Exploring the Effects of Light and Dark on Crime in London
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsA comprehensive review of the literature on the effects on crime rates of lighting and light and a description of analysis of time-recorded UK crime data across DST.
Whilst review of literature and analysis of data were comprehensive, I found the flow of argument somewhat convoluted and difficult to read. In earlier parts. it feels like the author is arranging things to support an argument for the conclusion that crime is associated with darkness in spite of the mixed evidence. The author uses as a reference for signficance p =0.05. However, in such a confused situation, it may be more appropriate to use p=0.01 as the reference.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageEnglish is good. However, the convoluted sequence of argument and analysis , makes the paper difficult to read and analyse.
Author Response
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Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReview Report on ijgi-2939272
This manuscript analyzes the effects of light and dark on crime in London. While the scope and the overall demonstration of this work are significant, I have some minor comments and suggestions for the authors, which are listed below:
1). I'm happy to see that the authors have engaged in a comprehensive analysis of related works from the existing body of literature. However, what is the major implication of this study? I would suggest that the authors clearly mention the key contribution of this work, which is still unclear. This should be very clearly explained.
2). I can’t find the research questions of this work. What are the research questions of this research?
3). I'm unable to discern the logical flow in the research framework of this study. I would suggest that the authors improve the research framework by adding a comprehensive flow diagram under the methodology section. This diagram should indicate each and every analytical step very clearly.
4). I would also suggest that the authors add a study area map under the methodology section. This map should clearly exemplify the entire geographical setting covered by the study.
5). How about mapping the spatial distribution and patterns of the analyzed crimes (excluding the removal number)? I found one important keyword termed "Spatial Analysis"! Since the authors have the exact locations of each and every incident, this may demonstrate potentially new insights.
6). I'm unable to locate the Conclusion of this manuscript. Do the authors have a special reason for omitting it?
7). I found a few typographical or referencing issues in the manuscript. For example, on page 2, line 56. Please correct them before submitting the revised version.
Good Luck!!!
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe content of the manuscript is not appropriate to be published in "International Journal of Geo-Information". There is no map or spatial analysis. Collected data from The Metropolitan Police Service contain geographical coordinates of 4,790,048 crime events. The authors did not use them. The objective of the study is trivial and does not require proof: "to examine whether there is a relationship between ambient lighting outdoors and crimes where the time is known to within 5-minutes".
It is recommended to:
- choose the journal in accordance with the content of the manuscript or fit the topic, objective, and methods of the manuscript to the scope of "International Journal of Geo-Information" (add maps and spatial analysis),
- properly formulate the topic and the objective of the manuscript (not "exploring" and "examine"; concentrate rather on what kind of research problem authors try to solve).
Author Response
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Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors- There is no explanation for Tables 1 and 2 in the text.
- Even if there is “spatial analysis” in the keywords, you won’t find spatial analysis anywhere else.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript is proposed for publication in a Special Issue of "International Journal of Geo-Information" titled "HealthScape: Intersections of Health, Environment, and GIS&T". The authors were invited to publish their research in the following areas:
- geographical analysis and modeling for health and the environment (physical, socioeconomic, and virtual);
- frontiers of GIS&T and AI technologies for health data and research;
- socioeconomic, physical, and virtual environmental health and exposure analysis;
- physical and virtual healthcare accessibility and inequities;
- health vulnerabilities amidst climate and environmental changes;
- GIS&T and AI-technology-driven health policy and decision support.
The manuscript does not cover any of the above topic areas.
It is recommended to precisely formulate the title of the manuscript - in accordance with the research problem the authors are trying to solve, e.g. "Impact of daylight on crime in cities on the example of London" or, likewise.
The only results of the very simple spatial analysis shown in added to the actual version of the manuscript Figure 3 "Map of Greater London with crime distribution", do not concern the research problem, i.e. they do not show the impact of daylight on crime.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
