Citation

Eloff C. Acta Criminol. 2009; 22(1): 25-36.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Criminological Society of South Africa)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The availability of high-technology software, improved computer processing capability and the combination of multi-layer geographic information systems can provide information about crime and security incidents that were previously overlooked. The geographic information systems (GIS) environment can deal with virtually any type of information about features that can be referenced by geographical location in terms of locational and attribute data. Baseline, thematic, and topographic maps are essential for planning, evaluating and monitoring security related information. Research of this nature can contribute to the application of remote sensing imagery in the broader safety and security environment, which will allow crime to be analysed and combated more effectively through the understanding of land use behaviour. The displacement and diffusion of crime patterns in relation to land use classes and the changes associated with it enables the crime analyst to understand the correlation between specific crimes, their environment and human behaviour as per defined land use class. A multi-sensor approach can also be implemented as a spatial strategy to monitor specific border areas where the delineation of border trails and the automation of change detection can provide valuable information for the South African Police Service to identify illegal cross-border activities.