Understanding the Relationship between Tree Canopy and Crime in Minneapolis, Minnesota using Geographically Weighted Regression

Influenced by reoccurring findings in the literature suggesting a negative relationship between tree canopy and crime rates, Esri ArcGIS spatial statistic tools were used to execute a series of regression analyses examining that relationship in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Crime rates, by neighborhood, were modeled for with ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression tools using tree canopy coverage and a number of other demographic data as independent variables. A spatially adjusted geography weighted regression (GWR) model indicated a statistically significant negative correlation existed in 64 of the 85 Minneapolis neighborhood observed in the study (r 2 =.82). These findings support the conclusions of previous literature that the relationship between tree canopy and crime is inverse