Predictive Policing Using GPS Tracking Data
19 Oct 2011Have you ever watched the television show Numbers? The show is premised around law enforcement officers tasked with solving crimes, and ultra-smart mathematician’s using mathematical formulas and analysis to help solve these crimes. While it makes for entertaining television, a group of researchers at UCLA are on course to see if they can in fact predict where crime will occur.
Does this sound far fetched to you? Actually, the studying of crime patterns in law enforcement has gone on for decades. This makes complete sense and here’s why. Many criminals use the same method of operation each time they commit their “crime” of choice. A burglar, for instance will usually gain access to a structure the same way each time they commit a burglary. Whether it’s by kicking in a door, or breaking a window, they will usually do it the same way, again and again at each location they burglarize. A burglar will also typically take the same “type” of property, over and over. Whether its electronics, jewelry, guns or cash – patterns begin to develop that doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude, the same person is more than likely responsible for the similar crimes occurring in the area.
Researchers are taking this basic premise a step further. Using advanced mathematical algorithms along with gps tracking data, they are able to do some pretty advanced computer modeling – in the hopes of predicting crime. UCLA is launching a large scale control study in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department. We look forward to seeing the outcome of this research. For More Information visit Professor Jeffrey Brantingham’s website on Predictive Policing.
