Mapping uncertain geographical attributes: incorporating robustness into choropleth classification design |
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Authors: | Wangshu Mu Daoqin Tong |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University , Tempe, AZ, USA wangshum@asu.eduhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2171-8025;3. School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University , Tempe, AZ, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7005-5128 |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT Choropleth mapping provides a simple but effective visual presentation of geographical data. Traditional choropleth mapping methods assume that data to be displayed are certain. This may not be true for many real-world problems. For example, attributes generated based on surveys may contain sampling and non-sampling error, and results generated using statistical inferences often come with a certain level of uncertainty. In recent years, several studies have incorporated uncertain geographical attributes into choropleth mapping with a primary focus on identifying the most homogeneous classes. However, no studies have yet accounted for the possibility that an areal unit might be placed in a wrong class due to data uncertainty. This paper addresses this issue by proposing a robustness measure and incorporating it into the optimal design of choropleth maps. In particular, this study proposes a discretization method to solve the new optimization problem along with a novel theoretical bound to evaluate solution quality. The new approach is applied to map the American Community Survey data. Test results suggest a tradeoff between within-class homogeneity and robustness. The study provides an important perspective on addressing data uncertainty in choropleth map design and offers a new approach for spatial analysts and decision-makers to incorporate robustness into the mapmaking process. |
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Keywords: | Choropleth Mapping robustness optimization uncertainty |
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