Emotional cartography of urban fear: Methodological approach to analyse the relationship between built environment and fear of crime

Abstract

The Emotional Cartography of Urban Fear method seeks to capture people's feelings about the built environment—going beyond its physical features—through mobile and sedentary techniques. Participants walk alongside the researcher in their familiar surroundings, discussing their emotions, localised victimisation experiences, and community concerns. Additionally, focus groups allow for a deeper analysis of specific situations, community ties, and opinions or complaints regarding local government performance. This information is triangulated using non-participant and participant observations as well as in-depth interviews. Finally, perceptions are synthesised into Intensity of Fear Maps and Talk's Track Maps while also being available in the form of databases, tables, and narratives.