Development of Voronoi-based cellular automata -an integrated dynamic model for Geographical Information Systems

This paper presents a development of the extended Cellular Automata (CA), a Voronoi-based CA, to model dynamic interactions among spatial objects. Cellular automata are efficient models for representing dynamic spatial interactions. A complex global spatial pattern is generated by a set of simple local transition rules. However, its original definition for a two-dimensional array limits its application to raster spatial data only. This paper presents a newly developed Voronoi-based CA in which the CA is extended by using the Voronoi spatial model as its spatial framework. The Voronoi spatial model offers a ready solution to handling neighbourhood relations among spatial objects dynamically. By implementing this model, we have demonstrated that the Voronoi-based CA can model local interactions among spatial objects to generate complex global patterns. The Voronoi-based CA can further model interactions among point, line and polygon objects with irregular shapes and sizes in a dynamic system. Each of these objects possesses its own set of attributes, transition rules and neighbourhood relationships. The Voronoi-based CA models spatial interactions among real entities, such as shops, residential areas, industries and cities. Compared to the original CA, the Voronoi-based CA is a more natural and efficient representation of human knowledge over space.     

基于GIS的任意发生元Voronoi图逼近方法

许多地理问题的空间分析中需要采用Voronoi图,但是目前我们尚缺乏一些简单的易于实现的构建任意发生元Voronoi图的方法,也缺乏一个能直接生成任意发生元Voronoi图的软件,为此我们提出了一种基于GIS的构建任意发生元的未加权Voronoi图的逼近方法。首先用有限点来逼近原始发生元,然后构建这些点发生元Voronoi图,最后消除那些属于同一发生元的顶点和边,即得到原始发生元的逼近的Voronoi图。在该算法的具体实现过程中,充分利用了现有GIS软件可以生成点发生元Voronoi图的特性和处理空间数据的能力。试验结果表明,这种方法可以生成未加权的任意形状发生元的逼近Voronoi图,能满足地理问题空间分析的需要。如地理客体可以是点状地理客体(城市、县城、交通枢纽、商业中心和金融中心等)、线状地理客体(交通运输线、经济地带和河系等)、面状地理客体(经济区、公园和绿地等)或者它们的组合,它们的空间影响范围或空间服务范围都可以采用Voronoi图来界定。     

Accuracy of quantized Voronoi diagrams

Quantization of spatial objects, which usually means vector‐to‐raster conversion in GIS and remote sensing, is a basic operation used for handling spatial data from data creation to visualization. Since quantization is an approximation of spatial objects, it inevitably yields errors in measuring their properties such as area, perimeter, diameter, and so forth. This paper discusses the accuracy of a quantized Voronoi diagram, a spatial tessellation generated from a set of points. A measure is proposed to evaluate the accuracy of the area of Voronoi regions calculated after quantization. In one‐dimensional space the measure is expressed as an explicit function of the expected number of generators in a cell. In two‐dimensional space, on the other hand, the measure is defined by an implicit function, whose approximation is derived in an explicit form. These functions permit us to evaluate the accuracy of quantization in relation to the size of lattice cells and the density of Voronoi generators. This leads to an appropriate choice of a lattice to keep the quality of a quantized Voronoi diagram at a desirable level.     

基于道路网络的商业网点市场域分析

社会经济活动中人们的空间行为往往是基于道路网络来实现的。但是,目前多数研究都假设地理空间是一个均质空间,采用基于平面欧氏距离的空间分析方法,这是有局限的。本文阐述了基于网络距离的网络Voronoi图基本概念和实现方法,以武汉市商业零售连锁企业为例,分别采用基于欧氏距离的普通Voronoi图方法和基于网络距离的网络Voronoi图方法来确定商业零售网点的市场域,结果表明武汉市主城区商业网点市场域较小、主城区外围市场域较大。市场域大小与城市路网密度呈现一定相关关系,路网密度高、市场域小,路网密度低、市场域大。两种方法的计算结果存在一定差异,差异大小与路网密度有关,路网密度大、差异小,路网密度小、差异大。这表明在路网密度大的情况下,可以采用普通Voronoi图粗略地模拟商业网点的市场域。     

