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Clustering of small territories based on axes of inequality

Perafita X, Saez M

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022; 19:3359. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063359 

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Abstract

Background

In the present paper, we conduct a study before creating an e-cohort for the design of the sample. This e-cohort had to enable the effective representation of the province of Girona to facilitate its study according to the axes of inequality.

Methods

The territory under study is divided by municipalities, considering these different axes. The study consists of a comparison of 14 clustering algorithms, together with 3 data sets of municipal information, to detect the grouping that was the most consistent.

Prior to carrying out the clustering, a variable selection process was performed to discard those that were not useful. The comparison was carried out following two axes: results and graphical representation.

Results

The intra-cluster results were also analyzed to observe the coherence of the grouping. Finally, we study the probability of belonging to a cluster, such as the one containing the county capital.

Conclusions

This clustering can be the basis for working with a sample that is significant and representative of the territory.

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