GIS for Crime Analysis

Career Path Series

Why use GIS for Crime Analysis?

Whether you know it or not, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are an important part of your life. Almost any sector you can think of has the ability to use GIS. Law enforcement and public safety is no different.

In this Career Path Series on GIS for Crime Analysis, you will get a snapshot of how GIS is used to analyse crime and make informed decisions about our public safety.

Here are some ways GIS is used in the field of public safety:


Spotlight: Debbie Verduga

Senior Data Visualization and Open Data Specialist, Analytics & Innovation at the Toronto Police Service (TPS)

“ Analyzing crime using GIS reveals insightful patterns in space and time enabling a crime analyst to identify areas at risk of criminal activity and pinpoint exact locations, types of crime and time of day to strategically guide the deployment of resources and inform community members.” - Debbie Verduga

Other stories on Debbie and the TPS:


Careers and Education

Careers: Crime Analysis

There are many types of careers that involve the use of GIS to study and analyse crime statistics and to help predict the locations of crimes so that policing action can be directed accordingly. Some of these careers are listed below.

Watch the videos below to find how GIS is used in crime analysis:

Education: Crime Analysis

Many post-secondary programs are offered at universities and colleges across Canada that focus on crime analysis and public safety. The following are some examples of what is available:


Scenario: Analysis of Break and Enters in Toronto

You are a Crime Analyst working at the Toronto Police Service (TPS) who's been tasked with tracking crime in the city. Using ArcGIS tools, you are required to do the following:

  • Present the patterns and clustering of break and enters in Toronto in 2019
  • Gather information on the proximity of break and enters to TPS divisions (police stations and precincts) across the city.
  • Provide break and enter rates from 2014 to 2019 in an easy to read dashboard for decision makers
  • Present the findings in an interactive story map that the TPS can share with the general public

Time required: 45 - 65 minutes (story map creation not included)


Part 1: Proximity and Hot Spot Analysis

A variety of crimes occur across the city of Toronto. Let's find out where break and enters have occurred in 2019. Your task is to use tools in ArcGIS Online to analyse proximity and patterns and clustering of break and enters in Toronto.

Action: ArcGIS Online tools for Crime Analysis

Time required 30 - 45 minutes

Choose to do the tutorial in the Map Viewer OR the Map Viewer Classic in ArcGIS Online.


Part 2: Break and Enter Dashboard

Discover the rate of break and enters in Toronto between 2014 and 2019. A crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population. You will include this dashboard in your final story map highlighting data used to understand where break and enters are happening in Toronto.

An  example  of the Break and Enter Dashboard you will create.

Action: Create a Dashboard highlighting Break and Enter Data

Include the following elements in your dashboard:

  1. Click on this web map link  https://bit.ly/2Y1Ab83  - This web map contains data that will be used for your break and enter dashboard
  2. Sign in to ArcGIS Online
  3. Save the web map (add your initials to web map)
  4. Share > select your option > Create a Web App > ArcGIS Dashboards
  5. Create your own break and enter dashboard using the video tutorials below (no audio)

Time required 15-20 minutes

The following video was created in Map Viewer Classic.

Video Tutorial 1: How to create a dashboard element that shows break and enters by year represented in bar charts.

Video Tutorial 2: How to create a dashboard element to show break and enters by premise type and year represented in bar charts.

Video Tutorial 3: How to drag and move the elements and save your dashboard.


Part 3 : Highlight your findings in a Story Map

Bring together the information you discovered about break and enters in Toronto in a story map. Maps and information to include in your story map:

  • Map of drive zones created within five minutes of a TPS division, including the number of break and enters within each zone
  • Hot spot map of break and enters in 2019
  • Dashboard showing break and enter rates by year and premise type
  • What does this analysis tell you about where the break and enters occurred in Toronto in 2019?
  • What are some decisions the TPS can make now with this information?

Action: Create an outline of your story

First, create your story map outline and include text, images, etc.

Time required: 60 - 90 minutes

Action: Bring it all together in an ArcGIS StoryMap

Finally, create the digital story map that will be used by the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to inform the public on the rate and hot spots of break and enters in the city.

Remember to use your outline.

Time required: 60-90 minutes

Summary:

You have analysed break and enter data the TPS can use to make informed decisions on how they can better protect and serve their citizens. You have also created a communication the TPS can share with the general public.


Career Path Series

Explore the following resources to learn more about how GIS is used in other sectors.

The Career Path Series lessons engage students in different applications of GIS. Each lesson is focused on a different sector, allowing students to see how GIS can help to make informed decisions.


Support

Questions? Contact  k12@esri.ca .


© 2021. This work is licensed under a  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 .

© 2021 Esri Canada. All rights reserved. Trademarks provided under license from Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Errors and omissions excepted. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The Education and Research Group at Esri Canada makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information. The Web sites and URLs used in this resource are from sources that were current at the time of production but are subject to change without notice to Esri Canada.

An  example  of the Break and Enter Dashboard you will create.

© 2021. This work is licensed under a  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 .