University City District Unveils New Technology To Keep Area Safe
Philadelphia, PA (4 October 2001) --- The University City District (UCD) today demonstrated its new tool in the fight against crime. UCDCAMS -- University City District Crime Analysis and Mapping System -- is a customized software application that maps out police crime data according to spatial boundaries, temporal criteria, and offense categories chosen by the user. This capability -- unique among special services districts in the region -- will enable police and public safety personnel to spot and combat crime trends and hotspots quickly.
UCDCAMS uses GIS (geographic information system) technology to map geographic characteristics such as the UCD boundaries or neighborhoods; landmarks and buildings such as SEPTA stations, schools, transitional housing, and parks; and symbols denoting types of crimes. Dates, days of the week, and times of day also can be specified. Conversely, a user can click on a point on the map and retrieve crime data for that location. Particularly beneficial is that UCDCAMS accesses only data pertaining to the area within University City District boundaries that span parts of 3 police districts (12th, 16th, and 18th). Previously, data was sorted manually every month.
A second application to be used with UCDCAMS is UCDRDA, or UCD Resource Deployment Application. This software allows the police to organize deployment based on CAMS maps by placing symbols for patrol vehicles, bicycle cops, barricades, and foot beats on a map. These can be printed out on demand for roll call or special deployment meetings. The UCDRDA capability is entirely new in this region of the country.
UCDCAMS and UCDRDA were developed by GeoDecisions, a spatial information technology firm and subsidiary of Gannett Fleming headquartered in Harrisburg.
The new technology will be used by Lt. Fred Carbonara, commander of the UCD Police Substation, and his 25 officers. Even without the system, coordination of police, UCD Ambassadors, institutional police and security, and town watch groups has brought major crime down 30% this year in University City through September over the same period in 2000. Other highlights: Theft from Auto down 70% (the UCD and PPD began a meter stickering program last year), Aggravated Assault with Gun down 54%, and Theft from Person down 51%.
Lt. Carbonara observed that three areas increased. Robbery-Other increased to 79% over last year, but the majority of these were items stolen within Penn buildings -- a category not previously included in University City tabulations, he explained. Aggravated Assault-Other were primarily domestic disputes. And the 5% increase in Residential Burglaries was due to the actions of three "career" burglars, one a husband-and-wife team, who were arrested in September. The Lt. said he believes the trio to be responsible for over 50 burglaries.
This positive trend in University City echoes and in fact exceeds the crime decrease citywide. During January through June this year (the latest period for which statistics are available), major crime citywide was down 6% while University City’s rate was down 23%.
Celebrating its fifth year of operation, University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City's diverse urban community. The UCD's programs to improve streetscapes and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City's advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997. For information about University City or the UCD, call 215 243 0555 or visit www.UCityphila.com.
Release Date: Thursday, October 4th 2001
