Analyzing Crime on Street Networks: A Comparison of Network and Euclidean Voronoi Methods

The analysis of the uneven spatial distribution of crime has been an important area of research investigation and policy analysis for the past several decades. These analyses typically use spatial analytical methods that are based on the assumption of Euclidean (straight-line) distance. However, crime like most social activity is often mediated by the built environment, such as along a street or within a multi-story building. Thus, analyzing spatial patterns of crime with only straight-line Euclidean distance measurement ignores this intervening built landscape and may very possibly introduce error into the ensuing result. The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the differences in analytical results for spatial analysis techniques that have the capability to use either Euclidean or network distance. Voronoi diagrams which can be implemented utilizing either Euclidean distance or network distance (distance measured along a street) offer a means for performing this comparison. Utilizing Voronoi diagram implementations with Euclidean distance and network distance this thesis will examine the spatial distribution of gun-inflicted homicide locations and the similarity/differences between the results of their application with the aim of informing the spatial analysis of street located homicide.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Meyer, William D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• McLafferty, Sara L.

• network voronoi
• euclidean voronoi
• spatial analysis
• crime analysis
• homicide analysis
• crime distance analysis

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 William D. Meyer

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/17376

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/17376