An Analysis on the relationship between streetscapes and crimes in Nugegoda township

Abstract

Urban environments play a crucial role in shaping human behaviour and influencing social interactions, including criminal activities. This dissertation explores the intricate relationship between streetscapes and crimes to uncover the underlying factors that contribute to criminal behaviour in urban settings. By analysing the elements and characteristics of streetscapes and their impact on crime patterns, this research aims to shed light on the significance of designing safer urban streetscapes. The first chapter of the dissertation act as the introduction of the dissertation. It basically contains the background information related to research formulation. The notion of crime has been defined in the second chapter using a range of theories and interpretations. The third chapter examines the literature on urban streets. Here, the chapter specifically consists of previously introduced theories and findings which discuss the relationship between streetscapes and crimes. The third chapter provides the theoretical framework of the research and a full discussion of the methodology. In the theoretical framework, two develop theories and two adopted theories have been established using the literature mentioned in the previous chapters. The first developed theory provides a theoretical base for the relationship between street locations and crime, and the second developed theory introduces a theoretical base for the relationship between street characteristics and crimes. Moreover, the first adopted theory presents the theoretical base for the relationship between urban form & morphology of the streetscapes and crimes and the second adopted theory presents a theoretical base for the relationship between spatial configuration & connectivity of the streetscapes and crimes. The case study analysis can be identified as the fifth chapter of the dissertation. In the case study, the collected data has been statistically and theoretically analysed. The research findings show there is a clear relationship between streetscape and crimes. Specially, certain street locations, including street nodes, pathways, and areas adjacent to escape routes, along with specific street characteristics such as inadequate lighting, narrow sidewalks, increased pedestrian activity, heavy traffic, wider roads, and poorly maintained streets, demonstrate a discernible association with specific types of crime. Further, there is a positive correlation between crimes and streetscapes characterized by compact urban forms, integration, and connectivity. In that sense, such findings of this dissertation have significant implications for urban designers, urban planners, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies. By understanding the relationship between streetscapes and crimes, stakeholders can develop targeted strategies to create more secure and crime-resistant urban environments. Ultimately, this research contributes to the broader goal of fostering safer cities and enhancing the quality of life