Automotive Design and Crashworthiness Research
Crash Investigations
About CIW.
The Crash Investigation Wing (CIW) at ADCR is the most advanced and of its kind road crash investigation team in Pakistan. CIW has been engaged by the Government of Pakistan in investigations of many national-level road disasters including the Kalar Kahaar school bus accident in 2011, the Therri bypass accident in 2014, the Ahmedpur Sharqia oil tanker tragedy in 2017 and the Car/ Bus Collision near Shatiyal, Kohistan 2023Â
ADCR-CIW has also been offering services to a number of prestigious multinational clients in major disasters. The training wing of ADCR has also trained hundreds of crash investigators in Pakistan for civil and military organizations.
CSI Road Crash Documentaries
About CIW.
The Crash Investigation Wing (CIW) at ADCR is the most advanced and of its kind road crash investigation team in Pakistan. CIW has been engaged by the Government of Pakistan in investigations of many national-level road disasters including the Kalar Kahaar school bus accident in 2011, the Therri bypass accident in 2014, the Ahmedpur Sharqia oil tanker tragedy in 2017 and the Shatiyal Bus/Car collision in 2023.
ADCR-CIW has also been offering services to a number of prestigious multinational clients in major disasters. The training wing of ADCR has also trained hundreds of crash investigators in Pakistan for civil and military organizations.
CSI Road Crash Documentaries
What we do.
Expertise
Armored Vehicle Crash Investigations
ADCR conducts crash investigations for several armored vehicle crashes, including investigating a crash remotely through video evidence. Contrary to intuitive logic, armored vehicles possess inherent design dynamics and safety issues that make them more vulnerable to becoming part of a road crash.
Motorbike and Pedestrian Crashes
Apart from crashes involving motorcyclists, which involve a similar strategy of investigation as other vehicles, ADCR has been doing studies on motorcycle/truck crashes and their prevention for several of its corporate clients including  Mari Petroleum Company Ltd., Hascol Petroleum and Pakistan State Oils.
ADCR has also been running a safety campaign sponsored by ALDO international on educating heavy vehicle drivers on a defensive approach for motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Injury Biomechanics
Crash injury biomechanics is a component of crash investigations in which the injury patterns on the human body are studied. During the crash investigation data record phase, the on ground crash responder will document injury data according to the ADCR crash data protocol. The data can then be later evaluated at the ADCR remote office, where it can be analyzed and determined if the injury pattern is according to the claimed crash description, speed conditions and seating positions.
Established Links with Component Failure and Material Testing Lab
Materials Analysis Services & Technology (formerly Failure Analysis Center) Islamabad is a material testing facility based inside Islamabad. The center provides Material Analysis (MA), Metallurgical Analysis, Failure Analysis (FA), Structural Integrity Assessment (SIA), and Material & Process Advisory Services (MPAS). ADCR and MASTECH/FAC have an established working relationship. If component failure is suspected due to a material defect, welding defect, or sabotage, a sample is collected and sent to this material testing lab, which conducts a number of tests to identify the type of failure and/or evidence of explosives, etc.
Off-site Scene Reconstruction
ADCR has done several scene reconstruction for companies based on rough sketches sent by clients and has made computerized collision diagrams for their reports.
Crash Animations
Based on the collision diagrams given to us by the investigating team, we provide a detailed and highly reasonable crash animations to our clients.
Legal Assistance
ADCR provides services for legal procedures. A Legal team is assigned to assist in court experiences and police work or help in preparing FIRs and out-of-court settlements. The ADCR legal team is well-versed in Pakistan’s penal code, NHSO rules, and Pakistan Motor Vehicle Rules. Therefore if matters reach the court then the team can assist in deriving applicable clauses to help in your defense.
Traffic Laws, Rules and Regulations
ADCR as a firm also works as Policy Research and Lawmaking Consultants for the Government of Pakistan and have helped them pass laws on vehicle construction as well as conduct surveys and research on policy tools. ADCR was the consultant organization in drafting the ‘Pakistan National Highways and Motorways Dimensional Rules of Goods Transport Vehicles.’ under the National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000.
What we do.
Remote Work
Database Management and Connectivity for Remote Work
ADCR uses Microsoft Access as a database management system (DBMS) by a team that is proficient with the system. Data provided by the client related to road crashes is analyzed to find the root cause of these crashes. A direct link between the company's ground team and ADCR offices through email and video link make the process faster.
