Traffic accident predictions based on fuzzy logic approach for safer urban environments, case study: İzmir metropolitan area

Dissertation has dealt with one of the most chaotic events of an urban life that is the traffic accidents. This study is a preliminary and an explorative effort to establish an Accident Prediction Model (APM) for road safety in İzmir urban environment. Aim of the dissertation is to prevent or decrease the amount of possible future traffic accidents in İzmir metropolitan region, by the help of the developed APM. Urban traffic accidents have spatial and other external reasons independent from the vehicles or drivers, and these reasons can be predicted by mathematical models. The study deals with the factors of the traffic accidents, which are not based on the human behavior or vehicle characteristics. Therefore the prediction model is established through the following external factors, such as traffic volume, rain status and the geometry of the roads. Fuzzy Logic Modeling (FLM) is applied as a prediction tool in the study. Familiarizing fuzzy logic approach to the planning discipline is the secondary aim of the thesis and contribution to the literature. The conformity of fuzzy logic enables modeling through verbal data and intuitive approach, which is important to achieve uncertainties of planning issues.