Revisiting John Snow's map: network-based spatial demarcation of cholera area

Dr. John Snow's cholera map is known as one of the pioneering examples of an epidemiology map, illustrating the spatial distribution of the victims from the cholera outbreak. This article revisits his map and expands on his attempt at visualizing the distribution of the victims by focusing on spatial demarcation using the sphere of influence along the street network by applying two analytical methods that are designed for analysis of network space. First, the article generates a network-based Voronoi diagram of the water pumps in the map that encompasses Snow's original version of the equidistance line that was drawn around a single pump. The article then presents a new, revised equidistance line that better reflects the circumstances around the time of the outbreak. This is followed by the construction of another set of boundaries derived by the application of a network-based clumping method. Comparing the demarcation lines produced with the two methods shows a sphere of influence which was unclear when using the network Voronoi diagram alone. Results from the analysis using the clumping method also confirm some of Snow's observations on the spatial distribution of the victims.     

基于互联网信息的城市商业游憩网点空间竞争域划分研究

提出了一种基于互联网信息的空间竞争域划分方法。在Voronoi图的模型中尝试以网络平台数据作加权因子,使空间竞争域体现互联网中的消费者偏好差异,通过对加权Voronoi图的类型划分和地理学解释,描述竞争环境的空间特征。以北京市健身俱乐部为例,选择大众点评网、爱帮等网络平台信息作为权重因子,构建样本网点的传统Voronoi、互联网信息加权Voronoi计算模型并对比边界线、面积等空间特征分析的结果表明:互联网信息对城市商业游憩网点的空间竞争力产生着不同的影响强度,对Voronoi图空间特征的分类和地理解释可以指示商业网点跨越距离阻碍的消费吸引力及竞争差异,弥补传统加权方法未考虑消费者偏好和购物习惯而对竞争域划分表达不足的缺点。     

基于网络加权Voronoi图分析的南京市商业中心辐射域研究

道路网络在城市社会和经济活动中发挥重要作用.它是联系商业中心与需求间的桥梁.道路系统的更新与变化必然会对它们的关联产生影响Voronoi图足划分势力空间的有效工具,基于道路网络分析构建的加权Voronoi图可以模拟城市商业中心功能辐射的实际情形.本文给出了基于道路网络分析的Voronoi图和加权Voronoi图构建方法.通过对各种Voronoi图的比较分析,认为基于网络路径时间分析构建的加权Voronoi面域图在商业中心辐射域模拟中最为有效.将空间相互作用和断裂点理论与网络加权Voronoi面域图相结合.模拟不同交通条件下南京市商业中心辐射域空间格局及其需求覆盖变化,并提取了辐射域的覆盖面积、覆盖人口、最远辐射路径距离和平均辐射路径距离等信息.对商业中心的地铁邻近度与其辐射域的扩张面积进行相关分析.采用域邻接矩阵描述空间划分平衡与不平衡之间的相互转变过程,可分析道路系统变更后商业中心之间空间竞争的变化趋势.分析结果表明商业中心的地铁邻近度与辐射域的扩张具有较大的相关性,快速轨道交通在商业中心空间竞争中发挥关键作用.     

基于局部聚类的网络Voronoi图生成方法研究

提出一种将网络约束下的Voronoi和空间聚类相结合的方法,通过构造局部的聚类分析方法对网络边进行加权,根据实际的点过程性质可以把权重定义为加权或者乘权,进行标准化后与道路段本身长度融合进行计算,依此生成网络Voronoi图,以期理解城市街道的空间特性。以武汉市江汉区为例,对城市网格管理系统产生的城市事件进行算法验证,结果表明,该方法提供了一种灵活的网络约束下的服务区域划分工具,可用于基于网络空间点过程影响下的服务区划分,也可用于系统性地定量刻画城市管理的动态特性。     

A spatial fuzzy influence diagram for modelling spatial objects’ dependencies: a case study on tree-related electric outages

Spatial objects can be interconnected and mutually dependent in complex ways. In Geographical Information Science, spatial objects’ topological relationships are not discussed together with their attributes’ dependencies, and the vagueness of spatial objects is often ignored during the spatial modelling process. To address this, a spatial fuzzy influence diagram (SFID) is introduced. Compared to the traditional statistical or fuzzy modelling approach, the influence diagram brings advantages in helping decision-makers structure complex interdependency problems. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the applicability of using an influence diagram in modelling spatial objects’ dependencies. As a case study, an SFID is applied to tree-related electric outages. The result of the case study is represented as a vulnerability map of electrical networks. The map shows areas at risk due to tree-related electric outages. The results were first validated by using a visual comparison of the vulnerability map and electricity fault data. In the second validation step, the percentage of fault data, which has received values in different vulnerability categories, was calculated. The results of the case study can be used to support the decision-making process of electrical network maintenance and planning.     

