Computing Methods in the Analysis of Road Accident Reconstruction Uncertainty

Abstract

The study is dedicated to the problem of uncertainty in the analysis of accident situations in road traffic. The term “uncertainty” is generally known when used with reference to measurement techniques, but its application to the analyses of accident situations in road traffic, including accident reconstruction, is a relatively new field of knowledge. The objectives of this work include the presentation and examination of selected aspects related to the taking of uncertainty into account when analysing the course of an accident and making the necessary calculations. Apart from the scientific objectives, an important utilitarian goal may also be pointed out. The data and methods presented may be used by automotive technology experts in their accident reconstruction work. The paper shows seven methods that enable the taking into account of the uncertainty of the data used for calculations, i.e. extreme values method, total differential method, higher-order total differential method, finite-difference method, Gauss method, method based on the description of stochastic processes, and Monte-Carlo method. Apart from formal (mathematical) descriptions of the methods, an example of their use for the estimation of uncertainty of selected quantities that describe an accident situation has been demonstrated. The bad and good points of individual methods have been shown in the context of the application considered.

Study on the uncertainty of speed calculation based on tire marks

“…Therefore, according to the vehicle speed prediction model and uncertainty theory method [3], the value range of vehicle speed can be obtained as follows:…”

Exploring Uncertainties for Crashed Vehicle Travelling Velocity Tolerance in One-Dimensional Crash Configuration

“…Given this, an allowable amount of variation of the specified quantity should be carefully determined to increase calculation accuracy. Uncertainty in a problem calculation could be associated with assumptions of individual judgment [17] or measurement tools [18]. While calibration minimises the measurement tool inaccuracy, other measurement uncertainties should be carefully determined.…”

Striated Tire Yaw Marks—Modeling and Validation

“…An in-depth look at the mechanics of the yaw mark creation is very interesting not only as a mathematical problem, but first of all crucial from the angle of the uncertainty of vehicle accident analysis (see e.g., [16]).…”