Which technology is used to map and display reported crime and predict future occurrences within a community?

• A. Geographic Information System (GIS)
• B. Global Positioning System (GPS)
• C. Remote Sensing
• D. Data Mining

Answer: (A)

The core idea is using a system that ties crime data to locations and shows how those patterns change over space and time. A Geographic Information System (GIS) does exactly that: it stores crime reports with geographic coordinates, creates maps of where incidents occur, and reveals patterns like hotspots and clusters. It also lets you layer crime data with other place-based factors (like lighting, population density, or land use) and analyze how those factors relate to trends over time. This enables forecasting where crimes are more likely to happen and helps direct patrols and prevention efforts.

GPS is about pinpointing exact locations of devices, not about mapping crime patterns over a city. Remote sensing provides imagery from satellites or aircraft for environmental data, not specifically crime analysis. Data mining finds patterns in large datasets but doesn’t inherently provide the geospatial mapping and visualization that GIS offers.