A comparison of three exploratory methods for cluster detection in spatial point patterns

A. Stewart Fotheringham, F. Benjamin Zhan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper compares the performances of three exploratory methods for cluster detection in spatial point patterns where the at-risk population is known. After reviewing two existing methods, Openshaw et al. (1987) and Besag and Newell (1991), an alternative method is introduced. These three methods are then compared empirically using two point patterns drawn from a disaggregate housing database consisting of 28,832 observations. Each observation in the data set contains attributes of single-family detached dwellings in the City of Amherst, New York. This paper provides some new insights into the performance of the three methods, as previous applications have used spatially aggregated (and hence rather inaccurate) data. The paper also demonstrates the utility of GIS for this type of spatial analysis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)200-218
Number of pages19
JournalGeographical Analysis
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1996
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Earth-Surface Processes

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