There are many ways to detect the role of creators, few of which require substantial training, skill, or resources. The items below are some of the most obvious |
Physical Evidence. Much of this can be seen walking or driving through a city |
 • Streets, especially if in forms unlikely to be generated by an undirected process (e.g., grid networks in North America; crescents in the United Kingdom) |
 • Areas of housing, or other buildings, that are architecturally similar, if not identical, constructed at the same time; planned estates; housing projects; business parks |
 • Large scale disruptions of street and building patterns created by infrastructure (e.g., highways, train tracks) |
 • Signage in gentrifying areas mentioning developers, financiers, and government agencies (e.g., XYZ Group, financed by ABC Bank, funded by MNO Agency) |
Records Evidence. Available from government agencies, laws and statues, or historical records |
 • Zoning controls over land use and development. The physical evidence is often visible on the ground, but also in the paper record of laws |
 • Historical records of institutions of developed areas, real estate companies, banks, mortgage holders, government housing agencies |
 • Photographs of old landscapes compared to current landscapes illustrating large-scale transformations (e.g., old canal vs. today's boulevard) |
Statistical Evidence. Found in databases maintained by governments and businesses |
 • Ownership records of land parcels showing a few entities own a considerable amount of property |
 • Linking ownership to crime at parcels shows a few owners have most of the parcels with crime, and much of the crime |
Other Evidence. Observing the business news, engaging in conversations with property owners and developers, and observing political forums (e.g., city council discussions) provides more evidence |
 • The existence and success of property developers, property management firms, and city planning offices |
 • Discussions and debates over development and large-scale uses of land documented in regulatory agency records and in news reports |
 • Talking to people who operate places about their employer's expectations |
 • Books and articles on the history of areas focusing on architecture, property law, racial segregation, prominent buildings, and infrastructure |