Use of GIS for prospective mapping of police stations in the District of Abomey-Calavi in Southern Bénin

Abstract

Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the Prospective Mapping of Police Stations in the Abomey-Calavi District. The study explored the use of digital technologies, particularly Geographic Information Systems (GIS), for the mapping, analysis, and spatial management of data related to police stations in the Abomey-Calavi district and aimed to optimize the management of these security infrastructures through the use of GIS tools. The methodology adopted combined both quantitative and qualitative data. A survey was conducted among 400 residents, all aged 18 years and above, from various neighbourhoods in the district. The objective was to collect information on the location of the district police station, its accessibility, the types of insecurity encountered, instances of victimization and residents’ perceptions of safety. Data from the General Population and Housing Censuses (RGPH) of 2002 and 2013 were also used. All collected data were processed and spatialized using GIS tools. The results revealed strong demographic growth with an annual growth rate of 4.5% from 2002 to 2013. The area of densely inhabited zones grew from 1995 to 2017 with an increase of nearly 75% over 22 years. In 1995, these areas accounted for 37.51% of the territory, with a population density estimated at 1,829 inhabitants/km². In terms of security, crime increased by nearly four times up to 2017. A decrease was recorded between 2018 and 2021, followed by a rise in 2022, and a slight decline again between 2022 and 2023. Despite this general downward trend, some neighbourhoods like Alédjo, Fandji, Kanzounkpa, Sèmè, and Tokpa-Zoungo continued to report a constant level of crime. Furthermore, 44% of respondents believed that the quality of security was fair, while 35% considered it to be fairly good. The police services remain generally inaccessible to a large portion of the district’s population.