Outline of My Second Oral
Presentation
“Modeling Hazardous Locations Using
Geographic Information Systems”
This is a presentation of Driving
Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer, edited by J. Peter
Rothe. The
By Ynhu Le
Instructions for this oral presentation are found at:
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy21/g21-oral.htm
I.
Geographic
Information Systems (Systems designed to visualize, manipulate, analyze,
and display geographic data.)
A.
Definition and explanation:
1.
GIS uses trained people, computer
software and hardware to analyze spatial information.
2.
The purpose of using GIS
mentioned in the text is to analyze road networks to look for hazardous
locations. Once a site on the road is identified as having a large number of
collisions, it can be studied to determine what needs to be done to improve the
condition.
3.
GIS grew from the combination of
two computer technologies: computer-assisted design (CAD) and
database-management systems (DBMS).
4.
GIS uses vector data model which
divides the world into 3 object types: points, lines, and polygons. Each object
type is drawn on a layer that normally contains only one kind of object.
[Provide an example].
5. GIS has the capability to geo-code individual traffic collisions onto a map which makes searching for hazardous locations much easier.
B.
My opinion about this concept:
1.
We should learn what GIS is all
about and how it could be used to study traffic collisions.
2.
It can be very useful because
mapping where things are lets you find places that have the features you’re
looking for and to see where to take action.
C.
The larger psychological and cultural significance of this concept:
1.
GIS touches our everyday lives.
[Provide an example].
2.
Exploring data using GIS turns
data into information that will eventually turn into useful knowledge.
D.
Related topic(s) on the web:
1. http://www.gis.com/site/index.html
I.
The
Temporal Dimension (The importance of integrating the temporal
dimension into the GIS to study the changing patterns of traffic collisions
over a period of time.)
A.
Definition and explanation:
1.
Traffic collisions are usually
studied using conventional statistics of average daily traffic flow (AADT) and
collision rates (collision frequency divided by AADT). Such method usually
ignores the effects of the temporal dimension.
2.
We need to include the temporal
dimension into the studies in order to see the changing patterns of traffic
collisions over different periods of time.
B.
My opinion about this concept:
1.
I never realized that leaving out
the temporal dimension in traffic studies could lead us to change our roadway
system for the wrong purpose. [Provide an example].
2.
I think we should be aware that
specific locations on the road would show variation in time for collision
frequencies. So if collision rates are recorded into their respective weekly
and daytime patterns, it would offer us a more detailed picture of activity at
those particular locations.
C.
The larger psychological and cultural significance of this concept:
1.
Transportation systems evolve
over time in response to changing travel demands and traffic collision
patterns.
2.
In order to analyze interactions
between traffic collisions and transportation system development, we need to
use the GIS framework to take into account the temporal dimension (when), the
spatial dimension (where), and the thematic dimension (what) associated with
those changes and their relationships. [Provide an example].
D.
Related topic(s) on the web:
1.
http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc02/pap0179/p0179.htm
II. The Future of Traffic
Studies (The need to use solid scientific methodology in traffic studies.)
A.
Definition and explanation:
1.
Traffic researchers face a
tremendous problem because they need to collect a wide range of data on events
that are random in nature.
2.
The text suggests that longitudinal
studies should be done in the future. With a large amount of data, we should be
able to select collisions on the basis of severity.
3.
Spatial analysis can also be
performed to determine whether there is a temporal change in the distribution
of collisions within the city. That way, we can determine whether collisions
increase elsewhere if they are reduced at one site.
B.
My opinion about this concept:
1.
I think it’s important for us to
think of ways to improve traffic studies in the future that would allow us to
approach traffic problems more accurately.
2.
We should rely more on GIS to
analyze our data.
C.
The larger psychological and cultural significance of this concept:
1.
The driver is human and human
beings will always be prone to make mistakes. We can improve the design of our
roads to accommodate driver imperfections.
2.
Traffic studies will continue to
improve in the long run to provide us better analytical tools to analyze our
road networks. [Provide an example].
D.
Related topic(s) on the web:
1.
http://www.co.fulton.ga.us/public_works/traffic_studies.htm
My Home Page: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409af2004/le/home.htm