Geographic Information Systems: A Feasibility Study for the City of Duluth Police Department.

Abstract

A Geographic Information System (GIS) does not currently exist in the Duluth Police Department. The objective of this project is to determine the feasibility of employing a GIS to unprove the Duluth Police Department's ability to identify patterns of criminal activity, to represent those patterns graphically, and to use the information to facilitate the management of departmental resources. As a result of this study, we recommend the implementation of a Geographic Information System. This recommendation is based on our findings which reveal that: (1) the Duluth Police Department's data capturing and analysis systems utilize outdated hardware and software that will soon be obsolete, (2) the current records management system is reasonably compatible with a geographically based management system, (3) the emergency management systems are structured in such a way so as to make the transition to a GIS oriented process manageable, and (4) GIS based procedures are being used by other agencies as efficient and effective means for managing crime prevention and crime resolution and for managing agency fiscal, material, and personnel resources. The present systems can be modified to a GIS, since they have the basic elements already in place. Both those systems associated with the Duluth Police Department and those connected with the 911 System can be used for developing a GIS that will provide for the needs of DPD and will provide a basis for use by other agencies dispensing emergency related services in the area.