Researchers at the Center for Computational Research (CCR) of State University of New York at Buffalo have developed a visualization software which allows to simulate traffic in three dimensions. The results can be displayed to urban planners or audiences at public hearings, showing them how a proposed project will affect traffic in their neighborhoods. This traffic-simulation software, Streetscenes, is also used to reconstruct street accidents. The software analyzes the data involved to compute the unknown variables, such as vehicle speeds and changes in velocities, and delivers its results as 3D animations which can be shown to juries, lawyers and insurance companies. Read more.
Here is the introduction of this news release.
Working in partnerships with companies and agencies, the Center for Computational Research (CCR) in the University at State University of New York at Buffalo has developed software that applies these state-of-the-art technologies to simulate traffic at [several sites in the U. S.]
But let's look at how this software allows people to visualize how a car accident occurred.
The result is Streetscenes, a traffic-simulation software package developed by Henrique Bucher, Ph. D., CCR computational scientist, that allows audiences at public hearings, town-board reviews and boardroom presentations an unprecedented ability to visualize how proposed projects will affect traffic on their street and in their neighborhoods.
It's interesting to note the address of Bucher's website: cplusplusguru.com.
Below are two small images illustrating the concept of accident reconstruction (Credit: CCR).
It’s no accident that of all the monuments left of the Greco- Roman culture the biggest is the ballpark, the Colosseum, the Yankee Stadium of ancient times.
—Walter Wellesley (Red)
Line of sight
Rollover
You can find additional images on these specific pages, Visualization at CCR, some Visualization Projects and in particular the Accident Reconstruction project. The two images above come from this last page.
And here are links to two animations in QuickTime and Windows Media Player formats realized with Streetscenes.
As a result of its collaboration with CCR, TVGA Consultants in Elma is able to provide high-end, three-dimensional accident visualization services to its clients, which include attorneys and insurance companies.
"CCR's expertise allowed TVGA to transform these calculations into a state-of-the-art 3D animation, thus realistically animating the story that used to be told to juries through storyboards," said Haseeb Ghumman, who heads TVGA's Accident Reconstruction Plus division.
You'll find additional videos on the site of Accident Reconstruction Plus, a division of TVGA Consultants, which has an interesting motto, "Bringing Accident Reconstruction Into the 21st Century."
There is a limit to the application of democratic methods. You can inquire of all the passengers as to what type of car they like to ride in, but it is impossible to question them as to whether to apply the brakes when the train is at full speed and accident threatens.
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940)
Sources: State University of New York at Buffalo, June 3, 2005; and various websites
Related stories can be found in the following categories.
Police
Supercomputers
Transportation
Vision and Visualization Apps.