Crash Analysis and Modeling in Bangladesh
Road accidents in Bangladesh are increasing day by day due to rapid urbanization, increasing number of vehicles and inadequate road safety. Crash Analysis is the process of analyzing these accidents to determine their causes, nature and remedial measures. And using this analysis-based information, mathematical or software-based modeling is created to predict future accidents or take preventive measures.
What is Crash Analysis?
Crash Analysis is a process through which information such as:
- Type
- Location
- Time
- Cause
- Type of vehicles involved
- Number of casualties
- etc. of road accidents are analyzed to try to understand why and where accidents are more common.
How does modeling work?
Crash modeling basically creates a method through mathematical algorithms, statistics and simulation tools that helps determine the accident trend, potential risks and the impact of safety measures in a specific area.
Some popular modeling methods:
SPF (Safety Performance Functions)
- Black Spot Analysis
- Regression Analysis
- Simulation Tools (e.g. VISSIM, AIMSUN)
- GIS Mapping & Heat Mapping
Applications in Bangladesh
1. Research and Academic Level
Crash data is collected, analyzed and modeled in research on road accidents at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and other universities.
2. BRTA and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority
To increase road safety, BRTA collects accident statistics at different times, although it is incomplete in many cases.
3. World Bank and Asian Development Bank projects
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) or Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is analyzing accident data in various development projects and applying modeling methods to design safe roads.
4. Used in Road Safety Audit
- A road safety audit report is prepared by analyzing crash data before redesigning or renovating roads.
- Challenges in Bangladesh
- Lack of reliable accident data
- Lack of centralized database
- Lack of technical expertise and trained manpower
- Limited use of advanced software and hardware
- Weak regional or location-based analysis
Possibilities and recommendations
- Collect data from all agencies (BRTA, police, hospitals) by creating an Integrated Crash Database
- Introducing GIS-based accident heat-mapping
- Making modeling mandatory in Road Safety Audit and design
- Introducing courses on data science and road safety analysis at the university level
- Developing predictive models based on AI and Machine LearningAlthough crash analysis and modeling are still in their infancy in Bangladesh, it can bring revolutionary changes in road safety through the use of accurate data, skilled manpower, and technology. It is important to give priority to this sector now to prevent accidents, reduce deaths, and ensure a safe road system.
