Incident Location Reference Tool

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

An electronic map-based computer application will be developed that will enable law enforcement officers and others to locate collisions and other incidents. This will be done by using either a stylus or mouse to indicate on the map where the incident occurred. The application will then populate the data record with the appropriate location information, e.g., state route # and milepost, street name, latitude/longitude, etc. This application will also support the input of GPS coordinates from hand-held devices. Once the location has been identified, the application will integrate this information into the state-sponsored electronic collision and ticketing software application, SECTOR. This tool would also have the potential to be used in other business areas, such as incident response, Computer-Aided Dispatch, etc.

The ability for law enforcement officers to accurately locate collisions on-site will eliminate the need for location verification by office staff at both the state and local levels. Determining the correct location is the single most time-consuming aspect of processing collision reports. By removing this step, gains in accuracy, efficiency and timeliness of the current collision records system will be achieved. This will help ensure that safety improvement funds for construction and enforcement are spent in the exact areas that will benefit the most.

Additional information regarding this project is available upon request.

Project Lead: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
Office: Transportation Data Office
Phone Number: (360) 570-2497
Implementation Schedule: 7/2007 – 9/2008