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Evaluating the usefulness of interpolation methods in constructing isopleth maps Cover

Evaluating the usefulness of interpolation methods in constructing isopleth maps

By: Paweł Cebrykow  
Open Access
|May 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Test chart containing six population density maps made using six interpolation methods: (A) kriging, (B) IDW, (C) linear interpolation, (D) minimum curvature, (E) natural neighbour and (F) local polynominal
Source: own study
Test chart containing six population density maps made using six interpolation methods: (A) kriging, (B) IDW, (C) linear interpolation, (D) minimum curvature, (E) natural neighbour and (F) local polynominal Source: own study

Figure 2.

Test chart containing six forest cover maps made using six interpolation methods: (A) kriging, (B) IDW, (C) linear interpolation, (D) minimum curvature, (E) natural neighbour and (F) local polynominal
Source: own study
Test chart containing six forest cover maps made using six interpolation methods: (A) kriging, (B) IDW, (C) linear interpolation, (D) minimum curvature, (E) natural neighbour and (F) local polynominal Source: own study

Figure 3.

Differences in the range of values in maps of population density and forest cover for six interpolation methods compared to source data
Source: own study
Differences in the range of values in maps of population density and forest cover for six interpolation methods compared to source data Source: own study

Figure 4.

Graphical visualization of the survey results. Letters indicate interpolation methods: A – kriging, B – IDW, C – linear interpolation, D – minimum curvature, E – natural neighbour, D – local polynominal. The red line indicates the neutral position
Source: own study
Graphical visualization of the survey results. Letters indicate interpolation methods: A – kriging, B – IDW, C – linear interpolation, D – minimum curvature, E – natural neighbour, D – local polynominal. The red line indicates the neutral position Source: own study

Range of values of statistical plots representing forest cover and population density for six interpolation methods

Data rangeInterpolation method
krigingIDWLinear interpolationMinimum curvatureNatural neighbourLocal polynominal
forest cover [%]−0,6–90.70.01–88.30.05–88,3−20.9–103,80,05–88,3−3,36–91,4
population density [prs./km2]−140,9–4049,74,3–4067,44.3–4055,9−1847.9–4331.24.3–4026.1−148,5–836,3

Statistical volume of maps depending on the interpolation method used compared to the population of Poland

Interpolation method
krigingIDWLinear interpolationMinimum curvatureNatural neighbourLocal polynominal
Volume [= residents]79 950 77958 054 42448 799 86247 098 51148 865 15360 842 675
too much about+42 184 449+20 288 094+11 033 532+9 332 181+11 098 823+23 076 345
Error [%]111, 753,729,224,729,461,1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2025-0014 | Journal eISSN: 2084-6118 | Journal ISSN: 0867-6046
Language: English
Page range: 116 - 123
Submitted on: Oct 30, 2024
Accepted on: Feb 20, 2025
Published on: May 28, 2025
Published by: Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Paweł Cebrykow, published by Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.