A prototype GIS system was developed for the purpose. Using the system, the user can merge accident and roadway data, match the accident data and locations, analyze the data using fixed segment, sliding and spot analysis, calculate frequency and rate of accidents, select a variable for stratification to calculate mean and standard deviation of accident rates and frequencies and sort the sections based on selected criteria. The GIS will also call external C programs to calculate accident characteristics and expert system to identify possible causes. Early advances in computer technology and communications led to simple and rather inexpensive data acquisition techniques. As a result of the availability of data, high-speed computers and software, an extensive amount of research was undertaken on statistical analysis of accident data.
Highway agencies employ computers to analyze accident data and to identify high accident locations.
Recently, many highway agencies are using GIS for identification of high accident locations. A site that experiences abnormal frequencies, rates, or severities of accidents is considered as a high accident location. Accident and roadway files are usually used to identify high accident locations and to summarize accident characteristics. Geographic Information Systems has been identified as a potential tool to use for improving the accident analysis process. This process is extremely tedious and requires extensive analysis of data.