Automated building generalization based on urban morphology and Gestalt theory

Building generalization is a difficult operation due to the complexity of the spatial distribution of buildings and for reasons of spatial recognition. In this study, building generalization is decomposed into two steps, i.e. building grouping and generalization execution. The neighbourhood model in urban morphology provides global constraints for guiding the global partitioning of building sets on the whole map by means of roads and rivers, by which enclaves, blocks, superblocks or neighbourhoods are formed; whereas the local constraints from Gestalt principles provide criteria for the further grouping of enclaves, blocks, superblocks and/or neighbourhoods. In the grouping process, graph theory, Delaunay triangulation and the Voronoi diagram are employed as supporting techniques. After grouping, some useful information, such as the sum of the building's area, the mean separation and the standard deviation of the separation of buildings, is attached to each group. By means of the attached information, an appropriate operation is selected to generalize the corresponding groups. Indeed, the methodology described brings together a number of well-developed theories/techniques, including graph theory, Delaunay triangulation, the Voronoi diagram, urban morphology and Gestalt theory, in such a way that multiscale products can be derived.     

基于改进Converse断裂点模型和加权Voronoi图的区域城镇体系结构研究——以天水市为例

在对Converse断裂点模型进行改进的基础上,通过构建评价指标体系和计算城镇中心性强度,对天水市城镇体系等级结构进行了划分;通过运用加权Voronoi图,划分了城镇影响范围和城镇经济区。研究表明:1)天水市城镇体系等级分化非常明显,可按中心性值的大小分为3个等级,其中一级城镇主要为天水各县区政府所在地;2)基于加权Voronoi图的城镇经济区打破了行政区划界线,更符合区域"城镇-腹地"相互联系和作用的实际;3)城镇影响空间既受城镇综合实力和区位交通条件的影响,也与地形、资源分布以及历史文化等因素密切相关。在天水市东部和南部,城镇空间影响范围明显大于中部和北部地区。     

A Voronoi neighborhood-based search heuristic for distance/capacity constrained very large vehicle routing problems

Local search heuristics for very large-scale vehicle routing problems (VRPs) have made remarkable advances in recent years. However, few local search heuristics have focused on the use of the spatial neighborhood in Voronoi diagrams to improve local searches. Based on the concept of a k-ring shaped Voronoi neighbor, we propose a Voronoi spatial neighborhood-based search heuristic and algorithm to solve very large-scale VRPs. In this algorithm, k-ring Voronoi neighbors of a customer are limited to building and updating local routings, and rearranging local routings with improper links. This algorithm was evaluated using four sets of benchmark tests for 200–8683 customers. Solutions were compared with specific examples in the literature, such as the one-depot VRP. This algorithm produced better solutions than some of the best-known benchmark VRP solutions and requires less computational time. The algorithm outperformed previous methods used to solve very large-scale, real-world distance constrained capacitated VRP.     

Polygon Characterization With the Multiplicatively Weighted Voronoi Diagram*

Many landscape features are represented as polygons in GIS. This paper characterizes polygon shapes with the multiplicatively weighted Voronoi (MW‐Voronoi) diagram and improves its understanding. The MW‐Voronoi diagram's composition is implemented with topological overlay, growth simulation, and vertex calculation methods. The decomposition is done by reversing a polygon to MW‐Voronoi point pairs by segment. It is a new approach to record, characterize, and compare polygons with form and process. The implementation also serves as a geographic education and visualization tool. Applications of the methods are presented with precipitation, fire polygon, and population change data.     

基于Voronoi图剖分的区域旅游中心城市体系——以苏浙沪地区为例

在区域范围的城市旅游体系中,引入"中心地的中心性"概念,可以在这种旅游性的空间网络中考察城市地位的相对重要性,划分出城市的等级层次,判断出不同级别的中心城市,更可以进一步得到区域空间的城市旅游构成关系.Voronoi图在地理学中是一种利用中心地的中心性广泛用于空间分割、空间邻域查找的空间剖分方法.引入这种方法,以苏浙沪地区为例,在25个地级以上城市中,利用Voronoi图的空间分割原理,找出不仅具有规模性,而且具有空间组织功能的旅游中心城市.     

