methods : : : platlot matching
GIS allows the user to observe as specific an area as a street or house. In Providence, this is especially useful, because I was able to observe crime over time at the houses that were renovated .

To map information at the parcel level, I used a method called "platlot matching." A dataset such as the crime database lists crime reports by address. Especially because my study deals with houses that were abandoned or under-utilized, the address listings were not specific enough to gain sufficient information. It was necessary to match the id platlot number to the addresses in the crime set. Each parcel in Providence has a specific platlot number, an id that remains constant regardless of ownership, occupation, or construction.

Since most municipal data are recorded by address, platlot matching requires a table that matches every address to the platlot number. Currently there is no such table in an electronic form, which meant that many addresses had to be confirmed by looking up platlot numbers manually. Matching platlot numbers to addresses in an electronic lookup table will greatly expediate the process. A large part of my thesis work was collaborating with the City of Providence to prioritize platlot matching of municipal data. Since different departments in Providence, such as the Providence Police Department, Housing Code Violations, and Department of Public Works, all use different methods to record data, coordination is the first step toward citywide mapping.

Once a lookup table has been constructed, representatives from the City will be able to observe co-occurance of violations or indicators throughout Providence's neighborhoods. Such areas with co-occurances, or "hot spots," are critical in planning where city resources are best spent to decrease crime and improve quality of life. [Click here for an example of what a lookup table might look like]