Universitat Politècnica de València study identifies hidden urban safety risks for women

A study led by the Universitat Politècnica de València reveals that official police statistics do not fully capture the extent of violence and insecurity experienced by women in public spaces. By utilizing geographic intelligence, citizen science, and social media data, researchers identified risk zones that often go unnoticed in official records.

The research, published in the journal Cities, analyzed data from three locations: València, Spain; Toluca, Mexico; and Dublin, Ireland. The methodology involved comparing official police registries with collaborative maps created by citizens and posts from the social network X, while accounting for different times of the day and week.

Researchers noted that while police data is essential, incorporating citizen perception through participatory mapping allows for the detection of safety issues that would otherwise remain hidden. The study highlights the value of citizen science in providing a more comprehensive view of urban security and the lived experiences of women.