Multivariate techniques in land use studies: The case of information analysis

Alexander I. C. (1972). Multivariate techniques in land use studies: The case of information analysis, Reg. Studies 6, 93-103. This paper discusses an application of a statistical classificatory technique, known as Information Analysis, to land use data from a city's central area. The discussion is preceded by a brief review of the classification process in general, in which the advantages and disadvantages of various statistical procedures are presented. The origin and operation of Information Analysis is then outlined, following which it is shown how the technique can be utilized to gain an objective regionalization of land use data and to identify significant spatial groupings of activities. Although the analysis is seen to have certain disabilities, the apparent validity of the results lead to the conclusion that the technique has important potential as a tool for analysis of urban land use patterns.