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Generate UCDP GED Battle-Related Deaths Variable

Source: R/data_ucdp.R
gen_ucdp_ged.Rd

Creates a multi-layer raster containing aggregated fatality counts from the UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset for all PRIO-GRID temporal slices. This is the standard generator function for including UCDP GED data in PRIO-GRID.

Usage

gen_ucdp_ged()

Value

A SpatRaster object with multiple layers, one for each time interval defined in pg_date_intervals. Each layer contains:

  • Cell values: Sum of best fatality estimates for events in that cell and period

  • Layer names: Character representation of interval end dates

  • NA values: Grid cells with no recorded events or outside state system

Details

This function generates the standard UCDP GED variable for PRIO-GRID using:

  • The "best" fatality estimate from UCDP GED

  • All three types of organized violence (state-based, non-state, one-sided)

  • Temporal distribution of fatalities across PRIO-GRID intervals

  • Spatial filtering to exclude events without sub-national precision

Events are filtered to include only those with spatial precision codes 1-5, which represent locations identified at sub-national level or better. Events coded at national level (where_prec = 6) or with higher uncertainty (where_prec = 7) are excluded. This filtering approach may result in undercounting, particularly in regions where precise event locations are difficult to determine.

The function uses the "best" fatality estimate, which represents UCDP's assessment of the most likely number of fatalities based on available sources. Alternative estimates (low, high) can be accessed through ucdp_ged.

Note

  • Processing time depends on the size of the UCDP GED dataset

  • The exclusion of imprecisely located events is a known limitation

  • For custom configurations, use ucdp_ged directly

References

Sundberg R, Melander E (2013). “Introducing the UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset.” Journal of Peace Research, 50(4), 523–532. ISSN 0022-3433, 1460-3578, doi:10.1177/0022343313484347 , 2024-10-21.

Davies S, Pettersson T, Sollenberg M, Öberg M (2025). “Organized Violence 1989–2024, and the Challenges of Identifying Civilian Victims.” Journal of Peace Research, 62(4), 1223–1240. ISSN 0022-3433, doi:10.1177/00223433251345636 , 2025-06-11.

See also

ucdp_ged for customizable processing options, read_ucdp_ged for raw data access, pg_date_intervals for temporal structure

Examples

if (FALSE) { # \dontrun{
# Generate standard UCDP GED variable
ged_fatalities <- ged_ucdp_ged()

# Examine the result
print(ged_fatalities)

# Check number of time periods
terra::nlyr(ged_fatalities)

# Plot first time period
terra::plot(ged_fatalities[[1]],
            main = paste("Fatalities:", names(ged_fatalities)[1]))

# Calculate annual totals
annual_total <- terra::app(ged_fatalities, sum, na.rm = TRUE)
terra::plot(annual_total, main = "Total Fatalities Across All Periods",
            col = hcl.colors(100, "YlOrRd", rev = TRUE))

# Identify hotspots
hotspots <- annual_total > 100
terra::plot(hotspots, main = "Conflict Hotspots (>100 fatalities)")
} # }