Assessing the Spatial Clustering of Right of Way Permits in Davidson County, Tennessee

Keywords: Clustering, GIS
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the clustering tendency of right of way permits in Davidson County, Tennessee. Indicators of development, like right of way permits, provide quantifiable data to explain the distribution of public improvement activities. Clustering of development activities are representations of urban development patterns that are otherwise difficult to describe. An R Shiny app was developed in this study to achieve quantifiable and repeatable results for the further exploration of these complex issues.


Right of way permit locations were compared to the spatial distribution of addresses across the county. Road intersections were used as a proxy for addresses and served as the control data set. Using this proxy removed the possibility for clustering behaviors to be explained away by address distribution. Ripley's K functions were used to explain clustering patterns for both the control group (road intersections) as well as the data set of interest (right of way permits). The difference of these two K functions can be used to explain the significance of clustering patterns of permits and their corresponding activities. This study found that Sidewalk, Excavation, Lane Closure, and Trailer/Dumpster permits exhibited significant differences in clustering from addresses. These permit types exhibit uneven distributions relative to those of the control data set and are good candidates for further study.