The Role of Attribute Selection in GIS Representations of the Biophysical Environment

This article questions the arbitrary selection of input attributes for the definition of landform classes and other fiat objects that are used to represent the biophysical environment in geographic information science. It suggests that attribute selection influences the characterization of both geographic and attribute space in these applications. Hence digital elevation model-based fuzzy c-means landform classification relies on sensible selection of terrain attributes to generate fuzzy landform classes (memberships) with biophysical meanings. A case study employed several sets of sensitivity tests and evaluated how selections of terrain attributes may affect the outputs of fuzzy c-means landform classifications. The results showed an average classification difference of 37 percent when different numbers of attributes are used and 18 percent when similar terrain attributes are swapped. Effects of attribute selection also show obvious dependence on spatial resolution and number of classes. These results indicate that the current approach of selecting terrain attributes (not only for landform classifications but also for other applications) according to tacit expert knowledge needs to be better justified. Because the fuzzy c-means classification method is essentially data-driven, the adoption of an exploratory approach as a part of this method is crucial. Such an approach may help to identify membership distributions (and corresponding classifications) that summarize the correspondence between landforms and specific biophysical patterns

Cartography · Data mining · Fuzzy logic · Geography · Landform · Machine learning · Selection (genetic algorithm) · Terrain · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Data Management and Algorithms · Geographic Information Systems Studies · Soil Geostatistics and Mapping

• Urban green infrastructure in Europe

  Open Access•CLIVE DAVIES, Raffale Lafortezza et al.•Land Use Policy•2017

  Incluir item

• Digital terrain modelling

  Open Access•Ian D Moore, Rodger B Grayson et al.•Hydrological Processes•1991

  Incluir item

• A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology / Un modèle à base physique de zone d'appel variable de l'hydrologie du bassin versant

  Keith Beven, K J BEVEN et al.•Hydrological Sciences Bulletin•1979

  Incluir item

• Fuzzy sets

  Open Access•L A Zadeh•Information and Control•1965

  Incluir item

• Geographical information systems and the problem of 'error and uncertainty

  Open Access•David Unwin, David J Unwin•Progress in Human Geography•1995

  Incluir item

• Analysis of Properties in Land Form Geography

  Edwin H Hammond•Annals of the Association of…•1964

  Incluir item

• Geographic Objects with Indeterminate Boundaries

  Geoffrey Mcnicoll, Peter A Burrough et al.•Population and Development Review•1997

  Incluir item