Preserving Spatial Patterns in Point Data: A Generalization Approach Using Agent-Based Modeling

Abstract

Visualization and interpretation of user-generated spatial content such as Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) is challenging because it combines enormous data volume and heterogeneity with a spatial bias. When dealing with point data on a map, these characteristics can lead to point clutter, reducing the readability of the map product and misleading users to false interpretations of patterns in the data, e.g., regarding specific clusters or extreme values. With this work, we provide a framework that is able to generalize point data, preserving spatial clusters and extreme values simultaneously. The framework consists of an agent-based generalization model using predefined constraints and measures. We present the architecture of the model and compare the results with methods focusing on extreme value preservation as well as clutter reduction. As a result, we can state that our agent-based model is able to preserve elementary characteristics of point datasets, such as the point density of clusters, while also retaining the existing extreme values in the data.