Security is perceived differently by everyone

The research project "Stadtsicherheit 3D" addresses the improvement of safety perception of urban citizens. Focus is put on visibility and clear sightlines in public spaces, on illumination, individual audio-visual perceptibility, and terrorist threats.

Development of a planning tool based on international experiences

By analyzing best practice examples of Berlin and other German and foreign cities, relevant factors for (in-)security and corresponding approaches for improvement are identified. The results serve as a basis for the development of a planning tool using 3D models. This tool can be applied in urban design and architecture, for strengthening security and respectively the perception of personal safety in public and semi-public urban spaces.

Baseline study in Berlin

Within the scope of the project interviews with experts, on-site inspections with locals and focus group workshops (with experts and residents) are carried out. They serve to verify and deepen the research results. These analyses take place predominantly in three selected, structurally highly contrasting areas in Berlin: at the central square Alexanderplatz, in a housing estate in Neukölln and in the fin-de-siècle district West Moabit. The depiction of structural differences allows for a better transferability and comparability of the results to other cities in Europe and worldwide.

Analysis of the implementation context

inter 3 focuses on the analysis of the implementation context, i.e. on identifying framework conditions such as social habits and dynamics, political programs, urban planning and design that influence fear of crime and security problems or, vice versa, the implementation of relevant countermeasures. This yields specific criteria and requirements for the development of the planning tool by the research partners.

Furthermore, inter 3 and its research partner IRS perform a lab testing of the prototype software with potential future users. Research results will be presented and discussed at a public conference in late 2020 or early 2021.