Problems of road accidents geocoding

Piotr Cichociński
AGH University of Science and Technology
Faculty of Mining Surveying and Environmental Engineering
Department of Geomatics
Poland

Abstract

Geocoding is the process of determining the position of features, expressed by different kinds of geographic identifiers, usually addresses. This is done by comparing the relevant elements of address information with reference material. The basis for effective implementation of geocoding is, on the one hand, right source material, which determines the position of the address, and, on the other hand, precise description of the required location. Particular features, whose positions need to be specified using this method are traffic incidents such as accidents and collisions. Few of them have in fact the position expressed by coordinates. In most cases the location is limited to indication of the nearest address, road chainage, intersection, or even free-form description.
The most easily accessible source of address information in Poland is OpenStreetMap (OSM) – a database that is created on the basis of data collected by volunteers. It is provided free of charge and for any application. One of its elements is address information. In addition, OSM has also the advantage that, unlike most popular mapping portals, it records kilometer posts, placed along roads.
Considering availability of appropriate software and comparability of used algorithms found in the literature, the objective of this study was not to analyze the geocoding process itself, but on the one hand to investigate the availability of relevant reference data for the area of Poland, and on the other hand an attempt to draw attention to the method of recording address information, which is subject to geocoding, with particular emphasis on the location of traffic incidents. It was examined whether because of completely informal description of the location, geocoding in general will be possible to carry out. Methods of geocoding of different forms of description of incident location existing in practice were proposed, and ways to solve problems that arise during geocoding were suggested.

Keywords:

collision; OpenStreetMap; linear reference system; chainage; accident; accidents geocoding

Full Text:

PDF (Polish)

References

Brzuchowska J., 2010: Nowy wymiar planowania systemów usług miejskich dzięki geokodowaniu. Roczniki Geomatyki 2010 t. 8, z. 1(37): 17-21.

Charif O., Omrani H., Klein O., Schneider M., Trigano P., 2010, A method and a tool for geocoding and record linkage. CEPS/INSTEAD Working Paper Series 2010-17.

Cichociński P. 2010: Zastosowanie systemów informacji geograficznej do analizy rynku nieruchomości. III Krajowa Konferencja Naukowa „Technologie Przetwarzania Danych”. Materiały konferencyjne. Poznań, 21-23 czerwca 2010 r. WNT, Warszawa.

Curtin K.M., Nicoara G., Arifin R.R., 2007: A comprehensive process for linear referencing. URISA Journal, 19(2): 41-50.

Curtin K.M., 2007: Network analysis in geographic information science: Review, assessment, and projections. Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 34(2): 103-111.

Esri, 1998: ESRI Shapefile Technical Description, An ESRI White Paper. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands.

Esri, 2011: ArcGIS Desktop 10 Help.

Furieri A., 2012: OSM Tools. https://www.gaia-gis.it/fossil/spatialite-tools/wiki?name=OSM+tools

GDDKiA (Generalny Dyrektor Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad), 2003: Zarządzenie nr 14 z 27 października 2003 roku w sprawie zasad ustalania i prowadzenia kilometrażu dróg krajowych.

GDDKiA (Generalny Dyrektor Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad), 2012: Zarządzenie nr 18 z 1 czerwca 2012 roku w sprawie zasad ustalania i prowadzenia kilometrażu dróg krajowych.

Hijar M., Trostle J., Bronfman M., 2003: Pedestrian injuries in Mexico: a multi-method approach. Social science & medicine, 57(11): 2149-2159.

Karimi H.A., Durcik M., Rasdorf W., 2004: Evaluation of uncertainties associated with geocoding techniques. Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering 19 (2004): 170–185.

KGP (Komendant Główny Policji), 2006: Zarządzenie nr 635 z 30 czerwca 2006 roku w sprawie metod i form prowadzenia przez Policję statystyki zdarzeń drogowych. Dz. Urz. KGP nr 11, poz. 67.

KGP (Komendant Główny Policji), 2012, Zarządzenie nr 123 z 31 maja 2012 roku zmieniające zarządzenie w sprawie metod i form prowadzenia przez Policję statystyki zdarzeń drogowych. Dz. Urz. KGP 2012.28.

KGP (Komendant Główny Policji), 2013: Obwieszczenie z 22 sierpnia 2013 roku w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu zarządzenia Komendanta Głównego Policji w sprawie metod i form prowadzenia przez Policję statystyki zdarzeń drogowych. Dz. Urz. KGP 2013.75.

Levine N., Kim K.E., 1998: The location of motor vehicle crashes in Honolulu: A methodology for geocoding Intersections. Computers, Environment, and Urban Systems 22(6): 557-576.

Lewandowicz E., Packa A., 2011: Interoperacyjność danych w praktyce: problemy harmonizacji nazw jednostek administracyjnych w rejestrach publicznych. Roczniki Geomatyki, t. 9, z. 3(47): 95-104, PTIP, Warszawa.

Li L., Zhu L., Sui D.Z., 2007: A GIS-based Bayesian approach for analyzing spatial–temporal patterns of intra-city motor vehicle crashes. Journal of Transport Geography 15(4): 274-285.

Meliker J.R., Maio R.F., Zimmerman M.A., Kim H. M., Smith S. C., Wilson M. L., 2004: Spatial analysis of alcohol-related motor vehicle crash injuries in southeastern Michigan. Accident Analysis & Prevention 36(6): 1129-1135.

Michalak J., 2007: Otwarte oprogramowanie i otwarte dane w geomatyce. Roczniki Geomatyki t. 5, z. 2: 11-20, PTIP, Warszawa.

Paull D.L., 2003: A geocoded National Address File for Australia: The G-NAF What, Why, Who and When? PSMA Australia Limited, Griffith, ACT, Australia. http://www.g-naf.com.au/

PN-EN ISO 19116:2006 Informacja geograficzna – Usługi wyznaczania położenia.

QGIS Development Team, 2014: QGIS Geographic Information System. Open Source Geospatial Foundation Project. http://qgis.osgeo.org

Ratcliffe J.H., 2004: Geocoding crime and a first estimate of a minimum acceptable hit rate. International Journal of Geographical information Science 18(1): 61-72.

Rushton G., Armstrong M.P., Gitller J., Green B.R., Pavlik C., West M.M., Zimmerman D.L., 2006: Geocoding in cancer research: a review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 30(2): 16.24.

Smith R.C., Harkey D.L., Harris B., 2001: Implementation of GIS-based highway safety analyses: bridging the gap. Publication no. FHWA-RD-01-039. Federal Highway Administration.

Vieira V.M., Howard G.J., Gallagher L.G., Fletcher T., 2010: Geocoding rural addresses in a community contaminated by PFOA: a comparison of methods. Environmental Health: 9-18.

Zandbergen P.A., 2007: Influence of geocoding quality on environmental exposure assessment of children living near high traffic roads. BMC Public Health: 7-37.

Zandbergen P.A., 2008: A comparison of address point, parcel and street geocoding techniques. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 32: 214–232.

Zandbergen P.A., 2011: Influence of street reference data on geocoding quality. Geocarto Internationa, Vol. 26, No. 1, February 2011: 35-47.

Zhou X., Jiang Y., Zhou K., Zeng L., 2013: A dynamic integration method for borderland database using OSM data. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XL-4/W3: 141-147.

Zimmerman D.L., Li J., 2010: The effects of local street network characteristics on the positional accuracy of automated geocoding for geographic health studies. International Journal of Health Geographics: 9-10.