Identifying the Critical Golden-Hour Zones in Rural Kansas

Details

• Creators:
  Kommineni, Namratha ; Aziz, H.M. Abdul
• Corporate Creators:
  Kansas State University Transportation Center. Department of Civil Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Kansas Department of Transportation. Bureau of Research
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Emergency Medical Services Emergency Response Time Fatalities First Responders Geographic Information Systems Location Data Rural Areas Rural Highways State Departments Of Transportation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  K-TRAN: KSU-24-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Kansas ; United States
• Edition:
  Final Report September 2023 – December 2024
• Corporate Publisher:
  Kansas Department of Transportation. Bureau of Research
• Abstract:
  This study developed a data-driven geospatial tool to optimize emergency response strategies for vehicle crashes in Kansas. The tool analyzed more than a decade of crash data from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to provide insight into T1 (crash to emergency medical services [EMS] notification), T2 (EMS notification to EMS arrival), and T3 (EMS arrival to hospital) intervals. The tool emphasized the importance of timely and efficient post-crash care, particularly in rural areas, where 36.6% of fatal crashes have response times that exceed 60 minutes, compared to only 10% in urban areas. Leveraging Python-based mapping and data analysis libraries, including OpenStreetMap and Dijkstra’s algorithm for shortest path calculations, the interactive tool allows users to visualize crash locations, EMS dispatch points, and hospital/trauma center locations. The tool also identifies high-crash regions with delayed response times and helps decision-makers improve emergency response strategies by simulating real-time EMS routing. Through its dynamic interface, the tool offers planning and assessment capabilities to decrease the number of fatalities and improve emergency care, especially in rural settings. This application specifically addresses the disparity in response times between rural and urban regions and can be adapted for similar efforts in other states, supporting life-saving strategies to enhance road safety.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  C2223
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:643198c38a5db701446e969a2a1b9a7847f428cfc7d5cf2d7a9eafc306ce8f3d427a41fd6845be4beedd49ca024b4a350a3797d5c07eab4c534841f0fc5830d5
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/84799/dot_84799_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.21 MB ]