topos 121 | urban security

This issue of topos deals with the topic of security. How safe are our cities today and what are the things and factors that make a city safe? Do surveillance cameras really make our cities safer? Security from crime is not the only aspect this issue covers. It also looks at the development of emergency services and emergency calls and takes a trip into virtual space. We take a look at the impact on our security of companies whose business model is to collect as much data about us as possible. Issue 121 tries to find answers to these and many more security related questions.

 TOPICS

PROTEST
A photo story

FACETS OF SECURITY
Things that make our cities safer

CAMERAS PER SQUARE KILOMETER
A graphical comparison between Chennai and Busan

THE PROMISE OF SECURITY
How Smart Cities and digital platforms erode urban society and its safety

SURVEILLANCE AND SECURITY
How CCTV affects urban security

THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF WORDS
How words caused a deadly riot in Washington

CENTER SPREAD

FROM GYMNASTS TO FIREFIGHTERS
A short history of fire departments

A CITY THAT IS SAFE FOR WOMEN
Ideas from Egypt to Rwanda to improve women's security in urban spaces

SHELTER
A photo story

THE DEMONS THAT I CALLED
Cybercrime affects every one of us

THREE DIGITS TO CALL FOR HELP
The evolution of emergency calls

THE SAFEST AND MOST UNSAFE CITIES IN THE WORLD
An infographic

CONTRIBUTORS