Making environmental criminology smarter – A framework for directly measuring routine activities using passively collected geolocation data

We propose novel methods for analysing spatio-temporal tracking data collected via smartphones with the purpose of exploring the extent to which foundational, but as yet untested, assumptions within environmental criminology are observed in real-world behaviour. We provide systematic and replicable methods for identifying and quantifying nodes, trips, visits, paths and activity spaces – key elements of human mobility which underpin the vast majority of theoretical and empirical crime and place-based research. Our approach is illustrated through analyses of data captured from a sample of 16–24 year olds living in urban Australia. Implications for theoretical testing, refinement and extension are discussed.