Generating crime data using agent-based simulation

Authored by Nelson Devia, Richard Weber

Date Published: 2013-11

DOI: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2013.09.001

Sponsors: Instituto Sistemas Complejos de Ingeniería CEAMOS Universidad de Chile

Platforms: Repast

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Policing plays an important role in combating street crime. Though policing actions have a dissuasive impact on criminal behavior, they can also have unpredictable and even undesirable effects such as displacement of crime hot-spots. This paper presents an agent-based simulation model that generates artificial street-crime data which can be used to test different policing strategies in a virtual environment. The model can thus evaluate the strategies' effectiveness and collateral effects before putting them into practice and provide support for the policing decision-making process. Based on this model, a crime simulator was implemented in Repast Simphony and a series of test simulations on fictitious and real cities were carried out. The proposed formulation was successfully validated, confirming its potential as a powerful tool for the study of street crime. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tags

Simulation Agent-based models Crime