- Author
-
Stiefel, S. W.
- Title
- Use of Decision Analysis in Arson Program Planning.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NBSIR 82-2596,
November 1982,
22 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
arson
|
cost benefit analysis
|
decision analysis
- Abstract
- A decision analysis approach is formulated and demonstrated to provide a planning tool for decision makers in a city or community concerned with selection and application of arson strategies. The Arson Information Management System (AIMS) is used to provide information to describe the arson problem (classify causes/motivation, incidence and magnitude for each area in the city/community) and to establish which strategies are appropriate to address the causes. This AIMS data plus an assessment of the cost and effectiveness of arson strategies are combined in a decision analysis structure. The decision analysis has been designed to provide a measure of the net benefits for various strategies for each area in the city/community. A method for using the outputs from the decision analysis to provide the most cost-effective use of an arson budget has been developed.