Exploring the Complex Association Between Urban Built Environment, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Crime: Evidence from Washington, D.C

Kaixin Liu, Longhao Zhang, Shangen Tsou, Lei Wang, Yike Hu () and Ke Yang ()
Additional contact information
Kaixin Liu: The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Longhao Zhang: The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Shangen Tsou: The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Lei Wang: The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Yike Hu: The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Ke Yang: The School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: The urban built environment and sociodemographic characteristics have complex relationships with urban crime. However, previous studies have had limitations such as generalizing urban green space types, urban functionality, and sociodemographic characteristics. Given these, this study aimed to explore the relationship between them using more detailed indicators. The study utilized Google Street View and points of interest to depict the built environment. Building on previous work that segmented natural and artificial elements in streetscape images, this study further distinguished trees, bush, and grass. Additionally, it incorporated data from the Data Analysis and Visualization Unit of the DC Office of Planning to reflect a broader range of individual characteristics. Weighted least squares regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used to test the relationship between the built environment, sociodemographic, and crime, respectively. Some of the key findings are as follows. (1) Trees, bushes, and grass all reduce crime. (2) Urban functionality is hard to curb crime by enhancing informal public surveillance. (3) Among the sociodemographic variables, the walking commute rate is the variable most strongly positively correlated with crime. (4) Family relationships play an important role in suppressing crime. This study examined a more comprehensive range of indicators affecting urban crime in favor of safer cities.

Keywords: urban crime; urban built environment; street view image; street greening structure; sociodemographic characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1886/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1886/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:11:p:1886-:d:1518538

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().