Your Voice, Our Map: Redefining Women’s Safety in Munich

“An interactive geospatial platform integrating subjective perception data and research to enhance women's security in Munich.”

A sneak peak of the final product.

What it is about

This project addresses the disparity between official urban statistics and the daily lived experiences of women. As existing institutional data often overlooks personal safety perceptions, a specialized survey was implemented to gather primary information. By synthesizing georeferenced perception reports, a statistically validated risk surface has been generated to highlight areas where women feel most vulnerable. The final product is a comprehensive StoryMap featuring an integrated Experience Builder application that combines these subjective "Critical Hotspots" with objective safety resources.

How we built it

The plan was structured into several phases. A Survey123 questionnaire was distributed to women to gather information about their perceptions of safety and to point out on a map where they felt unsafe in Munich. ArcGIS Pro and Experience Builder were used throughout the map creation process. These tools were used to: edit data from surveys and official websites, run statistical analysis using Hotspot Analysis tool with unsafe data, and apply distinguishable symbology. Subsequently, an interactive web map was created to integrate into ArcStoryMaps.

Challenges we ran into

An initial lack of localized perception data necessitated the creation of a custom survey. This challenge was resolved by expanding the survey's reach through active sharing to gather sufficient data.

What we're proud of

Qualitative, emotional perceptions were successfully transformed into a rigorous, quantitative spatial tool that offers tangible safety solutions and actionable data for the community in Munich.

What we learned

Significant expertise was gained regarding the usability of ArcPro, ArcStoryMaps, ArcGIS Experience Builder, specifically in the technical processes of adding, creating, and triggering interactive tools for end-users. Also, Advanced proficiency in the Getis-Ord Gi* from Optimized HotSpot Analysis tool was attained to obtain Unsafety Hotspots.

What's next

Future work will involve analyzing new data submitted via StoryMap’s live point-addition feature and increasing project impact by sharing the platform with a wider audience for ongoing crowdsourcing.