Crime analysis in the San Antonio area between 2006 and 2010 using GIS applications

This study utilizes crime rate, crime density and Location Quotient to Crimes (LQCs) in mapping the most dominant crime types across different census tracts in San Antonio, Texas.;In mapping dominant crime types across different census tracts in San Antonio, crime rate and density, as well as, the Location Quotient to Crimes (LQCs) are the relevant indices used in this study; however, limitations still exist when crime rate is used as an index in mapping crimes. This is evident in this work. There are also shortcomings when crime density and the LQCs are adopted in mapping crimes.;Multivariable linear regression models are used to compare the strengths of the three different indices used to analyze crime in the study.;The effectiveness of crime rate is confirmed together with the association with spatial disparities of crime rates across different census tracts. Variables such as vacant housing, rental homes, unemployment and female-headed households are associated highly with crime rates across census tracts. Both violent and property crimes are closely related to vacant homes and the number of rental homes in San Antonio. This is reasonable taking into account the high rate of vacant homes and high rental market today.