Tipos de entidades en los SIG - David Buil

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems in Crime Analysis

Overview of the Session

• The session is led by David Wilkie, a predoctoral researcher at the University of Manchester, focusing on situational prevention and geographic analysis of crime.

• The discussion will cover types of entities used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), relevant for crime mapping and spatial analysis.

Types of Images in GIS

• Two main types of images are utilized in GIS: raster images and vector images.

• The focus will primarily be on vector images, which include points, lines, and polygons as key elements.

Understanding Points in GIS

Definition and Examples

• Points represent geographical elements that are too small to be depicted as lines or polygons; examples include wells or sources.

• In crime analysis, points can represent specific incidents such as recorded crimes or accidents.

Applications of Points

• Various applications include geolocating police-reported crimes, emergency calls (e.g., traffic accidents), and terrorist attacks.

• Concepts like "crime attractors" are introduced—locations that draw people together, increasing opportunities for crime (e.g., metro stations).

Exploring Lines in GIS

Characteristics of Lines

• Lines are larger than points but not wide enough to be represented as polygons; they depict linear geographical features.

Examples and Usage

• Common examples include streets, avenues, highways, and rivers. For instance, environmental violations can be mapped along a river's path.

Polygons: Larger Geographical Entities

Definition and Scope

• Polygons represent larger geographical areas such as countries, regions, neighborhoods, or buildings.

Practical Applications

• They can illustrate significant locations like shopping centers or sports stadiums that cannot be represented merely as points.

Resources for Further Exploration

Recommended Websites

• A list of websites is provided where students can find geo-positioned data with coordinates useful for mapping purposes.