Automatic parameter tuning for functional regionalization methods (original) (raw)
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Environment and Planning A, 2015
The paper addresses the issue of the constraint function and its use in methods of regional taxonomy and assessment of regional systems. It proposes an alternative definition for the constraint function for rule-based methods of functional regionalisation, such as the delineation of local labour-market areas, including alternative conceptions of the self-containment of the regions, and the trade-off between size and self-containment. An alternative constraint function has been applied in the territory of the Czech Republic as shown in the paper's illustrative example of its use from the original CURDS algorithm.
Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy
Labour market areas and other functional regions (FRs) are increasingly used within research and policy, but how FRs are best defined is an unresolved issue. This is important because the policy impacts, or the research results, will differ depending on the specific FR boundaries used. As a result of this sensitivity (termed the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem), quantitative metrics are needed so that differing sets of FR boundaries can be evaluated. To meet this need the paper firstly reviews the concept and use of labour market areas – the form of FRs most widely used in policy – to identify relevant criteria for evaluating any regionalisation comprising a set of FRs. Next a range of potential measurable indicators for each of the criteria is defined. These candidate indicators are then exemplified by applying them to a huge number of alternative sets of FRs. From this empirical evidence a short-list of preferred indicators is identified, creating a statistical ‘toolbox’ for evaluat...
An Evolutive Approach for the Delineation of Local Labour Markets
2006
This paper presents a new approach to the delineation of local labour markets based on evolutionary computation. The main objective is the regionalisation of a given territory into functional regions based on commuting flows. According to the relevant literature, such regions are defined so that (a) their boundaries are rarely crossed in daily journeys to work, and (b) a high degree of intra-area movement exists. This proposal merges municipalities into functional regions by maximizing a fitness function that measures aggregate intra-region interaction under constraints of inter-region separation and minimum size. Real results are presented based on the latest database from the Census of Population in the Region of Valencia. Comparison between the results obtained through the official method which currently is most widely used (that of British Travel-to-Work Areas) and those from our approach is also presented, showing important improvements in terms of both the number of different market areas identified that meet the statistical criteria and the degree of aggregate intra-market interaction.
Optimization Letters, 2015
In several economical, statistical and geographical applications, a territory must be subdivided into functional regions. Such regions are not fixed and politically delimited, but should be identified by analyzing the interactions among all its constituent localities. This is a very delicate and important task, that often turns out to be computationally difficult. In this work we propose an innovative approach to this problem based on the solution of minimum cut problems over an undirected graph called here transitions graph. The proposed procedure guarantees that the obtained regions satisfy all the statistical conditions required when considering this type of problems. Results on real-world instances show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Measuring Regional Specialisation
2017
The book was prepared as a part of works in scientific project financed by Polish National Center of Science (www.ncn.gov.pl) titled "Statistical models in identification of regional specialization, including the component of spatial heterogeneity" (call OPUS 6, contract no UMO-2013/11/B/HS4/01098). This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Tourism and Regional Development, 2017
The paper deals with the topic of functional regionalization and demonstrates some of the possible delimitation methodologies on the basis of commuting to work dataset provided by the 2011 census in Hungary. The main objective of the study is to compare the results of the different methods on the basis of the resulted territorial divisions, their centres and hinterlands. The method of local labour systems (LLS), the method of labour market areas (LMA)-called as EURO method-and the CURDS measure are introduced, applied and compared. The results of the calculations clearly demonstrate the different characters of the methods. The results of the LLS method are characterized by major disparities with an extremely extended Budapest LLS district. The EURO method results in a less extending central region around Budapest, however, the CURDS measure causes the most moderate inequalities among the functional regions with the smallest number of units. The differing character of the methods can be discovered in the centres as well. LLS centres indicate the polarizing character of the method preferring the largest centres, at the same time it gives possibility to the smaller centres to be delimited. The centres of the EURO method appear with the largest frequency and it gives the possibility that those centres are located in the surroundings of dominant centres. The CURDS measure is the 'strictest' one from this respect. The comparative results drew the attention to the differing character of centres in each part of Hungary.
An evolutionary approach to the delineation of functional areas based on travel-to-work flows
International Journal of Automation and Computing, 2008
This paper presents a new approach to the delineation of local labor markets based on evolutionary computation. The aim of the exercise is the division of a given territory into functional regions based on travel-to-work flows. Such regions are defined so that a high degree of inter-regional separation and of intra-regional integration in both cases in terms of commuting flows is guaranteed. Additional requirements include the absence of overlapping between delineated regions and the exhaustive coverage of the whole territory. The procedure is based on the maximization of a fitness function that measures aggregate intra-region interaction under constraints of inter-region separation and minimum size. In the experimentation stage two variations of the fitness function are used, and the process is also applied as a final stage for the optimization of the results from one of the most successful existing methods, that used by the British authorities for the delineation of Travel-to-Work Areas (TTWAs). The empirical exercise is conducted using real data for a sufficiently large territory which is considered to be representative given the density and variety of travel -to-work patters that it embraces. The paper includes the quantitative comparison with alternative traditional methods, the assessment of the performance of the set of operators which has been specifically designed to handle the regionalization problem, and the evaluation of the conver gence process. The robustness of the solutions, something crucial in a research and policy-making context, is also discussed in the paper.
2016
Due to confidentiality considerations, the microdata available from the 2011 Spanish Census have been codified at a provincial (NUTS 3) level except when the municipal (LAU 2) population exceeds 20,000 inhabitants (a requirement that is met by less than 5% of all municipalities). For the remainder of the municipalities within a given province, information is only provided for their classification in wide population intervals. These limitations, hampering territorially-focused socio-economic analyses, and more specifically, those related to the labour market, are observed in many other countries. This article proposes and demonstrates an automatic procedure aimed at delineating a set of areas that meet such population requirements and that may be used to re-codify the geographic reference in these cases, thereby increasing the territorial detail at which individual information is available. The method aggregates municipalities into clusters based on the optimisation of a relevant objective function subject to a number of statistical constraints, and is implemented using evolutionary computation techniques. Clusters are defined to fit outer boundaries at the level of labour market areas.
Comprehensive Study of Regionalism: Tools for Comparison and Evaluation
2008
E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y 1 I n t r o d u c t i o n 3 Project Overview 5 Defining Regionalism 7 Existing Literature and Research on Regionalism 9 Development of a Decision Model 15 Identifying Key Community Leadership and Partnership Assets for Success: Economic Development 23 C a s e S t u d i e s 2 5 L e s s o n s L e a r n e d 2 7 S u m m a r y 3 1 R e f e r e n c e s 3 3 Appendices A. BEA Regions Summary Map and BEA Region Definitions (Region name followed by component counties) 37 B. NAICS definitions used in the model 65 C. Regional Dynamics (REDYN) Economic and Demographic Model 71 D. Outline of On-line Survey of EDA Staff 73 E. Narrative Reports of the EDA Site Visits 75