Star Rating and Investment Plans: Road Survey and Coding Specification PRINT WARNING printed copies of this document or parts thereof should not be relied upon as a current reference document. Always refer to the electronic copy for the latest version at: http://www.irap.org.
About irap The International Road Assessment Programme (irap) is a registered charity dedicated to saving lives through safer roads. We provide tools and training to help countries make roads safe. Our activities include: inspect high-risk roads and develop Star Ratings and Safer Roads Investment Plans provide training, technology and support that will build and sustain national, regional and local capability track road safety performance so that funding agencies can assess the benefits of their investments. The programme is the umbrella organisation for EuroRAP, AusRAP, usrap, KiwiRAP and ChinaRAP. Road Assessment Programmes (RAP) are now active in more than 70 countries throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, North, Central and South America and Africa. irap is financially supported by the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society and the Road Safety Fund. Projects receive support from the Global Road Safety Facility, automobile associations, regional development banks and donors. National governments, automobile clubs and associations, charities, the motor industry and institutions such as the European Commission also support RAPs in the developed world and encourage the transfer of research and technology to irap. In addition, many individuals donate their time and expertise to support irap. For more information For more information about this document, contact: James Bradford irap Global Operations Manager james.bradford@irap.org +44 1256 345 598 (GMT+0) To find out more about the programme, visit www.irap.org. You can also subscribe to WrapUp, the irap e-newsletter, by sending a message to icanhelp@irap.org. International Road Assessment Programme (irap) 2014 irap technology including protocols, processes and brands may not be altered or used in any way without the express written agreement of irap. irap is registered in England & Wales under company number 05476000. Registered Office: 60 Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DS. April 2014 Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 1
Contents 1 Introduction... 3 1.1 Star Ratings Overview... 3 1.2 About this specification... 3 1.3 License... 3 2 Supplier Staff... 4 3 General Specifications... 4 4 Road Survey Specifications... 5 4.1 Road Survey - Inspection System Specifications... 5 4.2 Road Survey - Vehicle Specifications... 6 4.3 Road Survey Supplier Staff... 7 4.4 Road Survey Process Specification... 7 4.5 Road Survey - Quality Assurance and Reporting... 8 5 Road Coding Specifications... 8 5.1 Road Coding - Software Specifications... 9 5.2 Road Coding - Workspace and Computers... 10 5.3 Road Coding - Supplier Staff... 10 5.4 Road Coding - Coding Manual... 10 5.5 Road Coding - Process Specifications... 11 5.6 Road Coding - Additional Software Training... 11 5.7 Road Coding - Quality Assurance... 12 Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 2
1 Introduction Deaths and injuries from road vehicle crashes are a major and growing public health epidemic. Each year 1.3 million people die and a further 50 million are injured or permanently disabled in road crashes. Road crashes are now the leading cause of death for children and young people aged between 10 and 24. The burden of road crashes is comparable with malaria and tuberculosis and costs 1-3% of the world s GDP. In low and middle income countries, road crashes represent a major health concern. More than 85% of the global death toll and serious injuries occur in developing countries. Whereas road deaths are expected to fall in high-income countries, they are likely to increase by more than 80 per cent in the rest of the world. 1 The International Road Assessment Programme (irap - www.irap.org) has drawn upon the extensive knowledge base of the developed world s Road Assessment Programmes (EuroRAP, AusRAP and usrap), with the generous support of the FIA Foundation, to develop a road survey methodology for low and middle income countries. This Star Rating methodology does not require detailed crash data and works directly from road surveys. 1.1 Star Ratings Overview Star Ratings are an objective measure of the likelihood of a road crash occurring and its severity. The focus is on identifying and recording the road attributes which influence the most common and severe types of crash, based on scientific evidence-based research. In this way, the level of road user risk on a particular network can be defined without the need for detailed crash data, which is often the case in low and middle income countries where data quality is poor. Research shows that a person s risk of death and serious injury is highest on a one-star road and lowest on a five-star road. Star Ratings are also particularly useful in order to objectively quantify the level of risk associated with new road designs (where crash data is not present) enabling evidence based decisions and also for use in highperforming countries where the relatively low frequency of crashes limits the ability of crash analysis to influence performance monitoring and investment prioritisation. For further information on irap Star Rating methodology and access to training courses go to http://capacity.irap.org/index.php/training/rap-courses. 1.2 About this specification This document sets out the minimum specifications for an irap Inspection (survey and coding). The purpose of the road inspections is to collect data that can be used in the creation of irap Star Ratings and Safer Roads Investment Plans (SRIP). 1.3 License The successful Supplier will be licensed to use the appropriate irap protocols, technology and methods for the duration of the project. 1 World Health Organisation, Global Status Report on Road Safety. Time for Action, 2009 Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 3
2 Supplier Staff It is suggested that this specification is implemented by a team that includes the following positions. It is feasible that one person has responsibility for more than one position. 1. Team leader. Bachelor degree in a related technical field with at least 5 years related experience in project management on multi-disciplinary transport projects. 2. Road survey specialist. Appropriate technical qualifications and has successfully completed a similar project within the past 3 years. 3. Road coding trainer and supervisor. Appropriate technical qualifications and has successfully completed a similar project within the past 3 years. Further information is provided in subsequent sections. 3 General Specifications 1. The Supplier shall acknowledge that irap has a zero tolerance policy towards bribery and corruption and hereby agrees to adopt the same approach as described in the irap Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy with all parties with whom it deals in relation to this work (see: http:www.irap.org). 2. irap assessments are typically focussed on the highest risk roads in a country and so it is especially important that the Supplier shall ensures it is informed and manages all risks associated with the completion of the project. The Supplier is responsible for conducting project activities safely. The Supplier will ensure that operational working hours, road travel, inspections and data collection, country specific requirements including immunisations and security arrangements, training and all other required operational activities are conducted in a safe manner. A written project health and safety plan shall be provided by the Supplier to the Client. The plan must receive no objection from the Client prior to the commencement of the road survey. 3. Incidental costs (such as customs duties, fuel, insurance, and vehicle operating costs, accommodation, survey staff per diem allowances and permits) shall be covered by the Supplier. The Supplier is required to submit all relevant insurance documents to the Client prior to the commencement of the road survey. 4. Mobilisation and demobilization costs associated with the project shall be covered by the Supplier. It is the responsibility of the Supplier to adhere to all customs duties, rules and regulations as applicable. Note that failure to properly comply with customs rules can result in seizure of goods and civil and criminal penalties against involved parties. 5. Other documents including data, maps and reports supplied to the Supplier by the Client or other organizations to assist with the study shall be returned to the Client at the end of the project. 6. No public communication of results shall be undertaken without the express written approval of the programme lead for the country in which the survey is being conducted. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 4
7. The Supplier shall ensure they are well informed and aware of the complexity, time and cost implications of all aspects of the temporary importation of survey equipment to the country concerned. Project timelines should reflect the shipping and customs related requirements for the country concerned. Key issues for the Supplier to be aware of include: a. shipping and/or transportation costs and time implications for the project b. legal, time and cost obligations related to the temporary or permanent importation of the survey equipment c. legal requirements or restrictions for the type of equipment used (e.g. lasers, GPS, accelerometers). 4 Road Survey Specifications The road survey shall be carried out in accordance with the following requirements. 4.1 Road Survey - Inspection System Specifications The requirements for road survey data collection are as follows: 1. The survey data is to be collected in accordance with an irap Class B or C inspection system (refer to Star Rating Inspection System Accreditation Specification and Record, available at: http://irap.org/about-irap-3/specifications): a. The digital images (video or other equivalent photographic images) shall be collected with a minimum resolution of 1280 x 960 pixels while the vehicle is operating at normal highway/road speeds. b. The digital images shall be collected with a minimum 160 degree field of view (centred on the travel lane) at a maximum of 20 metre intervals. This may be accomplished with either a single camera or with multiple cameras with overlapping fields of view. c. Geo-referencing data shall be provided for each digital image, including distance along road (from established start point), unique image number, latitude or longitude (provided in WGS84 projection and decimal degrees units), date and time. Longitude and latitude data is to be recorded with an accuracy of better than +/- 5 metres for at least 90% of digital images and must not drop-out for any more than 500 metres at a time. The Supplier shall be responsible for correcting data and any drop-outs as required to provide geo-referencing data for 100% of the network and images. d. All images shall be calibrated for the width measurement of attributes during the coding phase. Calibrations should be undertaken with the vehicle loaded as expected for the survey and check calibrations should be completed throughout the survey to ensure accuracy of calibration. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 5
e. The inspection system shall have compatible software for coding and review of coding data as required by the Road Coding - Software Specifications. 2. All geo-referenced digital images shall be provided to the Client in a suitable electronic format and structured and named in a format to be agreed with the Client. 3. If the inspection system is not already accredited by irap, the Supplier shall provide a sample of at least 10km of survey data for review during the evaluation process by irap. The data should be accompanied with a working copy of the viewing software and temporary license for its use. Successful completion of a survey project will result in accreditation for the Supplier. The following inspection system capabilities are desirable but not mandatory: 4. Capability to include digital images from a rear-facing camera at the same locations (at 100 metre intervals) as the images from the forward-facing camera(s). 5. Capability to provide automated measurements of radius of curvature for horizontal curves and percent grade for vertical grades. 6. Capability to measure traffic speeds and traffic volumes on the roads while undertaking the survey. 7. Ability to collect road roughness (International Roughness Index), rutting and surface texture data and undertake analysis and reporting in accordance with World Bank and/or Client specifications. 4.2 Road Survey - Vehicle Specifications 1. The survey vehicle must be in a safe, well-maintained condition. Vehicle safety details should be highlighted in the Supplier s health and safety plan (e.g. seat-belts for all passengers, air-bags and safe mounting of equipment). 2. The survey vehicle shall meet all licence and registration requirements (e.g. width, height, signage) for operation in the survey country. 3. The survey vehicle must be clean and presentable (suitable for media, steering committee, stakeholder and promotional activities). 4. The Supplier should be prepared, at the request of the Client, to arrange for high quality logos of the stakeholder organisations to be placed on the survey vehicle for the duration of the road survey. 5. The road survey vehicle must have sufficient space for the necessary survey team plus provision for additional stakeholder personnel and their luggage who may participate in parts of the road survey. These additional personnel may assist in navigation and local awareness-raising among project stakeholders throughout the duration of the project. 6. The vehicle shall be available for viewing and inspection during a commencement mission and official project launch. Details of such events shall be negotiated with the Client. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 6
4.3 Road Survey Supplier Staff 1. The road survey team should include: a. Professional driver or suitably trained person to operate the survey vehicle. b. Road survey specialist with appropriate technical qualifications and has successfully completed a similar project within the past 3 years. 2. The survey team should include a person who is designated to represent the project and present basic information at stakeholder briefings throughout the survey period. This could be the Road Survey Specialist, the Team Leader or another person. The ability to speak the local language would be of great benefit. 3. The road survey team may be required to conduct demonstrations of the survey vehicle during stakeholder briefings. 4. All road survey team personnel shall have necessary travel documentation and approvals. 5. The road survey team shall be suitably attired to participate in stakeholder briefings and demonstrations as required. 6. Road survey team members shall be responsible for, and act in accordance with, the Supplier s health and safety plan and ensure all safety and security issues are adequately addressed. 7. Additional stakeholder personnel may participate in the road survey at any time. This may include a local navigator from the local road agency to ensure all road referencing details align to authority practices. Another stakeholder(s) may participate in the road survey from a training and awareness raising perspective. The relevant authority will meet all costs associated with these people travelling with the survey team. 4.4 Road Survey Process Specification 1. The forward space within the images shall be kept clear of vehicles as much as possible to ensure the required attributes can be viewed and assessed. This may require an escort for congested urban areas, which the Supplier shall arrange. 2. The exact start and end points for road sections shall be determined by the Supplier in consultation with the Client and/or road authority. Road surveys shall record data for a minimum of 500 metres before the start point and 500 metres after the end point of each section of road. 3. The Supplier shall provide details on how key issues that may impact image quality, GPS location and other attributes will be managed. This may relate to but is not limited to sun glare, shade/sun rapid change, rain, tunnels and built-up areas. 4. All divided carriageways road lengths shall be separately surveyed (surveyed in both directions) regardless of length. The definition of a divided carriageway road for the purposes of this project is Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 7
all road sections where the median type is classified as code 1-7, 12, 15 as listed in irap Methodology Fact Sheet 3: Road Attributes (available at: http://irap.org/about-irap-3/methodology). 5. The road survey sections should be segmented in accordance with advice from the relevant road authority. 6. The Supplier shall provide to the Client an estimated survey schedule prior to commencement of the road survey, including the plans for collection of the divided carriageway sections and any agreed local demonstrations and briefings, which shall be determined in consultation with the Client and/or road authority. 7. The Supplier shall deliver to the Client the first two days of digital image and longitude and latitude data collected (on a hard box or similar device, or if possible, by the internet) to for immediate quality review. 8. The Supplier shall provide a weekly email progress report on the road survey process and outcomes at the completion of the road survey. This report shall be provided to the Client. 9. One copy of the full road survey data set (and supporting software) shall be provided to the Client and upon completion of the survey. The Supplier shall retain a copy of all data with appropriate back-up in place for a period of 7 years. 4.5 Road Survey - Quality Assurance and Reporting 1. Final acceptance and completion of the road survey will be subject to the full coverage of the required network and quality review by the Client to ensure that data is suitable for coding. 2. The Supplier shall provide a detailed report of the road survey including details of: a. The survey activity. b. Launches, local stakeholder briefings and site visits (including photos). c. Dates of road surveys, calibration activities, start and end points for all segments, key landmarks and road reference points and any relevant events (e.g. rain, major congestion, incidents). d. Any notable issues encountered during the road survey. 3. The Supplier should be prepared to correct road survey data should the Client identify errors or deficiencies. 5 Road Coding Specifications The road coding shall be carried out in accordance with the following specifications. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 8
5.1 Road Coding - Software Specifications The road coding system must have compatible software that is capable of being used by independent teams in an office environment to conduct coding of the road geometry and roadside features. The coding software must meet the following specifications: 1. The coding software must be capable of simultaneously displaying to the coder a digital image/s for a particular location and a coding form into which the coder can enter observations and/or measurements from the digital image. 2. The coding software must be capable of displaying digital images at 100 metre intervals and the ability to view the images at 20 metre intervals. 3. Both the digital image and the coding form must be displayed in a size large enough for effective use by a coder; this may require display across two computer monitor screens to obtain displays of suitable size, clarity and resolution. 4. Where multiple cameras are used to obtain the 160- to 180-degree field of view requirement, it must be possible to align the separate digital images on the display screen to obtain a continuous view of the roadway and roadside at the location of interest. 5. The coding form must be capable of including the road attributes listed in the irap Methodology Fact Sheet 3: Road Attributes (available at: http://irap.org/about-irap-3/methodology), including entry of numeric or alphanumeric data, drop-down menus or attribute buttons, as appropriate. 6. The coding software must be capable of storing coding data for digital images at 100 metre intervals. It must be capable of automatically advancing to the next 100 metre digital image in a convenient fashion, preferably with a single mouse click or hot key. 7. The coding software must enable the coder to easily review coding data for all digital images at any time with and without making amendments to the data. 8. The coding software must be capable of automatically incorporating the geo-referencing data associated with each digital image (see the irap Methodology Fact Sheet 3: Road Attributes, available at: http://irap.org/about-irap-3/methodology) into the stored coding data, without the need for the coder to manually rekey the geo-referencing data. 9. The coding form must be capable of retaining the values entered in selected coding fields from one 100 metre data set to the next, so that coders only need to modify those coding fields that have changed. 10. The coding software must be capable of converting the stored coding data to an Excel/.csv format at 100 metre intervals including both the coded road attributes and the geo-referencing data. 11. A number of permanent licensed copies of software shall be provided to the Client at the commencement of the project. The number shall be negotiated with the Client. The following coding software capabilities are desirable, but not mandatory: Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 9
12. The software may include an on-screen tool to accurately measure the height and width of roadway and roadside features, based on field calibration as specified in the previous section. 13. The coding software should be compatible with Microsoft Vista and/or Microsoft Windows 7, in addition to Microsoft Windows XP. 14. The coders (or the coding supervisor) should be able to modify or update the coding form, as appropriate, to change individual fields. 5.2 Road Coding - Workspace and Computers The Client may request that the Supplier train and supervise local staff in the coding process. This reflects the capacity building aspect of typical irap projects. If this is the case, then: 1. The Supplier shall purchase and provide a number to be agreed with the Client of new computer workstations, each with two monitors and with requisite Windows operating system and permanent software installed for the purposes of coding and subsequent review of results. The computers must be capable of running the coding software, accessing the internet and using Microsoft Office applications. These computers and associated software shall be retained by the Client upon completion of the project. 5.3 Road Coding - Supplier Staff 1. The road coding task should be led by a road coding trainer and supervisor with appropriate technical qualifications and has successfully completed a similar project within the past 3 years. 2. The coding will be undertaken by a team as described in the Road Coding - Process Specifications. 5.4 Road Coding - Coding Manual 1. The Supplier shall use the Star Rating Coding Manual (available at: http://irap.org/about-irap- 3/specifications). The Supplier shall select the drive on right or drive on left edition as appropriate. 2. The Supplier may create additional localized coding information where necessary. This could include: a. translation b. more detailed explanatory text c. photos and images using local examples. 3. The Supplier shall not alter the Star Rating Coding Manual. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 10
5.5 Road Coding - Process Specifications 1. The Supplier shall be responsible for coding all the road attributes specified in Star Rating Coding Manual and in accordance with the software specifications, at 100 metre intervals along the road network (available at: http://irap.org/about-irap-3/specifications). 2. The Supplier is to ensure that the coding process be undertaken by a coding team of appropriate size. 3. The Supplier shall provide all necessary training for the road coding team in the use of the coding software and in the Road Attribute Coding course on RAPcapacity (available at: http://capacity.irap.org). 4. The Supplier should prepare a training plan. The Star Rating and Safer Roads Investment Plan Quality Assurance Guide provides information about training (available at: http://irap.org/about-irap- 3/specifications). 5. The coding team shall be supervised at all times by a suitably qualified staff member from the Supplier. The Supplier supervisor shall undertake regular quality assurance reviews of the coding in accordance with the Star Rating and Safer Roads Investment Plan Quality Assurance Guide. 6. If the Supplier has not successfully undertaken irap road coder training or supervision previously, then must complete the coding training course in RAPcapacity and two or three-day coder supervisor and trainer course (depending on skills and experience). This will be undertaken at the Supplier s cost as part of the project. 7. The Supplier shall provide all coding data in an Excel/.csv format including both the coded road attributes and the linked geo-referencing data to the Client. 8. The Supplier shall provide the Client with a progress report on coding at the end of each week. The reports should contain details of who is involved in the coding, photos, descriptions of any issues that have arisen (such as sections of road that were difficult to code) and length of road coded. The reports should include an analysis of actual levels of coding accuracy for each road attribute, as specified in the Star Rating Coding Manual and the Star Rating and Safer Roads Investment Plan Quality Assurance Guide. These reports shall be provided to the Client for immediate review upon completion. 9. The full coded data set shall be provided to the Client upon completion of the road coding process. The Supplier shall retain a copy of all data with appropriate back-up in place for a period of 7 years. 5.6 Road Coding - Additional Software Training 1. The Supplier shall, as required, provide training to additional stakeholders in the use of the coding software. This training may take the form of a short, formal training course, or informal demonstrations. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 11
5.7 Road Coding - Quality Assurance 1. Final acceptance and completion of the coding phase will be subject to the full coverage of the required network and external quality review covering a minimum 10% sample of the assessed length to ensure that data is suitable for analysis and complies with the standards described within RAP-SR-2.4 Star Rating and Safer Roads Investment Plan Quality Assurance Guide (available at: http://irap.org/about-irap-3/specifications). 2. The Supplier should be prepared to correct coding should the Client identify any errors or deficiencies. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 12
Document version Version June 2011 May 2013 April 2014 Update irap model version 3 compatible specification created Appendix A updated to reflect May update to the upload specification Revisions made to reflect creation of the Standard irap Terms of Reference document. Adjustments made to section describing supplier staff. Appendix A removed and replaced with a link to an online list of road attributes. Star Rating and Investment Plan Road Survey and Coding Specification 13