Imagine the topology as being like a map, except instead of terrain, it maps time. The X-Coordinate (horizontal) indicates the hour of the day, while the Y-Coordinate (vertical) indicates the day of the week. The Z-Coordinate (elevation) is represented by the volume of activity at that hour and day.

Temporal topologies identify the level of crime activity at a particular day and hour.

You read the temporal topology just as you would read the density map in RAIDS. Look for areas of high (or low) activity across the 168 hour week. Police agencies use the temporal topology to understand when activity happens, when to deploy resources, and when to staff officers. Temporal topologies, using vivid colors and shapes to draw the reader’s attention to significant findings, can be much clearer and easier to interpret than reading through countless rows of mind-numbing cross tabulated data.