An automated crash location tool has been developed, on behalf of the Iowa Department of Transportation, for use by law enforcement personnel to generate GIS crash location data. This software tool is integrated into a computerized data entry system used to collect crash attribute data. With the location tool, a map appears during the crash data entry process. Through a simple interface, the user zooms in to the approximate area of the crash and inputs the specific crash location with the click of a mouse or the touch of a pen on the screen. The location information is then transferred to the main data entry system and incorporated into the crash database. This information is available for immediate use in GIS by local agencies, and the statewide crash data management process is greatly simplified. (A*)
Abstract