Journal of the Society of Disaster Information ISSN:1976-2208(Print) 2671-5287(Online) 한국재난정보학회논문집

Purpose: This study aims to identify the application characteristics of CPTED in urban environments as the theory has evolved from a physical design-centered approach through social relationships and sustainability toward a data-driven intelligent management paradigm (fourth generation). Methods: A literature review was conducted to examine paradigm shifts and major research trends in CPTED. In addition, surveys and focus group interviews (FGIs) were carried out with experts possessing practical experience in urban CPTED. Results: The findings indicate that early CPTED primarily focused on physical elements such as natural surveillance; however, it has gradually evolved into an integrated framework encompassing spatial usage patterns, management and operational strategies, and GIS- and AI-based analytical technologies. In particular, expert perception analysis empirically confirmed a causal mechanism in which incivility cues generated by urban spatial structures amplify residents’ fear of crime. As an alternative response, the importance of data-driven monitoring and maintenance was identified. Conclusion: Urban CPTED should move beyond the simple installation of physical facilities and evolve into an intelligent integrated safety management framework (fourth generation) in which design, psychology, technology, and data are interconnected. The findings of this study can serve as both a theoretical and practical foundation for the future development and application of CPTED.