Inferring Spatial Scale Change in an Isopleth Map

Abstract

This study reunites areal interpolation with the isopleth mapping process to construct an inferred larger scale isopleth map. Intelligent areal interpolation is used to construct two types of population density surfaces that are used as inputs for pycnophylactic interpolation of an isopleth surface. One is a target zone population density surface (TZPDS) and the other is a control zone population density surface (CZPDS). Results suggest that an inferred isopleth map with remote sensing control data is a better surface depiction than an isopleth map without any control data, and the quality of such an isopleth map is further improved by enhancing the remote sensing data with residential parcel information. A CZPDS-derived intelligent isopleth map also has more peaks and variations in population distribution patterns than does a TZPDS-derived one due to the larger scale of the control data.

Keywords:

• isopleth map
• areal interpolation
• dasymetric map
• choropleth map
• remote sensing

Additional information

Notes on contributors

J. Lin

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Jie Lin is a research fellow at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Science. He holds a PhD from the University of Connecticut.