WebCAT: the design, analysis and implementation of a Web-based crime analysis toolkit

A team within the System and Information Engineering Department, along with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, have been developing a Web-based crime analysis toolkit (WebCAT) for the past four years. WebCAT, an online system, facilitates the sharing of statewide crime incident data throughout Virginia law enforcement agencies. It further provides tools for data and spatial analysis. For the past three years, teams worked to develop prototypes of the system. This year focused on the deployment of WebCAT for use by the state of Virginia, through creating enhanced querying functions, more robust analysis tools, and improved interface usability. Further, the team increased security and administrative functions to aid in system oversight and safety. The team used the systems lifecycle through the analysis, design, implementation, testing, and evaluation of WebCAT. The results increased the capacity of data provided to analysts, provides data and spatial analysis tools, and improved system usability.