Abstract

Bus Accident Mapping and Analysis Application
Track: Transportation
Authors: Leo Fothergill, Kenneth Juengling, Doy Miller

AECOM and Towson University's Center for GIS (CGIS) partnered with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to create an Accident Mapping and Analysis Application. Prior to the application the MTA stored bus accident data in a SQL Server database with no spatial component. The team developed a web-based application using ArcGIS server, ArcSDE and ArcGIS desktop (ArcInfo).

The GIS application allowed the MTA to see where the accident 'hot spots' were including the type of accidents that were occurring at a given location. The application allows users to query the data by date, accident type, bus division and accident preventability.

Through the use of the GIS, along with other programs, the MTA has reduced preventable bus accidents. The application has allowed MTA to 'see' accident locations for the first time, has been used in the training of bus operators and has proved a powerful communication tool when presenting to MTA's Administration.