Capable of working in Different Languages
ADCR has identified and linked up to the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), in Islamabad, as a service provider in translation and interpretation services. NUML, having a Bureau of Translation and Interpretation Office, offers translation and interpretation services to embassies and consulates within the Capital. Their work experience with some international organizations includes the United Nations Development Program, the International Red Crescent, and the European Union. They are willing to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with ADCR.
Digital Forensics Expertise for verifying Remotely Acquired Data
Digital Forensics for data evaluation is an essential part of the remote investigation procedure in ADCR. Photographs and videos are studied in detail for authentication purposes before consideration. There is a massive incentive for all the parties involved in the crash to manipulate or fudge the data to avoid blame, and data fudging is a regular occurrence in crash investigations. Therefore, some of the techniques to verify the authenticity of data used by ADCR include,
- Error Level Analysis
- Rainbowing Technique
- EXIF and IPTP Data Extraction
- Audio Authentication
Expertise
Armored Vehicle Crash Investigations
ADCR conducts crash investigations for several armored vehicle crashes, including investigating a crash remotely through video evidence. Contrary to intuitive logic, armored vehicles possess inherent design dynamics and safety issues that make them more vulnerable to becoming part of a road crash.
Motorbike and Pedestrian Crashes
Apart from crashes involving motorcyclists, which involve a similar strategy of investigation as other vehicles, ADCR has been doing studies on motorcycle/truck crashes and their prevention for several of its corporate clients including  Mari Petroleum Company Ltd., Hascol Petroleum and Pakistan State Oils.
ADCR has also been running a safety campaign sponsored by ALDO international on educating heavy vehicle drivers on a defensive approach for motorcyclists and pedestrians.
Injury Biomechanics
Crash injury biomechanics is a component of crash investigations in which the injury patterns on the human body are studied. During the crash investigation data record phase, the on ground crash responder will document injury data according to the ADCR crash data protocol. The data can then be later evaluated at the ADCR remote office, where it can be analyzed and determined if the injury pattern is according to the claimed crash description, speed conditions and seating positions.
Established Links with Component Failure and Material Testing Lab
Materials Analysis Services & Technology (formerly Failure Analysis Center) Islamabad is a material testing facility based inside Islamabad. The center provides Material Analysis (MA), Metallurgical Analysis, Failure Analysis (FA), Structural Integrity Assessment (SIA), and Material & Process Advisory Services (MPAS). ADCR and MASTECH/FAC have an established working relationship. If component failure is suspected due to a material defect, welding defect, or sabotage, a sample is collected and sent to this material testing lab, which conducts a number of tests to identify the type of failure and/or evidence of explosives, etc.
Off-site Scene Reconstruction
ADCR has done several scene reconstruction for companies based on rough sketches sent by clients and has made computerized collision diagrams for their reports.
Crash Animations
Based on the collision diagrams given to us by the investigating team, we provide a detailed and highly reasonable crash animations to our clients.
Legal Assistance
ADCR provides services for legal procedures. A Legal team is assigned to assist in court experiences and police work or help in preparing FIRs and out-of-court settlements. The ADCR legal team is well-versed in Pakistan’s penal code, NHSO rules, and Pakistan Motor Vehicle Rules. Therefore if matters reach the court then the team can assist in deriving applicable clauses to help in your defense.
Traffic Laws, Rules and Regulations
ADCR as a firm also works as Policy Research and Lawmaking Consultants for the Government of Pakistan and have helped them pass laws on vehicle construction as well as conduct surveys and research on policy tools. ADCR was the consultant organization in drafting the ‘Pakistan National Highways and Motorways Dimensional Rules of Goods Transport Vehicles.’ under the National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000.
Methodologies and Analysis
Speed analysis (human factor) methodologies used by ADCR
Speed is directly linked not only to the severity but also to the likelihood of a crash. A key component of crash investigations and often one of the most pressing questions is that of vehicle speed. Determination of speed has several methodologies, and every case may require a different type of methodology to be used.
