Network nearest neighbor distance methods for lines or polygons and development of a tool of the methods

Abstract

The purposes of this paper are: to propose the network nearest neighbor distance methods (N-NNDs) which analyze the distribution of points in relations to lines and polygons on a network; and to develop a GIS-based tool for performing these methods. First, the paper formulates the line N-NND method and the polygon N-NND method. Second, the paper develops computation tools for those methods. Third, the paper implements these computation methods as a GIS-based tool. Last, the paper tests applicability of the proposed methods to actual data analysis using the tool.