Original Articles

Spatial Clustering Method Based on General Multidimensional Cloud Model

Expand
  • 1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China;
    2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    3. School of Resources and Environment Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China;
    4. Institute of Policy and Management, CAS, Beijing 100190, China;
    5. Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Natural and Social Sciences, CAS, Beijing 100190, China

Received date: 2009-01-09

  Revised date: 2009-09-05

  Online published: 2009-12-25

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40971102; No.40871179; The CAS Special Grant for Postgraduate Research, Innovation and Practice

Abstract

Traditional spatial clustering methods can not avoid the disadvantage of "hardware division", and can not describe the physical characteristics of spatial entity effectively. One-dimensional cloud model can not accurately reflect multi-attribute characteristics of the real-world. Besides, essential information of spatial objects might be lost during procedure of simple fusion. Standard two-dimensional cloud model overcomes some shortcomings of one-dimensional cloud, but it still can not meet the needs of simulating the non-homogeneous and non-symmetry characteristics of complex geographical phenomena. In view of the above, this paper sets forth a general multi-dimensional cloud model, which describes the characteristics of spatial objects more reasonably. Based on the empirical research, a detailed interpretation of clustering results is made from the spatial distribution of membership degree of clustering, the comparative study of Fuzzy C-means and a coupled analysis of residential land prices. It is found that general multi-dimensional cloud model can reflect the integrated characteristics of spatial objects better, reveal the spatial distribution of potential information, and realize spatial division more accurately in complex circumstances. However, due to the complexity of spatial interactions among geographical entities, the construction of cloud model is a specific and challenging task.

Cite this article

DENG Hu-1, 2, Liu-Cheng-He-1, Zhang-Wen-Ting-3, Wang-Li-2, 4, 5, Wang-Jiang-Gao-1, 2 . Spatial Clustering Method Based on General Multidimensional Cloud Model[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2009 , 64(12) : 1439 -1447 . DOI: 10.11821/xb200912004

Outlines

/