Geospatial analytics—the use of geographical data to help forecast and solve crimes—is a hot topic in law enforcement agencies right now, but its use is nothing new.

Geospatial analytics were employed by agencies decades ago, although the particular techniques used are considered rudimentary now. Through the simple use of pushpins on maps, investigators could track incidents, such as burglaries and murders; look at the relationship between where the crimes occurred; and cross-reference these data with information available on known criminals in the same geographic location to determine potential suspects.