Geocoding

     The most interesting topics to read among different news articles are unusual and shocking events. Top stories, whether browsed over the phone or watched on television, are the ones that happen most unexpectedly. Topics range from robbery and murder to natural disasters and war. In conclusion, the topic most read upon are related to tragedy and most likely involve death. Personally, I am fascinated by different criminally related events that take place daily in FOX news or CNN. These types of stories make me wonder how dangerous and illicit the world actually is. Geocoding allows in depth understanding of where certain places are located on a map. In this specific case, homicide has been reported in Los Angeles County for the past month. 

     From July 1st to August 7th 2011, homicide incidents took place in specific locations in Los Angeles County. A total of more than 50 victims have been killed. The case is not always murder. Police officers might have shot and killed a victim. A victim might have been beaten by a group of people and collapsed  miles away from the incident. The most common type of homicide was killing by guns. More than half of the victims were fatally shot. Some of the victims were stabbed. It was shocking to read that some of the victims were elderly, while others were only in their twenties. Bleeding body symbols on the map indicate homicide victims. Evidently, majority of the killings took place near the cities of Inglewood and Hawthorne. There were a few near Long Beach and San Fernando Valley. 

    The map informs potentially dangerous areas of homicide. It can happen to anybody so it is well recommended to take precaution when searching for a new home. This is just a suggestion that the areas with more cluttering of homicide victims are unsafe for family and security. Geocoding homicide addresses onto a map of Los Angeles County showed patterns of killing occurrences in certain areas. On further note, it is difficult to find data shapefiles on locations specifically geared toward the intention of a particular map. Geocoding makes it easy to put points wherever needed. In this case, it helps determine which areas in Los Angeles County are safer than others from homicide incidents. And just to clarify, these homicide locations are the only locations in the Los Angeles County that had victims of homicide during the past month.