Princecharles Anyadiegwu (AUTHOR)
Department of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author’s Email: cpcanyadiegwu@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Rapid urbanization and increasing socio-economic activities have contributed to the growing complexity of crime in many developing cities, including Owerri Municipal, Imo State, Nigeria. Traditional methods of crime recording and response often lack adequate spatial intelligence for proactive policing and effective resource allocation. This study integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies to map, analyze, and visualize crime patterns in Owerri Municipal for evidence-based urban security planning. Spatial and non-spatial datasets were obtained from police crime records, field surveys, GPS observations, structured questionnaires, and high-resolution SPOT-5 satellite imagery. The datasets were integrated into a geodatabase developed in ArcGIS 10.3 using the WGS 1984 geographic coordinate system. Spatial analyses, including hotspot mapping, proximity analysis, spatial querying, buffering, and overlay operations, were performed to identify crime concentration zones, evaluate police station service coverage, and determine areas with inadequate security infrastructure. The analysis revealed that major commercial corridors and transportation nodes, including Douglas Road, Control Roundabout, Wetheral Road, Tetlow Road, Warehouse Roundabout, Bank Road, and Fire Service Junction, constitute significant crime hotspots due to intense human activities, commercial concentration, and insufficient police presence. Buffer analysis further indicated that several neighbourhoods lie outside the effective operational coverage of existing police stations and checkpoints, thereby increasing their vulnerability to criminal activities. The study demonstrates that integrating GIS and remote sensing technologies into policing significantly enhances crime visualization, spatial decision-making, emergency response planning, patrol optimization, and strategic deployment of security resources. The developed geospatial database provides a sustainable framework for continuous crime monitoring and supports smart policing initiatives within rapidly urbanizing environments. It is recommended that law enforcement agencies institutionalize GIS-based crime management systems, establish dedicated geospatial intelligence units, strengthen community policing strategies, and expand security infrastructure in identified hotspot areas to improve public safety and urban resilience
Keywords: Crime Mapping; GIS; Remote Sensing; Crime Hotspots; Spatial Analysis; Urban Security