Graduation Semester and Year

2013

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture

Department

Landscape Architecture

First Advisor

Taner R. Ozdil

Abstract

Recognizing that the components of the built environment may effect crime in urban areas, emerging transit station areas and Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) and districts (TODT) present new challenges for designers and planners. Transit oriented developments, especially within the past decade, are seen as desirable choices for developing metropolitan areas to accommodate the concerns surrounding population growth (Ozdil et. al, 2012), but very little is known about how the spatial environment impacts delinquency around station areas. More specifically, it is not clear how design and planning might address such issues, and influence future TOD and TODT strategic plans. This research assesses the location and the level of criminal activity surrounding transit stations within Transit Oriented Districts in the city of Dallas in order to understand the spatial environmental contributors to crime. Transit Oriented Districts in this study are defined as ½ radius area surrounding the station. The research specifically concentrates on the spatial commonalities (exterior elements) of the locations where majority of crime occurs within Transit Oriented Districts to inform future planning and design decisions. This research focuses on the various criminal statistics and their relations to the built environment using quantitative methods. The research primarily uses secondary 2010 through 2012 crime data from the city of Dallas (DPD, 2013) and passive site observations (Marcus and Francis, 1998) in Transit Oriented Districts in the city of Dallas to assess the commonalities among the built-environments. The study utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for crime identification, land use, frequency, and location to pinpoint the exact criminal events in Transit Oriented Districts. Analyzes inventory is followed by online-site inspection using (Google Earth) to: (1) assess the exterior environment elements, and (2) to clarity ambiguities that may occur due to GIS interpretation. The research is validated through this process of comparison of observed data from the findings and the online web base observations on selected set of crime hotspots. Findings illustrates that crime in Transit Oriented Districts frequently occur near public land uses and street right-of-ways with heavy pedestrian traffic but surprisingly not within the immediate vicinity of station areas in the case of Dallas. Observations also illustrate that areas that are prone to criminal activity require a more detailed look as to how to design when considering the surrounding environmental elements. Strategic planning and design combined with considerations of these findings by officers in contributing positions can help improve the spatial organization at Transit Oriented Districts. With further research, this study can be a valuable instrument for landscape architects in the preparation and strategic phase of constructing Transit Oriented Districts.

Disciplines

Architecture | Landscape Architecture

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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