The integration of close range photogrammetry and database management for traffic accident mapping

Abstract

Various approaches in acquiring data of road accident are being implemented worldwide. For police and forensic in Malaysia, they face challenges in obtaining accurate measurements because they are still implementing the conventional method which is impractical to map the road accident scene, consequently explain the lack of a comprehensive accident recording and analysis system. This research presents the implementation of close range photogrammetry of accident scene for data collection by using three types of sensors to study the effectiveness of each sensor which are SONY DSCHX5V for compact camera, NIKON D300S for Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera and MI DVJ350 for video recorder. Each accident simulation conducted at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was recorded and imported into two different processing softwares which are Photomodeler and iWitness that is employed together with crash zone, to perform noncontact measurement on physical evidences and subsequently generate 3D model of the crash scene. The outcomes of this research are the measurement of evidences and 3D model of road accident from three types of sensors. Data is stored, organized and retrieved in accident data management system by using Microsoft Visual Studio together with SQL Server Management Studio. The result shows that among these three sensors, NIKON D300S is the best sensor that fit the requirement of law enforcement in acquiring accident data because it has achieved the highest accuracy for physical evidences measurement. From iWitness software the RMS obtained was 0.0344m while Photomodeler was 0.0348m. In conclusion, this research gives benefits and contribution to the Malaysia’s traffic management system due to the application of close range photogrammetry (CRP). The final result can be as evidence in court litigation because in most jurisdictions, accidents involving fatalities must be surveyed and mapped.