Carine RIVIERE, 29-Aug-06 @ 16:12PM

Modelling EES (Energy Equivalent Speed)

To reduce the number and the gravity of accidents, it is necessary to analyse and reconstruct them. Accident modelling requires the modelling of the impact which in turn requires the estimation of the deformation energy. There are several tools available to evaluate the deformation energy absorbed by a vehicle during an impact. However, there is a growing demand for more precise and more powerful tools. In our work, we express the deformation energy absorbed by a vehicle during a crash as a function of the Energy Equivalent Speed (EES). The latter is a difficult parameter to estimate because the structural response of the vehicle during an impact depends on parameters concerning the vehicle, but also parameters concerning the impact. The objective of our work was to design a model to estimate the EES by using an original approach combining Bayesian and Neural Network approaches. Both of these tools are complementary and offer significant advantages, such as the guarantee of finding the optimal model and the implementation of error bars on the computed output. In a paper published in the revue Accident Analysis and Prevention [Accident Analysis and Prevention 38 (2006) 248–259], we present the procedure for implementing this Bayesian Neural Network approach and the results obtained for the modelling of the EES: our model is able to estimate the EES of the car with a mean error of 1.34 m.s-1.

Carine RIVIERE, 05-Apr-06 @ 05:11AM

KM in accidentology : an essential SIG!

Thanks again for your comments!
This SIG on KM in accidentology represents a means to create a network with all persons concerned by accidentology : researchers, engineers, sociologists, psychologists, manufacturers... This SIG will allow us to share ideas, projects, thoughts.
It is only together that projects and ideas can progress and succeed!
So, I induce you to continue adding comments if you think that the creation of this SIG is a good idea.

Jayanth Paraki, 22-Mar-06 @ 13:35PM

KM in Accidentology

If one happens to watch TV Programs on BBC, DISCOVERY channels we get to see beautifully shot and dramatised episodes of aircraft accidents, highway accidents, industrial accidents and so on.

The KM in Accidentology SIG must play a pivotal role in analysing scientifically some of these episodes and come up with a MASTER PLAN to view holistically the planet earth and develop a classification system for the many accidents that take place in mid-air, ground and under sea as well. We see the influence of natural forces plus human fatigue as a consistent factor in all accidents.

It is obvious the SIG must eventually become a global force, but, just how soon and in what form is not evident.

Carine RIVIERE, 17-Mar-06 @ 06:20AM

Thanks!

Thank you for your comments. If other persons are interested by the idea of this SIG, if you would like to participate in it, if you would like to propose ideas, do not hesitate! Add a comment!

Mounib Mekhilef, 14-Mar-06 @ 13:25PM

holistic approach needed

Hi all,
Indeed, the problematic here from the actors perspective involves the car, the infrastructure and the driver while if we consider the elements that interact with the accident one can say that health sector, social science, psychological science, ethics, design, assurance etc... have something to say here.
So in fact, an holistic approach is needed.
However a movie do not describe all the concerns one has to consider if he/she wants to get an undesratnding of the accident.

I'm interested by any group that might raise here dealing with such approaches especially when considering the evolution of the population age (at least in Europe). will join when the group is set.

Jayanth Paraki, 11-Mar-06 @ 01:29AM

KM in Accidentology

Knowledge Management in Accidentology is a much needed effort. I have more than a decade of experience in treating victims of road traffic accidents and i personally feel a holistic approach is desirable for academic, research and on-field activities. In the first instance we need to make a documentary film on the subject to attract global attention.
Dr Jayanth G Paraki
Access my CV at myprofile.cos.com/zurich

dwight hines, 09-Mar-06 @ 15:14PM

Sign me up for Accidentology

This is long overdue. We are woefully ignorant in a number of fundamental areas wrt vehicle accidents, and need to speed up development in technology.
1) We need means and methods to access webcams that are a gold mine of information but are not digital. We need automatic search and cluster programs that will allow us to examine the contexts of accidents. Accidentology is still looking at car a is hit by truck b and close the case once they have a reasonable cause. That is like medicine in the 1800s figuring their best classification system was based on presence or absence of fever.

2) We need more access to the online data capture devices, that are presently in most vehicles, for contextual analyses. Looking at the one vehicle, or if two vehicles are involved accidents, can be terribly misleading. So, a woman attacks kids with her car and she sure is nuts but what were the other vehicles doing before and during and after the attack?
3) We need to have a list of legislation that needs enactment that is empirically based. We need to rank the priorities of the legislation needed and methodically get enactments.
4) We need a list of core review articles in the area of accidentology. There is a ton of literature, much of it quite good, from govs and manufacturers and interest groups but the info needs to be distilled in good review articles.
5) We need to recognize the value of Ecological methods and findings in studying accidents in community settings. The ecologists have some solid methods and if you look at cars and trucks as being different species, or even in predator prey relationships, there are some fascinating insights that make you realize that 'accidents' often involve bullies.
6) If we can have some expert (Delphi) discussions on roughly estimating or partitioning the variance accounted for by different causal factors in, say, medium automobile accidents, that could be a good start to nibbliing away at some complex problems.
7) We need data bases that will let us study on the effectiveness or efficaciousness of different rules and regs set by different agencies on accidents. Of course, parallel data bases should be available for legislation. But, programs, like DARE, that are targeted to drugs and not accidents, may have a reverse (moral paradox) effect on accidents regardless of how effective or ineffective they are on drug use.
8) We need data from agencies like DEA on drug diversions to account for the variance due to folks using illiicit prescription drugs. So, diversion of drugs in nursing homes may not sound very sexy but when you realize the folks taking the diverted drugs are driviing, it gets real chilly. DEA and other agencies need to be more open in sharing data to those who are outside their focused mission.
That's all for now, but this group is needed.
dh