An interactive mapping system incorporating data reliability information

Abstract

Data quality should be considered in compiling maps in order to reveal reliable information about the spatial variation of a phenomenon. However, creating classes in a choropleth map by maximizing data reliability (i.e. the statistical differences of observed values between classes) often lead to useless maps with very uneven number of observations in different classes. An interactive mapping system is developed to allow users to adjust class breaks so that the resultant maps are relatively reliable and more effective in spatial pattern detection.