Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Hotspot Identification of Road Traffic Accidents in Lahore Using GIS and Data Analytics

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a serious concern about the increasing rate of road Traffic accidents (RTAs) that cause different types of injuries, including disabilities, fatalities, etc. To overcome these losses, this research aims to identify hotspot regions and the time intervals of most occurrence in Lahore District using various Spatio-temporal techniques, including Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), Co-map analysis, and Python, Tableau, and Excel-based approaches. In addition, those hot zones are found in the district's busiest regions in the north, notably in Interior Lahore, with notable clusters in Ravi, Data Gunj Baksh, and Shalamar Towns. The most populous towns seem to have the highest rate of accidents. Temporal analysis shows an average of approximately 10 accidents per hour, peaking on Mondays and weekends, and in busy hours. The study provides actionable insights for traffic authorities, offering a replaceable framework for mitigating high-risk zones, with the potential to significantly reduce accident rates and improve road safety in Lahore and similar urban areas.