Voronoi-based region approximation for geographical information retrieval with gazetteers

Gazeteers and geographical thesauri can be regarded as parsimonious spatial models that associate geographical location with place names and encode some semantic relations between the names. They are of particular value in processing information retrieval requests in which the user employs place names to specify geographical context. Typically the geometric locational data in a gazetteer are confined to a simple footprint in the form of a centroid or a minimum bounding rectangle, both of which can be used to link to a map but are of limited value in determining spatial relationships. Here we describe a Voronoi diagram method for generating approximate regional extents from sets of centroids that are respectively inside and external to a region. The resulting approximations provide measures of areal extent and can be used to assist in answering geographical queries by evaluating spatial relationships such as distance, direction and common boundary length. Preliminary experimental evaluations of the method have been performed in the context of a semantic modelling system that combines the centroid data with hierarchical and adjacency relations between the associated place names.     

一种用于界定经济客体空间影响范围的方法——Voronoi图

经济客体的空间影响范围界定十分复杂,但在区域规划和城市规划中有着重要的理论和实际意义。该文提出可采用Voronoi图方法用于经济客体的空间影响范围界定,介绍了Voronoi图的基本原理和其若干扩展,编写了生成Voronoi图的程序,最后以城市为例探讨了Voronoi图在经济客体空间影响范围界定中的应用。     

An inconsistency measure of spatial data sets with respect to topological constraints

An inconsistency measure can be used to compare the quality of different data sets and to quantify the cost of data cleaning. In traditional relational databases, inconsistency is defined in terms of constraints that use comparison operators between attributes. Inconsistency measures for traditional databases cannot be applied to spatial data sets because spatial objects are complex and the constraints are typically defined using spatial relations. This paper proposes an inconsistency measure to evaluate how dirty a spatial data set is with respect to a set of integrity constraints that define the topological relations that should hold between objects in the data set. The paper starts by reviewing different approaches to quantify the degree of inconsistency and showing that they are not suitable for the problem. Then, the inconsistency measure of a data set is defined in terms of the degree in which each spatial object in the data set violates topological constraints, and the possible representations of spatial objects are points, curves, and surfaces. Finally, an experimental evaluation demonstrates the applicability of the proposed inconsistency measure and compares it with previously existing approaches.     

新疆城市经济区划分及影响范围

明确且合理的城市经济区和空间组织是区域内各城市实现功能整合的前提,也是实现城乡统筹、有序协调发展的基础。通过因子分析方法来计算城市的中心性指数,在GIS软件的支持下,利用Voronoi图对地理空间进行分割,逐层递归,确定不同等级的中心城市,并构建城市断裂点理论与倍增加权Voronoi图相融合的GIS空间分析方法,划分城市经济影响范围。结果表明:第一,采用简单Voronoi的递归算法,依据城市的中心性指数,选出不同等级的中心城镇,很好地体现了中心职能在地域空间上的分布;第二,基于城市断裂点理论的倍增加权Voronoi图,不仅考虑了城市的实力,而且考虑了城市之间的空间邻近关系,并且很好地反映城市之间的空间竞争关系。第三,这种技术方法结合自然地理条件和行政区划等人文要素的定性分析,具有一定的科学性和现实意义。本文结合新疆独特的地理环境,探讨了新疆各级中心城镇和影响范围,旨在运用新技术和定量化的方法更科学地划分城市经济区,结合现有的城镇现状和发展战略,为未来新疆的城市与区域规划科学决策提供参考。     

基于逆向加权Voronoi图的面状地理景观特征化研究

基于逆向加权Voronoi图的方法,采用角度、线宽、线长和方向四参数对面状地理景观进行特征化研究。实例表明,该方法既具备在保持曲线弯曲特征转折点精确性方面的优点,还在曲线化简时重点顾及了目标的形态维护,并在不损耗面状地理景观的方向、凹凸性及数量等关键信息的基础上,明显减少了数据存储量,还可实现面状目标的跨时段、跨地区比较,是一种记录、描述和可视化比较研究面状地理景观时空演化特征的有效方法,可实现特征信息保留与结果简化间的平衡。