Calgary Fire Department Hazmat—Needle Box Location Planning

Using spatial analysis techniques, the Calgary Fire Department identified how strategic the location of needle drop boxes was. The relationship was based on two qualifiers—known drug use and pickup locations of sharps (needles). By extracting and manipulating 911 call data, the locations of all sharps pickups were mapped. In addition, overdose locations were mapped to help identify known locations of repeated drug use, and a density map was built to reflect an approximate city block with a potential usage problem.

By mapping all needle box locations and overlaying a combined density map of all the hot spots for needle pickups and overdose locations, those areas of both high needle pickup and drug overdoses provided information that some needle boxes were indeed in an adequate location to provide a safer downtown street for the public. The analysis also provided information on additional areas of downtown where there was an unknown need for another box as well as areas where a box should be moved from one corner of a city block to another because of increased usage.

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