Investigation of Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Suburban Traffic Accidents in Isfahan Province in GIS Environment

Rahmati, M.; Aghamohammadi, H.; Behzadi, S.; Alesheikh, A.A.

doi:10.22061/jrsgr.2024.10770.1058

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University -Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Surveying Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Geospatial Information Systems, Faculty of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22061/jrsgr.2024.10770.1058

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Traffic accidents are a major public health concern worldwide, causing significant loss of life and property damage. To reduce the number of traffic accidents, it is crucial to identify where and when recurrent accidents occur. These accidents often follow specific spatial and temporal patterns and may form clusters, representing areas of concentrated accidents within a geographical space. Therefore, analyzing traffic accidents in both spatial and temporal dimensions is essential for determining the most effective and sustainable solutions. Isfahan province is among the provinces in the country with high accident rates in Suburban areas. Previous research conducted in Isfahan province has predominantly relied on statistical methods and has not adequately addressed the spatial and temporal aspects of accidents.
This study aims to address the gaps in previous research by determining the spatial and temporal patterns of urban traffic accidents in Isfahan province and visualizing these patterns using spatial statistical methods in a GIS environment. The novel aspect of this research lies in utilizing spatial statistical techniques to identify and analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of urban accidents in Isfahan province at different time intervals and intensity levels.
Methods: The spatial and temporal patterns of traffic accidents in Isfahan Province were investigated using suburban traffic accident data from March 2017 to March 2019. After collecting the relevant data, performing necessary preprocessing, and preparing the data, the spatial and temporal patterns of traffic accidents occurring on the main roads, highways, and freeways of the study area were analyzed and identified using spatial statistical methods such as the Average Nearest Neighbor test, Spatial Autocorrelation (Global Moran's I), and Optimized Hot Spot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi* technique) at different levels in a GIS environment.
Findings: Since the aim of this study is to identify the spatial-temporal patterns of suburban traffic accidents in Isfahan Province, the spatial distribution pattern of accident events was first examined using the Average Nearest Neighbor and Spatial Autocorrelation (Global Moran's I) methods. The results indicated the presence of a strong clustering pattern in the traffic accident data during the study years in Isfahan Province. Then, an optimized Hot Spot Analysis was performed on the entire dataset of accidents using the Getis-Ord Gi* method. Subsequently, the analysis was conducted on the dataset of each level separately, considering different levels such as time of day, day of week, month, year, and accident severity level. The results of the Getis-Ord Gi* analysis at different levels showed that the majority of hot spots with a 99% confidence level are located on the routes leading to the provincial center, namely Isfahan City, as well as the neighboring populous cities. These areas experience the highest volume of traffic and congestion, and the accident density decreases significantly with increasing distance from the provincial center.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the Spatial Autocorrelation analysis of accidents and the hot spot maps at the studied levels, the results showed that accidents are clustered in some areas of Isfahan Province. Proximity to the provincial center and major populated cities has a significant impact on the concentration of traffic accidents in this region. The frequency of accidents decreases with distance from major urban centers. The results of this study and the insights gained about the spatial and temporal patterns of traffic accidents can be used to develop new strategies, guide transportation managers and stakeholders, make decisions, and take suitable proceedings to effectively improve the safety of accident-prone areas.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Geo-spatial Information System

COPYRIGHTS
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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Journal of Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Research

Investigation of Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Suburban Traffic Accidents in Isfahan Province in GIS Environment

References

References

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 3
January 2024
Pages 79-96

Investigation of Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Suburban Traffic Accidents in Isfahan Province in GIS Environment

References

References

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 3January 2024Pages 79-96

Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 3
January 2024
Pages 79-96