NYPD to expand crime mapping capabilities

MapInfo Corp. of Troy, N.Y., was picked by the New York City Police Department to provide its MapInfo MapXtreme mapping technology for its agencywide, intranet-based crime analysis system, the company announced Jan. 3.


The new system will provide crime analysis capabilities to every precinct, transit district and housing service area in the city, allowing staff to analyze crime patterns by location, type and frequency and helping to prevent future crimes.


A Justice Department COPS MORE Technology grant will provide funding for the project.

The value of the grant and the terms of the deal with MapInfo were not disclosed, although Sabby Nayar, market manager for the public sector, said the value to MapInfo is "into the six figures." MapInfo, he said, has worked with the NYPD for several years to develop the new system, and is providing consulting and installation services as well as its software.


The NYPD will use MapXtreme, MapInfo's Java-based Internet mapping server, for deployment of mapping and crime analysis tools throughout the agency via the NYPD's wide area network.

The enterprisewide crime analysis solution will be developed during 2002 to coincide and interface with a major upgrade to the department's records management systems. The crime analysis system will go live this summer, Nayar said.


The crime analysis system will allow analysts, planners and managers throughout the nation's largest police department (76 patrol precincts and 40,000 officers) to access and share crime data and maps over the agency's intranet for faster, more comprehensive analysis of crime patterns.

CompStat, the desktop crime analysis system used by the NYPD, limits staff to map views within each precinct. MapXtreme's Web browser-based mapping will allow precincts to view crime patterns in surrounding commands and will allow specialized units to work with borough and citywide views.


"For the first time police precincts will have access to a timely view of crime patterns in their surrounding neighborhoods, greatly enhancing their crime analysis capabilities," said Michael Hickey, executive vice president, sales and marketing, MapInfo. "Behind every MapInfo map there will also be a wealth of specific crime data that will allow the NYPD to quickly develop appropriate policing strategies in response to the emerging patterns."