Thesis (BS Architecture) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2015

In the Maslow's hierarchy of needs, safety comes second after physiological needs. This only shows the importance of safety in the realm of personal development. A study has shown that physical environmental design greatly influences crime, fear of crime and quality of life. In this study, the relationship between physical environment and crime was evaluated. Low-cost housing subdivision was selected as the subject to study because this type of community development has dense population. The study was conducted to identify environmental issues of of the top 3 highest crime rate subdivisions in Davao City. It used several assessment tools such as; Site Quality Indicators (SQI), Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and space syntax analysis, that all together obtain quantitative results. Both SQI and CPTED were evaluated in order to assess the environmental factors of a subdivision and its relation to crime. On the other hand, space syntax analysis was used to evaluate the physical system of streets of a subdivision. Collectively, the data show specific problem and solutions that could help in improving the new proposed crime preventive low-cost housing development. The research found out that proper provisions of location, open spaces, routes and movement, lighting, land use mix, activity generators, maintenance and management, sight lines and signs and information could help prevent crime occurrence in problematic areas characterized by deep (inaccessible), segregated, and least connected streets.