How to Get Started

Background

SafetyAnalyst consists of a set of multiple independent applications (tools) that interact with a database by using a two-tier, client–server architecture. The database management system (DBMS) acts as the server, performing user authentication and data integrity functions for the deployed SafetyAnalyst tools. Figure 1 illustrates the relationships and flow of data between the SafetyAnalyst applications.

Figure 1.  SafetyAnalyst Architecture

SafetyAnalyst is implemented in the Java programming language and uses the Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) API to support connectivity to a wide variety of DBMS vendors. This interface supports connectivity to an embedded version of the JavaDB (a.k.a. Apache Derby) that allows SafetyAnalyst to operate as a desktop application, providing an alternative to a client–server deployment.

SafetyAnalyst Tools and Types of Users

The SafetyAnalyst tool set consists of three primary applications as identified in Figure 1 :

• Administration (Admin) Tool - This tool is used to set up and manage the SafetyAnalyst deployment. It enables an agency to tailor the SafetyAnalyst data model and to modify the federally-supplied default data used in conducting safety analyses.
• Data Management Tool - This tool is used to import and prepare an agency's inventory, traffic volume, and accident (crash) data for analysis. (In the current release, a separate application is provided to manage the set of countermeasures that have been applied to an agency's inventory.)
• Analytical Tool - This tool is used to conduct safety analyses of an agency's inventory. To ensure data integrity, this client application accesses the agency data in a read-only mode.

Figure 1 also identifies two primary user roles: Administrator/Data Manager and Analyst. Administrators and data managers use the corresponding SafetyAnalyst Administration and Data Management tools to prepare SafetyAnalyst and the agency data for use by safety analysts. Administrators install SafetyAnalyst and configuring system attributes, collision distributions, countermeasures, and diagnostic scenarios. Data Managers configure, import, post process, and calibrate the agency's site data (segments, intersections, ramps, traffic, and accident data). Analysts use the SafetyAnalyst Analytical Tool to conduct safety analyses on an agency's inventory. Although there may be many analysts using the Analytical Tool, it is envisioned that there will be only a few (perhaps one) personnel serving in the Administrator/Data Management role.

Documents to Help You Get Started

The following documents provide detailed information regarding the SafetyAnalyst architecture and data relationships with respect to the individual applications within the SafetyAnalyst tool set and are good resources for users getting started with SafetyAnalyst. SafetyAnalyst documentation is organized in five manuals that are oriented to specific user types and information needs.

• Administration Tool Manual - A detailed reference describing the installation and configuration of SafetyAnalyst, use of the Administration Tool, and customization of SafetyAnalyst data and components.
• Data Management Tool Manual - A detailed reference for using the SafetyAnalyst Data Management Tool for importing and transforming data into a format usable for SafetyAnalyst.
• Data Import Reference - A detailed reference that describes the data that can be imported into a SafetyAnalyst data set database from agency-supplied ASCII import files or from agency-maintained databases using the SafetyAnalyst Data Management Tool.
• SafetyAnalyst User's Manual - A detailed reference for using the SafetyAnalyst Analytical Tool. This manual provides engineering information necessary to make appropriate use of SafetyAnalyst evaluation capabilities and interpretation of results.
• Implemented Countermeasure Management Tool Manual - A detailed reference for using the SafetyAnalyst Implemented Countermeasure Tool for importing and transforming countermeasures that have been implemented in the inventory into a format usable for SafetyAnalyst.

Another reference that will be of interest to users getting started with SafetyAnalyst is the SafeyAnalyst Applications Guide. The purpose of the Applications Guide is to help analysts decide which types of problems can and cannot be addressed with SafetyAnalyst and how to decide which program features apply to particular problems. The Applications Guide also includes descriptions of problems that can be solved with SafetyAnalyst and presents several examples along with the solutions and interpretations of the results. The Applications Guide is intended to serve as a single reference for analysts to gain a better understanding of the capabilities and features of the SafetyAnalyst Analytical Tool. The Applications Guide provides screenshots and sample reports/output from SafetyAnalyst.