GIS Software for Crime Mapping and Public Safety

FIGURE 1: Map any type of crime data. (Click to enlarge) FIGURE 2: Find hotspots for various types of crimes.  (Click to enlarge) FIGURE 3: Compare crime for different time periods to identify trends or evaluate law enforcement strategies. (Click to enlarge) FIGURE 4: Identify sites for emergency shelters. (Click to enlarge) FIGURE 5: Determine the population effected by various chemical plumes. (Click to enlarge)

Maptitude is an essential tool for all types of crime and law enforcement mapping applications. Maptitude gives you a low-cost way to visualize crime data, make informed decisions, and evaluate law enforcement programs.

Crime Mapping & Analysis:
Because most crime data have specific locations, all types of data can be added to a map, including the locations of accidents, citation issuances, arrests, registered sex offenders, suspects, and crime locations (Figures 1 and 2). Maptitude analysis tools then let you determine spatial patterns and hotspots (Figure 2) for various types of crimes.

By identifying spatial patterns, law enforcement resources can be more effectively deployed for crime analysis and prevention. For example, locations can be prioritized for law enforcement activities such as drug or prostitution stings based on where those crimes are most prevalent. Sobriety checkpoints can be identified by examining the locations of DUI arrests and accidents involving impaired drivers. By cross-referencing data from multiple sources, such as crime incidents and suspects, it is even possible to prioritize an investigation for a connected series of crimes such as rape or arson.

Policy Evaluation:
Maptitude makes it possible to track the effectiveness of law enforcement programs. For example, you can compare accident data to determine the effectiveness of sobriety checkpoints or compare service calls before and after setting up a neighborhood patrol program. (Figure 3)

Emergency Response:
In the event of disasters, you can use Maptitude to identify evacuation routes, the best locations for emergency shelters, and alternate routes. For example, you can use the Caliper Flood Plain Data CD to identify shelters that are both accessible and unlikely to flood (Figure 4). You can also use Maptitude to identify the population effected by a chemical spill or explosion, then develop an evacuation procedure and determine road closures (Figure 5).

Routing Tools:
Maptitude has routing tools that let you find routes among two or more locations. Not only can this aid dispatch in decreasing response times, but it can also lead to greater effectiveness for non-emergency applications such as serving subpoenas.

Public Information:
Maptitude for the Web is a specialized version of Maptitude for designing and running interactive map applications and location-based services on the World Wide Web. With Maptitude for the Web, law enforcement agencies can share information with their communities. Through interactive maps, residents can identify their closest emergency shelter, determine evacuation routes in the event of a natural disaster, or get information on registered sex offenders. Citizens can also develop community policing programs and other initiatives based on shared police and demographic information.

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Related Links:

• See our library for several articles pertaining to crime analysis with Maptitude mapping software
• For an example of crime data as part of a web-based information system, see MassStats.com or Caliper's Great Britain Interactive Mapping System.
• For information on UK Police Authority boundaries and crime data included with Maptitude for Great Britain, see the UK Data page.