Los Angeles Times Scathing Report on LAPD Online Crime Map



The Los Angeles Times today has an article about LAPD's online crime map -- focusing on its many inaccuracies, and their implications. Of serious concern is the danger of spreading the bad data to other databases and systems. Particularly disturbing is the LA Times finding that the LAPD did not know about the map inaccuracies until the paper alerted the department.

Naturally, viewers of online maps expect (and assume) the maps to be accurate, particularly when published by solid and authoritative organizations such as the LAPD. And when the maps aren't accurate, the mapping industry's credibility (not just a particular system's developer, who usually remains unknown) takes a hit.

Geocoding does work, but it's an iterative process of data refining, not a one-shot deal. This LA Times article illustrates the pitfalls of blurring the lines between professional-grade systems/processes and consumer-oriented tools, and the difficulty of distinguishing between the two. It also underscores the importance of having an experienced GIS architect on your side when specifying and contracting the development of a complex mapping system.

Adena Schutzberg also blogs about the LA Times article, though I was first alerted to it by a general IT discussion list I subscribe to. I only mention this to highlight the general acceptance online mapping has achieved, and the far-reaching implications an inaccurate product now has.

From the LA Times article:
"Since the inception of the LAPD's online crime map three years ago, the 200 block of West 1st Street has consistently shown up as the most likely place in Los Angeles to be victimized by crime.
But don't believe everything you read on the Internet. The spot, directly in front of the Los Angeles Times and a block from the new LAPD headquarters, is actually quite lawful.
Behind the apparent enigma is a case of virtual unreality. The crimes reported there were real, but they actually happened somewhere else. The only thing they had in common was an address that proved impossible for a computer to find.
The distortion -- which the LAPD was not aware of until alerted by The Times -- illustrates pitfalls in the growing number of products that depend on a computer process known as geocoding to convert written addresses into points on electronic maps."
Here is the actual online map.

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Posted by Atanas Entchev at 4/5/2009 7:58 PM
Categories: Data,Architect,blog,Maps,GIS,GIS architect,Online Mapping,GIS Uses,news,Google
Tags: Data Architect Maps blog GIS GIS Uses GIS architect Online Mapping news Google
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  • 4/6/2009 12:24 PM Lou Toscano wrote:
    METADATA
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  • 4/6/2009 12:59 PM John Reiser wrote:
    Only the "sure thing" matches should have shown up on the map. Any address that failed to meet the match threshold would be stored within the system until a user could manually place the point. A well-written system could then learn from the additional information and provide better matching.

    I assume they have county-wide parcels in LA, why didn't they geocode addresses using that instead of (presumably) street centerlines? Dissolve the parcels by address range (e.g. 18XX block) and then plot the point at the centroid.
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  • 4/6/2009 2:02 PM atanas entchev wrote:
    Lou: Yes, except the LAPD *did not know* that the unmatched points were dumped at a generic location. Did their contractor know?

    John: Yes, yes, and yes. Why didn't they do it the right way? Because they did not hire you or me. Will they learn? Let's hope so.
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  • 4/6/2009 4:26 PM miles wrote:
    That is just embarrassing. My bet is that they went to college interns for some free labor. Maybe even high schoolers -_-
    Reply to this
    1. 4/6/2009 4:36 PM atanas entchev wrote:
      It is embarrassing.

      The LAPD contracted their crime mapping appication to L I G H T R A Y -- an outfit specializing in glitzy websites for the stars. L I G H T R A Y in turn subcontracted the geocoding to somebody else.

      This is like going to Pamela Anderson's plastic surgeon to treat your ulcer.
      Reply to this
      1. 4/6/2009 5:18 PM miles wrote:
        Hahaha yeah leave it to LA officials to make a choice like that. Guess they didn't think of how many times Pam's probably been back for touch ups..

        Hope you've already sent out your marketing hook Atanas!
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        1. 4/6/2009 5:24 PM atanas entchev wrote:
          I didn't pitch the LAPD, but you bet I'll be using this story every time I talk to local New Jersey towns. This is golden!
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