What effect does natural surveillance seek to create in a design?

Natural surveillance is a design strategy that aims to increase safety through enhanced visibility. By promoting unobstructed sightlines and ensuring that areas are visible to passersby, natural surveillance acts as a deterrent to criminal behavior. This visibility allows individuals to observe their surroundings and for others to witness any potentially dangerous or suspicious activities.

When environments are designed to maximize visibility—such as using lighting, open spaces, and positioning elements in a way that encourages people to be seen—users of the space feel more secure. This practice is grounded in the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which identifies surveillance as a key factor in reducing crime.

The other choices do not align with the primary purpose of natural surveillance. While enhancing privacy may seem beneficial, it contradicts the intention of making areas more visible to deter crime. Similarly, while reducing the need for security systems could be considered an outcome of increased safety, the main focus of natural surveillance is on visibility rather than the minimization of security infrastructure or creating an environment conducive to criminal activity.