Computational Method for Identifying the Boundaries of Crime with Street Profile and Discrete Calculus

Abstract

The structure of the urban setting determines the crime patterns. This research explores the street profile analysis which is a new method for analyzing crime in relation to street networks. Street profile analysis can be used to identify crime surges or heavy concentrations of crime along roadways. In this study, the street profile technique is combined with a discrete calculus approach to locate the boundaries of small criminal spaces in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This experimental technique utilizes open source property crime data from the Vancouver Police Department to analyze crime patterns within Vancouver. This computational crime analysis technique is described in detail and the utility of this technique explored. The new technique is a valuable tool for the intelligence and security informatics communities.