ADCR currently uses:
- Skid Marks Method
- Critical Speed Steer Marks Method
- Crush Depth Method
- GPS Method
- Crash Data Recorder/ Event Data Recorder Method
- Speedometer Method
- Projectile Method, Throw Methods
Fatigue, drowsiness and sleep (human factor) analysis methodologies used by ADCR
Fatigue and drowsiness is an extremely common human factor that plagues the transportation industry. In crashes, it is only second to speed in terms of frequency of occurrence. There are several methods used by ADCR in crash reconstruction such as:
- Point Of Actual And Estimated Reaction
- Inspection Of Logbooks And Records
- GPS Method
- EDR Methods
Risky driving, alcohol & drugs (human factors) analysis methodology used by ADCR
Risky driving significantly increases the probability of having a crash significantly. Risky driving can include speed, dangerous overtaking, lane violations, aggressive road behavior, and alcohol/drug use. Some of these factors can be determined with similar methodologies as mentioned in sections Speed analysis methodologies and Injury biomechanics expertise. A few more techniques used by ADCR include the following:
- Driver Profiling/Aggressive Score
- Crash Data Recorder Accelerometer Data
- Post-Accident Drug and Alcohol Testing
- Phone Record Check
- Error Level Analysis
- Rainbowing Technique
- EXIF and IPTP Data Extraction
- Audio Authentication
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Vehicle analysis methodologies followed by ADCR
ADCR uses an extremely methodical process of vehicle examination and analysis. This makes it possible for vehicles to be studied even after they have been removed from the location and moved to a secure location. Crash reconstruction techniques make it possible for crash dynamics to be reconstructed in the minutest of details.
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Road analysis methodologies followed by ADCR
Road evidence is collected by ADCR very systematically. Modern map-making techniques such as Cartesian cartography and satellite cartography are used. Road marks such as skids, steers, and yaw marks are studied. Any permanent road markings such as metal chips, chops and grooves are also documented and mapped. The point of collision, point of perception, point of the first reaction, and final resting points are determined through various methodologies and the speeds of the vehicles are calculated.
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Crash reconstruction methodology
In the final phase of the process, A full crash reconstruction is done. and the following individual analysis is taken into account:
- Vehicle Analysis
- Road and Environmental Factors
- Human Factors
- Speed Calculations
- Photographic evidence of final resting positions of vehicle/s
Crash analysis of all road, human, vehicle and speed factors
ADCR believes that the main purpose of carrying out a crash investigation is not only to ascertain whom to blame but also to learn from it and take remedial actions to prevent it from happening again. After the root cause of the crash is determined, the crash is studied in the light of the modern safe system approach and all vehicle, road, human, and speed, factors that could have prevented or mitigated the consequences of the crash.
Reporting procedures used by ADCR
Reporting procedures followed at the company mainly depend on the requirements of the clients, Currently, ADCR reporting procedures have four main types:
- Extensive Public-Level Reports
- Corporate Report
- Component Failure Reports
Analysis of traffic laws and determining violations
After the crash scene has been fully reconstructed, the next step followed by ADCR is to determine the violations in the crash scene according to the laws of the land. The following, but not limited to sets of violations are considered:
- Right-Of-Way Rules
- Speed Limits
- Driver Work/Rest Regulations
- Licensing
- Vehicles Safety Standards
- Road Design Standards
Statistical analysis of collective crash data over time
ADCR has done several statistical collective crash data studies in the past. A notable study was done for the National Transport Research Center, Pakistan in which crash data of 108 crashes were reinvestigated from the Kalar Kahaar segment of the M2 Motorway. This study aimed to identify the underlying vehicle fitness issues in Pakistan by analyzing crash data. The study is in the process of publication in the International Journal of Safety Science and has contributed to the frontiers of the science of road crash data analysis.
Notable Cases
Therri Bypass Truck/Bus Head on Collision 2014 (59 Fatalities)
Ahmed Pur Sharqia Oil Tanker Explosion and Fire, 2017 (210 Fatalities)
Khalid Shamim Wyne Armored Vehicle Crash 2017 (2 Fatalities)
Babusar Top Masherberum Bus Single Vehicle Collision 2019 (33 Fatalities)
Bus/Car Collision near Shatiyal Bazaar, Giligit-Baltistan, Feb 2023
Bus Crash at Kallar Kahar M2 Motorway
Marco Polo Bus Crash, Chillas, Gilgit Baltistan May 2024
Ahmed Pur Sharqia Oil Tanker Explosion and Fire, 2017 (210 Fatalities)
Therri Bypass Truck/Bus Head on Collision 2014 (62 Fatalities)
Babusar Top Masherberum Bus Single Vehicle Collision 2019 (33 Fatalities)
Therri Bypass Truck/Van Collision 2017 (21 Fatalities)
Khalid Shamim Wyne Armored Vehicle Crash 2017 (2 Fatalities)
Bus/Car Collision near Shatiyal Bazaar, Giligit-Baltistan, Feb 2023
Bus Crash at Kallar Kahar M2 Motorway