Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Focusing on feature-based differences in map comparison

  • Original article
  • Published:
Journal of Geographical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Differences between two maps can be quantified using any cartometric summary; of these, feature-based statistics are potentially more relevant than pixel-based statistics. Distributions of feature areas and shape indices from the workshop maps were compared using a classic information theory index. To place differences in a significance context, uncertainty about cartometrics that arise from both the form of data model and mapping function are considered. Data model characteristics such as raster cell size, raster origin and attribute membership functions can generate variation without the existence of feature differences in the actual surfaces. Stochastic simulation can represent uncertainty due to the mapping function. An understanding of the end-to-end map generation process, absent in the workshop example, can help build a description of its space of uncertainty so that cartometric quantities can be meaningfully compared.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bak P, Tang C, Wiesenfeld K (1987) Self-organized criticality: an explanation of the 1/f noise. Phys Rev Lett 59:381–384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burrough PA (1992) Are GIS data structures too simple minded? Comput Geosci 18:395–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cova TJ, Goodchild MF (2002) Extending geographical representation to include fields of spatial objects. Int J Geogr Inform Sci 16:509–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cover TM, Thomas JA (1991) Elements of information theory. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch CV (2002) Geostatistical reservoir modeling. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch C, Journel AG (1998) GSLIB: geostatistical software library and user’s guide. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dungan J (2001) Scaling up and scaling down: the relevance of the support effect on remote sensing of vegetation. In: Tate N, Atkinson P (eds) Modelling scale in geographical information science. Wiley, New York, pp 221–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehlschlaeger CR (2000) Representing uncertainty of area class maps with a correlated inter-map cell swapping heuristic. Comput Environ Urban Syst 24:451–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner RH, Milne BT, Turner MG, O’Neill RV (1987) Neutral models for the analysis of broad-scale landscape pattern. Landsc Ecol 1:19–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodchild MF (1980) Fractals and the accuracy of geographical measures. Math Geol 12:85–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodchild M (1987) A spatial analytical perspective on geographical information systems. Int J Geogr Inform Syst 1:327–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goovaerts P (1997) Geostatistics for natural resources evaluation. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Herold M, Goldstein N, Clarke KC (2003) The spatio-temporal form of urban growth: measurement, analysis and modeling. Remote Sens Environ 86:286–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hlavka CA, Dungan JL (2002) Areal estimates of fragmented land cover—effects of pixel size and model-based corrections. Int J Remote Sens 23:711–721

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquez GM (1995) The map comparison problem: tests for the overlap of geographic boundaries. Stat Med 14:2343–2361

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Journel AG (1996) Modeling uncertainty and spatial dependence: Stochastic imaging. Int J Geogr Inform Syst 10:517–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keitt TH (2000) Spectral representation of neutral landscapes. Landsc Ecol 15:479–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacEachren AM (1985) Compactness of geographic shape: comparison and evaluation of measures. Geogr Ann 67B:53–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Malamud BD (1998) Forest fires: an example of self-organized critical behavior. Science 281:1840–1842

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maling DH (1989) Measurement from maps: principles and methods of cartometry. Pergamon Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Runs H, Egenhofer M (1996) Similarity of spatial scenes. In: Molenaar M, Kraak M-J (eds) Proceedings of the seventh international symposium on spatial data handling. Taylor & Francis, London, pp 31–42

  • Samal A, Seth S, Cueto K (2004) A feature-based approach to conflation of geospatial sources. Int J Geogr Inform Sci 18:459–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shortridge AM (2004) Geometric variability of raster cell class assignment. Int J Geogr Inform Sci 18:539–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanidis A, Agouris P, Bertolotto M, Carswell JD (2002) Scale- and orientation-invariant scene similarity metrics for image queries. Int J Geogr Inform Sci 16:749–772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tholey N, Clandillon S, Fraipont PD (1997) The contribution of spaceborne SAR and optical data in monitoring flood events: examples in northern and southern France. Hydrol Processes 11:1409–1413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner MG, Gardner RH, O’Neill RV (2001) Landscape ecology in theory and practice. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhan Q (2005) Quality assessment for geo-spatial objects derived from high-resolution airborne imagery and laser data. Int J Remote Sens 26:2953–2974

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MS 242-4 NASA Ames Research Center, NASA, Moffett Field, CA, 94035-1000, USA

    Jennifer L. Dungan

Authors
  1. Jennifer L. Dungan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer L. Dungan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dungan, J.L. Focusing on feature-based differences in map comparison. J Geograph Syst 8, 131–143 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10109-006-0019-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10109-006-0019-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation