Many States and municipalities use computerized crash analysis systems to identify problem locations and assess the effectiveness of implemented countermeasures. By integrating this traditional system with a GIS, which offers spatial referencing capabilities and graphical displays, a more effective crash analysis program can be realized. The objective of this effort was to develop a crash referencing and analysis system within a GIS. The HSIS data bases incorporated into the system included the crash and roadway files for Wake County, North Carolina. Other, non-HSIS data bases were also used.

This system is designed to support three principal functions: file/report management, crash location editing, and data analysis. The analysis tools include five separate programs to evaluate crashes at designated spots or intersections, along specific roadway segments or strips, clustered around a specific feature, or within a defined corridor. The advantages of this GIS-based system include the ability to more accurately report crashes and roadway features, conduct corridor analyses by automatically linking adjacent or nearby routes, and produce presentation graphics within the software.