Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
variables can be displayed and linked at one time: the choropleth map depicts
regional variables by graduated colour; the scatterplot graphs two variables as well
as replicating the choropleth colour on each dot (each dot corresponds to a region),
which can also be sized proportional to yet another variable; and the parallel
coordinate plot can represent n amount of variables, with each line corresponding
to a region. Another tab in the same display area leads to a histogram, ordered in
decreasing magnitude of the chosen attribute. The three representations are
dynamically linked, which means that when the user clicks on a region on the map,
the respective dot (on the scatterplot) and line (on the histogram/PCP) are high-
lighted, and vice versa (Fig.
1
). In short, it uses multiple representations and
interactivity to foster usage and understanding of (often large amounts of) complex
data (Thomas and Cook
2005
).
2.2 Mapping and Analysis of Crime
Mapping and analysis of crime using GIS technologies is well-established in law
enforcement agencies, though representation-wise is typically limited to 2D static
maps (Wolff and Asche
2009
) (i.e. detecting and depicting hotspots of crime, a
digital version of the traditional pinmap analogue). Wolff and Asche (
2009
)
present a form of 3D crime mapping. See Chainey and Ratcliffe (
2005
) for an
overview of crime mapping.
The applications within law enforcement that geospatial technology can be
applied to include operational policing, crime prevention, monitoring spatiotem-
poral distributions and community liaison (Hirschfield and Bowers
2001
). This fits
into Andrienko et al. (
2007
) framework for Spatial Decision Support Systems (as a
context for geovisual analytics), divided into long term and short term applications
(i.e. analysis of crime distribution as opposed to real-time operational policing).
This framework also has a volunteer dimension, which extends community liaison
into a more proactive role for the public, with volunteered crime data being
submitted and mapped online (i.e. in the Web 2.0 application WikiCrimes).
2.2.1 WikiCrimes
WikiCrimes (Fig.
2
) was developed as a Web 2.0 resource for the public, notifying
the online community of the details and location of a crime that has occurred. It
operates on a principle that the citizens may hold crime information and that they
would feel a need to share this resource, especially if they are victims of the crime.
Normally it would be someone close who would be notified, but WikiCrimes
provides a digital sounding board as well, potentially alerting people well outside
of immediate social circles. Active participation by multiple victims of crime will
help to build a ''global blackboard'' of stories, generated collaboratively and
potentially helping everyone (Furtado et al.
2010
).
