The Repository @ St. Cloud State

Open Access Knowledge and Scholarship

Date of Award

5-2025

Culminating Project Type

Thesis

Styleguide

chicago

Degree Name

Geography - Geographic Information Science: M.S.

Department

Geography and Planning

College

School of Public Affairs

First Advisor

Mikhail S. Blinnikov

Second Advisor

Jeffery S. Torguson

Third Advisor

Douglas L. Gilbertson

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Keywords and Subject Headings

Hot Spot Analysis, Regression Analysis, Crime

Abstract

In 2018, Minneapolis Minnesota hosted Super Bowl LII (52), prompting significant infrastructure renovations in the Central Business District (CBD). This thesis investigates whether these development projects have attracted crime and potentially caused shifts in crime patterns within the CBD.

Using Hot Spot and Regression Analysis tools in ArcGIS Pro, the study examines whether these revitalization efforts are causing crime to move into areas that had previously experienced lower crime rates. Additionally, the mean locations of crime were calculated to identify and analyze any significant shifts within the CBD.

The objectives of this thesis are to map crime data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), identify and visualize crime hot spots and analyze the relationship between urban economic development and crime shifts through regression analysis.

Although slight shifts in crime hot spots were detected throughout the study area, there is insufficient evidence to conclusively link urban economic development to the shifting hot spots. Notably, the mean crime location shows a slight northwestern shift within the CBD, from the Minneapolis City Center toward Target Field.

Comments/Acknowledgements

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported me and guided me throughout my journey of completing my thesis and master’s degree. I am immensely grateful to my advisor, Dr. Blinnikov for the support and encouragement. Additionally, I would like to extend my thanks to the rest of my committee members, Dr. Torguson and Dr. Gilbertson. I could not of completed my thesis without their expert advice and invaluable feedback and guidance.

I would like to acknowledge the Department of Geography at Saint Cloud State University for providing me with the resources and enriching academic environment. Additional thanks go out to former Saint Cloud State University professors Dr. Wall and Dr. Richason. I would also like to acknowledge the professors from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire who helped me along the journey including my academic advisor Dr. Jol, and fellow professors, Dr. Faulkner, Dr. Quinn, Dr. Running, Dr. Weichelt and Dr. Zeitler.

I am greatly thankful to my family, my wife Kristin, our two lovely kids Hadley and Buckley, and our dog Ellie. Without Kristin’s support, encouragement and guidance during the long challenging nights I could have never completed my thesis. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude towards my parents, Gene and Nancy Bortolameolli, and my In-Laws, Dan and Lynn Wade.

Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to all my friends I made from Saint Cloud State University and the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire for all their emotional support and understanding, which helped me balance the academic and personal aspects of life.

Thank you all for being part of this journey.

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