WTI

Blackfeet Automated Accident Reporting System

Primary Investigator Contact Information

External Project Contact(s)

Report(s)

1. Crash Reporting System Report
   1. Gary Harkin
   2. 426360_Crash_Reporting_System.pdf
2. Tribal Accident Reporting System Final Report
   1. Cordell Ringel
   2. 426360_TARS_Final_Report.pdf
3. Electronic Accident Reporting Form
   1. David Kunkle
   2. 426360_Accident_Reporting_Form.pdf
4. Tablet-Based Electronic Reporting Form Proof of Concept
   1. Douglas Galarus
   2. 426360_Final_ReportDG.pdf
5. Accident Reporting Form Report
   1. David Kunkle
   2. 426360_Accident_Reporting_Form.pdf

Project Objective

To improve accident reporting through the application of advanced technology to increase the accuracy and completeness of accident reporting and to reduce the time necessary.

Project Abstract

This project will provide a system to improve the current system of accident reporting by addressing several issues; the inaccuracy of data, the incompleteness of the data and the potential errors associated with transcribing and communicating the data. The basis of the improvement is the use of mobile computing systems to collect the data at the accident scene and using Global Positioning System (GPS) units to identify the accident locations with greater precision than can be done manually. The advantages of the improvement will be superior accident report data and improved accuracy in the resulting reports. There are two major pieces to the system: the mobile data collection portion and the fixed data upload and database interface portion. The initial platform for the mobile product will be PocketPC based Personal Data Assistants (PDA’s) coupled with GPS units. However, the goal is to have software products that can operate on a wide-variety of PDA or laptop computing systems. The fixed product will be designed to operate on current computing systems as necessary, including Microsoft Windows and/or Unix/Linux platforms. It will be designed to interoperate with the current database mechanisms supported by local and State of Montana agencies for accident reporting needed, but limited by the time constraints of the project. The mobile platform software will provide a user interface that mimics the current paper reporting system to as great a degree as possible to maximize user acceptance and to minimize the likelihood of errors. The system will be designed to detect and correct errors, or to require that correct data be entered and to make the process easier and faster. The interface with the data upload software will provide the user with an opportunity to perform validity checking on the report data. As necessary the software will be interconnected with other applications on the mobile platform.

Task Descriptions

1. Prototype System
   1. Finalize and test prototype system for PocketPC platform
2. Requirements Analysis
   1. Establish requirements for the user interfaces and data uploading formats
3. Preliminary Prototype System
   1. Finalize and implement mobile user interface, test and demonstrate
4. Demonstration System
   1. Implement a simplified mobile user interface with GPS interface and provide initial development of the fixed user interface and data format conversion

Milestones, Dates, Schedule

Student Involvement

True

Relationship to Other Research Projects

False

Technology Transfer Activities

True

Transportation Research Board Keywords

Accident Reports, Advanced Technology, Global Positioning System

Partners

Research and Innovative Technology Administration