FAQ

iRAP is the International Road Assessment Programme. It is both a not-for-profit organisation and a methodology that assesses a road not by the crashes that have already happened, but by its design: how well the layout of a section protects people if an error does occur.

Every hundred metres of road is described by a set of attributes - median separation, shoulder, roadside, crossings, lighting, safety barriers. From these, a Star Rating from one to five stars is calculated separately for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The methodology is used by road authorities in many countries, and its results are accepted by international development banks when reviewing road projects.

KazRAP is the Kazakhstan road safety assessment programme run by the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute for Road Safety LLP. It is the Institute's own programme, not a government body and not a state programme.

Assessments follow the iRAP methodology: the same rules for road survey, coding and Star Rating calculation as in other countries, so the results are comparable internationally. The Institute has its own software, KazRAP S, for comprehensive study of road condition and road safety.

See the About the KazRAP programme page for details.

They are two different tools, and one does not replace the other.

• A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is an expert review. Specialists examine a design or an existing section and issue a list of findings and recommendations.
• An iRAP assessment is a full-coverage survey. The entire section is surveyed and coded, risk is calculated for every 100-metre segment, and the output is a rating, a risk map and a countermeasure plan with economic analysis.

In practice they are often combined: iRAP shows where risk is concentrated, while an audit examines a specific design on a selected section. More about road safety audits.

The work is done in five stages.

• Scoping: we define the network length, the road user categories and the format of the results.
• Survey: driving the route, recording road conditions with geographic coordinates and collecting traffic volume data.
• Coding: trained specialists record more than fifty road attributes for every hundred metres.
• Calculation: the data are processed in the iRAP software environment to produce segment Star Ratings and estimates of fatalities and serious injuries.
• Investment plan: a list of countermeasures with economic justification, a report and implementation support.

The stages are described in detail on the Road assessment under KazRAP / iRAP page.

The set of deliverables depends on the task and usually includes:

• Star Ratings of network sections for each road user category;
• a georeferenced risk map;
• an investment plan: a list of countermeasures, estimated costs and the expected reduction in severe outcomes;
• a report with the methodology, input data and conclusions;
• access to the assessment data in ViDA.

The exact scope and format of delivery are set out in the contract.

For a preliminary estimate of timing and scope, four things are enough: a list of sections or the network length, the road category, traffic volume data if available, and the required result - ratings, a risk map, an investment plan or all of these.

The Institute collects everything else itself during the survey. If the client lacks some data, this does not prevent a start: missing information is clarified at the scoping stage.

The main form of cooperation is a memorandum of understanding: joint research, exchange of experience and data, and training of specialists. Agreements already signed are listed on the Partners page.

To start the conversation, email info@kazrap.kz or submit a request through the form on the website. It helps to state your organisation, the area you are interested in and the intended format of joint work.

Training specialists is one of the Institute's areas of work: training in the iRAP methodology, road attribute coding and working with assessment results. The Institute trains specialists together with partner universities in the field.

The programme, format and intake dates are provided on request: write to info@kazrap.kz or leave a request through the form, stating your organisation and the number of trainees. More on the Specialist training page.