Estimating the count of completeness errors in geographic data sets by means of a generalized Waring regression model

Abstract

In this article, we propose a statistical model for estimating the probable number of completeness errors (omissions plus commissions) in a cell (a map tile or cluster) of a data set to guide updating or improvement efforts. The number of completeness errors is a count data variable related to some exogenous covariates that may also be known for each cell (e.g. count of features, rural or urban typology, etc.) and to other unknown variation sources. We propose and adjust a generalized Waring regression model for counting these errors in cells of 1 × 1 km2 on the Topographic Map of Andalusia (Spain). This model is compared with the Poisson regression model and the negative binomial regression model and performs better. The empirical relationship established by the model indicates that the number of completeness errors is related to the following exogenous covariates: the number of cartographic features of the data set, the fact that the cell covers a littoral or urban zone and the spatial division of the contracted suppliers. For cells having less than 5 errors, most of the variability corresponds to unknown external factors (liability), but when the number of errors rises, the greater part of the variability is due to unknown internal characteristics of each cell (proneness). With these estimations, the producer can derivate statistical summaries and spatial representations and develop better planning of production activities such as actualization.