Analysis of Road Safety and Localization of Risky Areas of Accident with an Emphasis on the Role of Climate Indices: A Case Study of Ardebil –Namin Road

Road accidents are considered as important causes of death and severe damages to lives and properties of people; the heavy social, cultural and economic effects of which greatly threatens the human societies.Studies and surveys carried out in different countries show that about 1 to 3 percent of GDP are being wasted in road accidents which is very significant figure. The occurrence of the weather phenomena is among the most important factors that affect the safety and sustainability of transportation system. Namin-Ardebil road, in Ardebil province, is one of the most crowded entrance road to the city of Ardabil which, so far, has not been considered from various environmental aspects, especially the role of climatic elements in occurrence of road accidents. In this study, meteorological data of four synoptic stations (Ardebil, Ardebil airport, Namin, and Sarein), over a 10-year-statistical period (2003-2012), is used. Enjoying IDW interpolation method In ArcGIS environment, integrated surfaces of climate parameters in the region were prepared. Then, considering the frequency of accidents, the surfaces are categorized in four levels; low-risk, medium risk, high risk and very high risk. Accordingly, it is found that, with regard to frequency and risk of accidents, Ardebil airport region, is the most dangerous area in Ardabil – Namin road and the next dangerous road is around Namin area.

Safety, Road, Ardebil, Namin, GIS, IDW