2026/05/07 by Daniel Birks, Toby Davies, Stijn Ruiter +3 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Crime Patterns and Interventions #Human Mobility and Location-Based Analysis #Urban Transport and Accessibility
paper · doi:10.1177/00420980261443112
openalex publication_date 2026/05/07 · openalex created_date 2026/05/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
We propose novel methods for analysing spatio-temporal tracking data collected via smartphones with the purpose of exploring the extent to which foundational, but as yet untested, assumptions within environmental criminology are observed in real-world behaviour. We provide systematic and replicable methods for identifying and quantifying nodes, trips, visits, paths and activity spaces – key elements of human mobility which underpin the vast majority of theoretical and empirical crime and place-based research. Our approach is illustrated through analyses of data captured from a sample of 16–24 year olds living in urban Australia. Implications for theoretical testing, refinement and extension are discussed.