed study, while representative maps can be generated in GIS. Crashes can be selected according to different parameters such as time of day, driving under the influence (DUI), pavement conditions, number of lanes, etc. This selection can occur in either CARE or GIS.Spatial analyses are performed on crash data that are mapped using the GIS application to identify \u201chot spots\u201d at intersections, road segments, and mileposts. The average daily traffic (ADT) data for different highway sections can be represented graphically along with the crashes. The application also identifies the route with the least impedance, in the form of crashes, between origin and destination of a travel path using the highway network analysis feature of GIS. This application also identifies errors in the intersection node numbers used to identify crash locations. This error results in mapping the same crash to multiple intersections. Errors like this are difficult to detect without displaying the data graphically