|

Traffic Safety Screening (TSS) and FeGIS+ – From vision to Vision Zero

Author(s): Kathmann, ZIegler

Poster Presentation:

3D-Kathmann

Abstract:

Background:

In order to achieve a "Vision Zero" – road traffic without fatalities and serious injuries – the EU is currently calling for increased cooperation between the administration, industry and science using the Safe System Approach. Retrieving the necessary information to analyse the accidents from the different data bases is time-consuming and labour-intensive.

Aims:

The aim behind developing the TSS was to create an internet platform, where all the data to identify accident-prone road sections for the classified road network of Baden-Wuerttemberg is cumulated. This platform can then be used by the different user groups responsible for analysing accident data to have easy access to all types of information, a GIS-map based analysis tool and also the opportunity to download all relevant information in one concise fact sheet.

Methods:

To develop the Road Safety Screening it was necessary to analyse and combine different data bases. A data base was created to incorporate the accident data itself, the road geometry, the road surface condition, general traffic volumes, speed behaviour and pictures from the rad itself. All available date was referenced to the road network, incorporated into a GIS-System using OpenStreetMap and different scientific methods applied to calculate accident values. Ongoing improvements like an accident filtering system were implemented. The TSS was also combined with the results of a research project: Based on the accident circumstances possible countermeasures are suggested. At the moment the user feedback from the FeGIS+ funding project is integrated to create an early warning system before the site is declared an accident black spot.

Results:

The developed TSS has been very successful right from the beginning. Several training courses were organized for the authorities in Baden-Wuerttemberg and at the moment there are more than 800 registered users working with the system on a daily basis.

Discussion:

The challenge within the project was to combine data from different sources and reference this data on a single road network. Handling vast loads of data and using an online platform, the algorithms to further analyse and visualise the data as well as to calculate the accident parameters had to be very fast and powerful. The project has not stopped at the first stage, but based on scientific research, comments from the users and new ideas to reach the vision zero the TSS is constantly updated, optimized and new features are added.

Conclusions:

According to the jury at last year's international e-government competition, the winning Traffic Safety Screening is already a suitable platform for Germany and beyond. It not only brings together all data relevant to road safety work in a central application, but also ensures the motivation of accident commission members without overburdening them, even when personnel resources are scarce. The support of the entire workflow from the analysis to the evaluation of the measures contributes to this. The TSS was also one of three nominated projects at this years´ competition “German Engineering Prize – Innovation and Digital World” – out of nearly forty applications!