Space models as a tool for sustainability development

Abstract

Space Models are new space geometries that are created to emphasize the particularities of the geo-referenced data analysed. A Space Model integrates groups of regions that present similar behaviour attending to a specific characteristic. Each group represents a cluster aggregating regions that are similar regarding to the analysed characteristic, and regions in different clusters are as dissimilar as possible. This paper proposes the creation of Space Models, through the STICH (Space Models Identification Through Hierarchical Clustering) algorithm, as an alternative approach for data visualization, where the geometry of the maps is created from the data itself. Space Models are new space geometries that are created to emphasize the particularities of the analysed data, and integrate groups of regions that present similar behaviour attending to a specific characteristic. The achieved results are illustrated through a set of examples that are compared with conventional representations, showing that Space Models provide real added-value over conventional approaches, namely by facilitating the identification of peculiarities in the data.