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App: BBackSafe

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Hosted in ArcGIS Online:


Mission statement

Assault is a criminal offence in Canada with serious consequences. There are various types of assaults, each with its own set of consequences. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in the number of police-reported assault cases across the country. Police-reported crime in Toronto, measured by the Toronto Police Service, increased 25% from 16,807 cases in 2014 to 21,092 cases in 2019. Low-income Canadians are more likely than higher-income Canadians to report socially disruptive conditions in their neighbourhoods. The socially disruptive conditions reported by low-income Canadians may reflect levels of crime in their neighbourhoods. Furthermore, low-income Canadians expressed greater fear or concern in specific situations such as walking alone at night in their neighbourhood, using public transportation after dark and being at home alone at night. People in vulnerable positions and who are in vulnerable groups (i.e. women and children), are more likely to come across an assault. In 2015, the United Nations established Sustainable Development Goal 10, “Reduce inequality within and among countries”, to ensure in reducing inequalities within vulnerable groups by 2030.

This app explores Sustainable Development Goal 10, Reducing Inequalities, and how the rates of crime in certain areas of Toronto can allow a user to be aware of these hotspots to avoid becoming the next victim. Identifying areas of risk helps to better plan preventive interventions in the area of assault, especially for women and children. Evidence suggests that inequality between men and women in a household is a significant contributor to societal income inequality, therefore, families that are affected often end up in low-income neighborhoods. Gender inequalities affect women and girls’ income as well as other aspects of their well-being (Indicator 10.3.1). Furthermore, children are more likely than adults to be poor, and their youth makes them more vulnerable to the effects of poverty. With children accounting for a big portion of Toronto’s population, a clear focus on children is critical to permanently ending poverty (Indicator 10.2.1).

With the data from the Public Safety Data Portal, this application generates custom routes that avoid areas of high crime. The user can identify all areas of assault as well as areas of higher rates of assault in certain neighborhoods to promote public awareness and prevent future victims. Anyone can be assaulted during his or her lifetime, therefore, BBackSafe ensures safety among the citizens of Toronto especially those who are most vulnerable.

Video Presentation

Documentation

Team Members

Elliot Chiu: Elliot is a 4th-year undergraduate student at U of T studying City Studies, Statistics, and GIS. He helped develop this app, exploring the functionalities of ArcGIS online and applying spatial analysis techniques. He hopes in the future to utilize these skills in future projects. His interests are in urban planning and data sciences and enjoys travelling and hiking.

Eva Yamamoto: Eva is a 4th-year undergraduate student at U of T studying Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, and GIS. She first became interested in GIS when she attended a spatial talk webinar series hosted by Wo-Men Geospatial Coterie (WGC) where they discussed opportunities and challenges for women in geospatial sciences. She hopes in the future to be able to further expand her own knowledge in the field of Natural Sciences and integrate it using geospatial technologies. In her spare time, you can catch her hanging out with friends and family, playing sports like volleyball and tennis, taking on spontaneous adventures and travel.