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Grad Student Uses Geographic Information Systems to Analyze Crime in Cincinnati

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3 minute read November 5, 2015

After the City of Cincinnati began to remove many staircases across the city in 1997 in an effort to reduce crime, Shane Winslow dedicated his time as an undergraduate at Northern Kentucky University to studying the staircases of Cincinnati.
Shane Winslow

Winslow, who studied history and anthropology at the time, said there were not many ways to use technology in these subjects, but he discovered a way technology could bring them to life.

In order to gauge the effectiveness of the city’s initiative, Winslow looked at crime statistics surrounding the affected areas. He then used a geographic information system (GIS) to plot points where crime occurred near the staircases, both before and after they were removed. After studying the data, Winslow did not find a relation between the staircases and the crime rate.

GIS technology is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking and displaying data related to positions on the Earth’s surface, according to National Geographic. This allows people to compare locations of different things to see how they relate to each other.

Now a spatial statistics and human geography teaching assistant at the University of Cincinnati, Winslow continues to use GIS and to demonstrate how the technology can be applied to nearly any area of study. 

“Technology augments your work,” Winslow said. “We wouldn’t have the next generation of learning without technology.”

Winslow added that technology is an integral part of learning, as it makes abstract concepts easier to understand. 

Through studying the staircases, Winslow said he realized the importance of having an understanding of spatial awareness. The studies he conducted on staircases received attention from Soapbox Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Enquirer and WNKU radio.

Winslow said it is important to integrate technology into coursework because it has become such a crucial part of learning — students are left behind without it. It also gives students very marketable skills, he said. 

Technology, specifically GIS, is continually changing and updating, he said. Students can come up with use cases as practical or as simple as they want.

Those interested in learning more about GIS are invited to the university’s celebration of GIS Day Wednesday, Nov. 18, in TUC. The event includes a keynote speaker, a showcase of the various applications of GIS, equipment demonstrations and a catered lunch. 

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