IEDC-2010 Conference Proceedings (Download ... - NED University

Abstract
Role of Traffic Network in Monitoring Crime and Violence patterns in
Karachi
Umair-Bin-Zamir
(Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, University of Karachi, Pakistan)
Syed Jamil Hasan Kazmi
(Professor, Dept. of Geography, University of Karachi, Pakistan)
Crime and geographical accessibility has very special relationship, if monitored on appropriate time it
could resolve many complex issues of the crime dynamics. Criminal event has multiple dimensions for
any event to occur, as it needs space, time, law, offender, and target or victim. In absence of any one of
the above-mentioned factors the occurrence of crime would be a mission impossible. Despite the obvious
multi-faceted nature of crime, scholars and practitioners often attempted to study them separately either
intentionally or unintentionally. For instance, lawyers and political scientists focus on the legal
dimensions; sociologists, psychologists and civil rights groups generally look to the offenders and
victims, while geographers concentrate upon the location of the event. However, because of their inherent
training geographers considered both physical and human parameters of crime. One of the key human
parameters that is necessary for both the occurrence and control of crime is the traffic network. Karachi
being the largest city of Pakistan is also very high in the intensity of street crimes that often has very close
relationship with the network of the roads. This unusual crime rate demands a comprehensive tool to
analyze the crimes in the city which is capable to examine multifaceted dimensions of crimes. This paper
will assess the potential of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for the analysis of crime pattern and
its relationship with the road network in Karachi that would be beneficial for various crime agencies. This
paper aims to provide a collective set of methods and techniques for geospatial analysis and 3D mapping
of crime scenes. Identification of hotspots is done by involving different methods of geo-information
sciences. After discovering of Hotspots, an assessment of relationships between selected crimes clusters
and their spatial neighborhood is investigated by including the urban landuse as backdrop. For obtaining
the desired target copious geospatial data as well as a three-dimensional model is overlaid for the
analysis. To validate whether there exist any correlations between specific urban features and existent
crime clusters, statistical analyses being used. The results are then manipulated for the better
understanding in 3D environment using state-of-the-art technology of ArcGIS. The three-dimensional
geo-virtual environment helps in comprehending the view of ground reality. Then at this part of study 3-D
geo-visualization techniques are addressed, This combined and mutual effort of crime mapping methods
with modern 3D modeling helps to facilitate on the spot clutch of multipart spatial phenomena in
mapping of crime, and fruitful for both, the communal and responsible decision makers.
Keywords
GIS, Geo-Spatial 3-D Modeling, Crime Analysis
1. Introduction
Karachi is the financial capital of Pakistan and considered as the backbone of Pakistan‘s economy having
a multi-ethnic population, geographically located in southeastern Pakistan on the coast of Arabian Sea.
The city is the financial and commercial hub as well as the largest port of Pakistan and having mixed
cultural communities. The high incidence of crime in Karachi is one of the most devastative problems that
is being face by the city at present. This high rate of crimes might be the outcome of the negative effects
Proceedings of IEDC 2010, 1-3 July, 2010
423
IEDC-5451-103