A unified framework for modeling traffic crashes from hierarchical spatial resolutions

Abstract

Independent traffic crash modeling approaches do not account for the embedded relationships related to the multi-resolution data structure, leading to mis-specified estimations. The recently developed integrated frameworks demonstrate the capability of addressing this drawback. The current study proposes an integrated framework that accommodates information from multiple spatial units and observation resolutions. Specifically, the study develops an integrated model system that allows for the influence of independent variables from disaggregate crash record, micro-facility (segment and intersection) and macro (traffic analysis zone) level simultaneously within the macro level propensity estimation. The empirical analysis considers disaggregate crash records of 1818 segments and 4184 intersections from 300 traffic analysis zones in the City of Orlando, Florida. These crash records contain crash-specific factors, driver and vehicle factors, roadway, road environmental and weather information of each crash record. For micro-facility and macro levels, an exhaustive set of independent variables including roadway and traffic factors, land-use and built environment attributes, and sociodemographic characteristics are considered. The proposed model system can also accommodate for hierarchical correlations among the data across observation resolutions and parameter variability across the system. The empirical analysis is augmented by employing several goodness of fit and predictive measures. The results clearly demonstrate the improved performance offered by the proposed integrated model system relative to the non-integrated model. A validation exercise also highlights the superiority of the proposed framework. The application of the proposed integrated framework can allow transportation professionals to adopt policy-based, site-specific, and outcome-specific solutions simultaneously.