Psy 409 A, 11/30/05

My Eighth Outline

By Michelle Ching

Geographic Information

Reference: Peter Roth, Editor, Jeffrey Nash & Gary Brinker (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer (University of Alberta Press) pg. 257-269

Instructions for this activity are found at:

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm

Concept 1: Geographic Information Systems

I. Definition

A. Combines trained people, computer hardware and software. Designed for the acquisition, storage, manipulation, analysis and display of geographic data

B. Analytical tool

C. Uses raster and vector data models

1. raster method – arranges data in grid of small cells or pixels

2. vector model – divides word into three categories

a. points

b. lines

c. polygons

-each object type drawn on a layer contains one kind of object

Concept 2: Study Area

I. Definition

A. Encompasses City of Calgary, Alberta. Data was gathered starting from 1993 through 1995. City has well designed road network that does not experience gridlock problems like most other large modern cities.

B. Each accident is documented and reported

1. Address of collision

2. Environmental and road conditions

3. Driver action and condition

4. Condition of vehicle

5. Type of vehicle

6. Age and sex of driver

7. Description of accident

C. Important to show patterns, some locations are more hazardous than others. By having area mapped out black spots can be identified

Concept 3: Further Research

I. Expanding data

A. With just extending research to five or more years will allow better understanding of collisions

B. Collisions with speed indicted will contribute to knowing factors related

C. Police intervention strategies

1. To determine whether there is city-wide or local change to the distribution of collisions

2. Important to prevent and study traffic fatalities and injuries

Related Web Links:

www.dot.state.sc.us/getting/hod_reasons.shtml - South Carolina's Traffic Collision Statistic

www.icbc.com/Library/research_papers/Traffic/ - BC traffic collision statistics reports from 1995 through 2002

www.lexingtonpolice.lfucg.com/traffic.asp - Number of collisions, deaths and injuries in Canada

My Home Page:

http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/ching/home.htm

The G23 Class Home Page: