GeoVisual Analytics for the Exploration of Complex Movement Patterns on Arterial Roads

Visualization of complex spatio-temporal traffic movements on the road network is a challenging task since it requires simultaneous representation of vehicle measurement characteristics and traffic network regulation rules. Previously proposed visual representations addressed issues related to traffic congestion to explore movements along the road networks. However, those studies did not focus on the traffic safety aspects for the vulnerable road users in densely populated areas. This research deals with traffic safety issues for pedestrians on arterial roads located within the urban areas. Arterial roads are important for the mobility and connectivity of modern society, but they also have traffic regulations that are not always followed by the vulnerable road users. In order to understand complex movement behaviors between vehicle drivers and pedestrians on the arterial roads, a GeoVisual Analytics approach was developed in dialog with traffic experts. The exploratory interactive tools have assisted experts to extract unknown information about movement patterns from large traffic data at different levels of details. The results of the analysis revealed detailed patterns of speed variations and demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed GeoVisual Analytics solutions.