Schneier links to a report supporting the ‘Broken Windows’ theory of crimefighting; “that disorderly conditions breed bad behavior, and that fixing them can help prevent crime.”

Researchers, working with police, identified 34 crime hot spots. In half of them, authorities set to work – clearing trash from the sidewalks, fixing street lights, and sending loiterers scurrying. Abandoned buildings were secured, businesses forced to meet code, and more arrests made for misdemeanors. Mental health services and homeless aid referrals expanded.

The results, just now circulating in law enforcement circles, are striking: A 20 percent plunge in calls to police from the parts of town that received extra attention.

Infoaesthetics just posted a link to a new web page called GeoCommons which allows “non-technical professionals” to view and analyze geo-located data, without the traditional GIS overhead.

As a quick example of why this is cool – here’s a map of the percentage of bridges in each state which are classified as ‘structurally deficient’.  20-25% of the bridges in those states with the big circles are structurally deficient.  Makes you wonder if road trips are such a good idea after all.  Maybe spending some money on roads and bridges isn’t such a bad idea.