Analysis of Sites in a Network
- The converse of quantitative similarity is difference or non-representativeness
- Within the context of an existing network of sites or samples, this can form the basis for a tool which quantifies the degree of representativeness coverage for a particular established network
- A network in this sense consists of a geographic constellation of existing installations, facilities, or locations where samples have been taken
- Quantitative similarity is no longer based on a comparison with some single selected ecoregion, but on comparisons with multiple sites within an established network
- Best place to locate an additional site is the place that is the least well-represented by the network of existing sites
- Instead of a one-to-one centroid comparison, this is a one-to-many centroid comparison in data space