Classification in geographical information systems

Abstract

The paper deals with the problem of knowledge discovery in spatial databases. In particular, we explore the application of decision tree learning methods to the classification of spatial datasets. Spatial datasets, according to the Geographic Information System approach, are represented as stack of layers, where each layer is associated with an attribute. We propose an ID3-like algorithm based on an entropy measure, weighted on a specific spatial relation (i.e. overlap). We describe an application of the algorithm to the classification of geographical areas for agricultural purposes. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.