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Google Map Hack & Chicago Crime Data

Posted by Hemos on from the good-applicatons dept.

joepez writes "In recent weeks we've seen some great Google Maps hacks (HousingMaps, Google's own Ride Finder, etc.), but this weekend Adrian has brought us something truly innovative. He's merged Google map data with Chicago crime data to present a once a day updated crime map of the entire city, including some really nice summarized data. Adrian calls the project Chicagocrime.org. How long till we have real time crime data showing up on Google's map? Pull open HousingMaps next to Chicagocrime.org and figure out if that low rent apartment is truly worth it. Or is this all a clever trick on Google's part to build up more and more third parties dependent upon Google?" There's also a cheap gas hack as well.

12 of 391 comments (clear)

  1. Prostitution by Hieronymus+Howard · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you select 'prostitution' you can check out the best areas to go to pick up a hooker. Not that this is of any use to me as I'm a) not single and b) not in the US.

  2. A great idea for the rest of us... by NewbieV · · Score: 5, Informative

    The NYPD uses a system very much like this, called COMPSTAT.

    More about the history of the program here (clicky)

    Here's an excerpt from the NYPD website:
    "Among the Command and Control Center's high-tech capabilities is its computerized 'pin mapping' which displays crime, arrest and quality of life data in a host of visual formats including comparative charts, graphs and tables. Through the use of MAPINFO software and other computer technology, for example, the CompStat database can be accessed and a precinct map depicting virtually any combination of crime and/or arrest locations, crime 'hot spots' and other relevant information can be instantly projected on the Center's large video projection screens."

    --


    "For every right, an equal responsibility..."
    1. Re:A great idea for the rest of us... by Momoru · · Score: 4, Informative

      So does Baltimore City

    2. Re:A great idea for the rest of us... by CrowScape · · Score: 4, Informative

      So does Chicago, and they make it available to the citizens. It's called ICAM. So congratulations Adrian, you created something that already existed!

      --
      common sense: noun
      What those who are ignorant of the subject matter think; usually wrong.
    3. Re:A great idea for the rest of us... by holovaty · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, CrowScape, I'm familiar with ICAM. Actually, that's where chicagocrime.org gets its data. My site provides a different view of the information.

  3. Poor suckers. by RobertB-DC · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was able to tell the moment the Slashdot story went online... the chicagocrime.org site suddenly stopped responding. And it's not like we could have linked to a mirror.

    So you'll just have to take my word for it -- it was pretty cool. I found out that there were three reported crimes at Chicago cemeteries, for example -- a theft, a trespassing, and a vandalism. Crimes at airports included a "theft by lessee" -- looks like there's somebody at Midway who you shouldn't get your rental car from.

    The gas station link is holding up better, though. Hope it's not hosted at a gas station... kablooie!

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
  4. While not nearly as cool... by hwyengr · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Chicago Police Department already has a web interface, called Citizen ICAM, which displays the same info. I do believe that the new site is compiling its data from ICAM. You can check out ICAM at http://12.17.79.6/

  5. Not at all new by Wabin · · Score: 5, Informative
    While this might be neat because it integrates with Google, the concept is not at all new. When I was shopping for condos in Chicago a few years ago, I looked at the Citizen ICAM site (forgive the slashdotting...), which actually has a somewhat better interface for search, in my opinion. It may not look as slick as google, but it does allow you to look over a range of dates, and the map icons identify the type of crime.

    It let me see that one prospective condo was right in a corner of fairly low crime, bordered by much higher crime. I could have guessed that visiting the neighborhood, but it was nice to see somewhat empirically.

    --
    Most exciting phrase in science: not "Eureka!" but "Hmm... That's funny..." -Asimov (abridged for \. limits)
  6. Re:My Google Hack Idea by ShadeARG · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's already been done.

    http://kharkoma.homelinux.com/gmaps/gmaptc.html

  7. Re:Sex Offender's Registry by killproc · · Score: 3, Informative


    Having knowledge as to the whereabouts of known sexual predators in your area is not "punishing" THEM.
    Being the father of two small children, I definitely am interested in the number of sexual predators in my area.
    Having perused my state's Offender's registry, I was surprised by the number of repeat offenders that are still loose on the streets.
    Knowing the areas that had a high concentration of rapists definitely played a part in my house hunting decisions.

    --
    When you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.
  8. Portland Oregon already has something better by pdxaaron · · Score: 3, Informative

    We already have PortlandMaps. You can see crime maps, tax maps, appraised value, bus routes, upcoming road improvments, much better satallite imagery... Google Maps has nothing on these guys. Every city should have something like this.

  9. Re:Slashdotted by holovaty · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'd been dreading the possibility that the site would get Slashdotted. Sorry 'bout the slowness, folks.

    Although almost every single page of the site is cached, it's still fundamentally performance-intensive because there's a ton of data and it's very "sticky" content that's addictive to browse. The bottleneck is now at the cache level. Unfortunately I can't do anything about it now, because I'm at work.

    Thanks for the attention.