Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Practice Exam

In CPTED principles, what does the term 'natural access control' refer to?

1. Using barriers to limit entry

2. Designing pathways that direct movement and enhance security

3. Implementing surveillance systems to monitor access

4. Creating natural landscapes to obscure visibility

The correct answer is: Designing pathways that direct movement and enhance security

The term 'natural access control' in CPTED principles primarily refers to designing pathways that direct movement and enhance security. This approach focuses on the physical layout of an environment to naturally guide individuals towards desired paths and away from restricted areas. By strategically placing elements such as walkways, fences, and landscaping, you can influence how people move through a space. This design reduces opportunities for crime by ensuring that potential intruders are discouraged from accessing certain areas, as the layout itself creates a sense of direction and purpose within the environment. For instance, well-defined pathways lead to entrances, while barriers like shrubs or fences naturally deter access to insecure areas. This approach not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the space but also reinforces safety, as individuals using the designated pathways are often more visible to others, thereby increasing natural surveillance. The other options involve important aspects of security, but they do not precisely define natural access control. Using barriers to limit entry is more aligned with physical security measures rather than natural design. Implementing surveillance systems relates to monitoring activities rather than guiding movement. Creating natural landscapes to obscure visibility contradicts the intention of promoting visibility and safe movement, which is central to the concept of natural access control in CPTED.