Discovery of population distribution knowledge visually through Lorenz curve and choropleth map

Abstract

This paper proposed a new visual data mining and knowledge discovery method based on Lorenz curve and choropleth map. Lorenz curve is used to discover numeric knowledge through graphic analysis objectively. The break values of classification system are determined adaptively through simplifying the Lorenz curve according to data distribution. Map readers can find and identify spatial distribution pattern on the choropleth maps under influenced by “Gestalt's Law” like continuity and closure imperceptibly. Two case studies are examined in detail in the paper. Data used here are population spatial data at the county level in 2000. Both of them verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the method in discovering spatial distribution knowledge of population and other social-economic variables.