ABSTRACT
Inanysuchinformation-sharingandpartnershiparrangement,issues thatneedtoberesolvedinclude:
•clearlyidentifyingrequirementsfordatacollection,datamanipulation, appropriatetypesofanalysisandoutputs
•completeandconsistentsetsofcrime(andother)data •theavailabilityofup-to-dateinformation "automatedprocessforgeocodingevents "asimplemethodandwellstructuredprocedureforhandlinginform-
ation •ahighlevelofcommunicationbetweendataprovidersanddatausers •appropriatetypeofGISandsupportingstatisticalanalysissoftware,
includingensuringthecompatibilityofdatatransferandanalytical techniquesbetweensoftwarepackagesusedbydataproviders/partners
•clearlyestablishingsystemexpectationsandprojectaims,plusthe time-framewithinwhichoutputsshouldbeexpected
•considerationonwhowouldbethemostappropriate(andskilled) staffmember(s)fortheday-to-dayoperationoftheproject,andin whichdepartmentwouldtheprojectmostappropriatelybebasedfor guidance,accesstodata,useofoutputs,managementreportingand impactonpolicy
•documentingproceduresandanalysestoahighstandardanddifferent readershipforums
•usersupportbysoftwarevendors •theavailabilityoffundingtomakechanges/updatestothesystemor
trainingofuser. (adaptedfromOpenshawetal.1990)
Manyofthepointsabovearelinkedtoissuessurroundingtheneedfor ahighlevelofcommunicationbetweenthosepartnersengagedininformationsharing.Issuesoftechnologyandsystemcosthavelargelybeen overcomebyGISsoftwaredevelopmentsandreducingpricesoverthelast tenyears,butthelackofsufficientGISexpertiseandknowledgestill representabarrierforthosewhowanttodevelopday-to-daypractical applications.Forexample,itisextremelyraretofindinyourlocalpolice stationanofficerwhohasknowledgeinGISandwhocoulddesign mappingsolutionsthatwouldhaverealvalueinoperationalpolicing.
