What are the challenges in using GIS to analyze pedestrian safety?

1 Data quality and availability

One of the main challenges in using GIS to analyze pedestrian safety is the quality and availability of data. Pedestrian crashes are often underreported, especially if they do not involve serious injuries or fatalities. Moreover, the data may be incomplete, inconsistent, or inaccurate, as different sources may use different definitions, methods, or formats to collect and record the crash information. To overcome this challenge, it is important to use multiple sources of data, such as police reports, hospital records, surveys, or crowdsourcing, and to validate and harmonize the data before using it in GIS.

2 Spatial and temporal analysis

Another challenge in using GIS to analyze pedestrian safety is the spatial and temporal analysis of the data. Pedestrian crashes are not randomly distributed in space and time, but rather influenced by various factors, such as land use, traffic volume, road design, weather, lighting, or human behavior. Therefore, it is not enough to simply map the crash locations, but also to understand the spatial and temporal patterns and trends, and to identify the hotspots and clusters of high-risk areas. To overcome this challenge, it is important to use appropriate spatial and temporal analysis methods, such as kernel density estimation, spatial autocorrelation, or space-time cube, and to account for the spatial and temporal heterogeneity and dependence of the data.

4 Visualization and communication

A final challenge in using GIS to analyze pedestrian safety is the visualization and communication of the results. Pedestrian safety is a complex and sensitive topic that involves multiple stakeholders, such as planners, engineers, policymakers, or the public. Therefore, it is not enough to simply present the results in maps, charts, or tables, but also to communicate the findings in a clear, concise, and compelling way that can inform and persuade the decision-makers and the community. To overcome this challenge, it is important to use visualization and communication methods, such as dashboards, story maps, or infographics, and to tailor the message and the medium to the audience and the purpose.

Using GIS to analyze pedestrian safety can provide valuable insights and solutions for transportation planning, but it also requires overcoming some challenges. By addressing the issues of data quality and availability, spatial and temporal analysis, multidimensional and multimodal modeling, and visualization and communication, you can use GIS effectively and efficiently to improve pedestrian safety in your area.