A median in X will either yield a point in the set or the average of the
two points bracketing the (theoretical) median. Same in Y. In 2D the
medians of both will often produce a point that is not in either set,
even in cases where there is not an interpolation going on. Also what
does one do about duplicate coordinates?
In the median there is clearly the concept of "half of the points being
on one side of the median, half on the other side". It's this
"sidedness" in 2D that makes me fret.
Here is an example for which I can't conceive of a great solution:
POINT(1 6),
POINT(0 5),
POINT(0 4),
POINT(2 3),
POINT(2 2),
POINT(2 1),
POINT(1 0)
What is the median of that? Simon, what your propose (medians of x and
y) should I think give POINT(1.5 3) if duplicates are only counted once
and POINT(1 3) if not.
Simon Greener wrote:
What would happen if you calculated the median of the x and y
ordinates instead of the average?
WITH points As
(
SELECT st_collect(column1) as the_geom
FROM (values ('POINT(0 0)'),
('POINT(0 1)'),
('POINT(0 2)'),
('POINT(1 0)')) as foo
)
SELECT astext(st_makepoint(avg(x),avg(y)))
FROM ( SELECT st_x(geom) as x, st_y(geom) as y
FROM (select (ST_Dump(the_geom)).geom as geom from points
as foo) as p
ORDER by st_x(geom) ASC, st_y(geom) ASC
LIMIT (select case when mod(ST_NumGeometries(the_geom),2) =
0 then 1 else 2 end from points)
OFFSET (select case when mod(ST_NumGeometries(the_geom),2) =
0 then ST_NumGeometries(the_geom)/2-1 else
(ST_NumGeometries(the_geom)-1)/2 end from points)
) T;
-- where p=1 and n=N/2-1 when the number of non null rows N is even,
or p=2 and n=(N-1)/2 when N is odd.
"POINT(0 1)"
See
http://scorreiait.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/how-to-compute-a-median-in-sql
S
On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:25:29 +1000, Chris Hermansen
<[email protected]> wrote:
Hmm on further thought I'm not completely clear on the definition of
"median" in two dimensions, either. I found this interesting article on
Google, including a way cool Java app for calculating and graphing:
http://www.tiac.net/~sw/2007/11/2D_median/index.html
[email protected] wrote:
Hi guys,
A bit more difficult, & way out in left field, but if you use PL/R
to create a median function for Postgres, you could build your point
from the median(X) & (Y) values instead of the average.
Where this would actually lie obviously depends on the distribution
of the points. The centroid is most affected by (actually defined
by) outlying points, the avg somewhat less & the median less still.
Of course once you have PL/R to play with, you have much more
flexibility to look at returning statistics from datasets than just
the median.
Cheers,
Brent Wood
--- On Tue, 9/15/09, Kevin Neufeld <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Kevin Neufeld <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [postgis-users] Center of Points Collection
To: "PostGIS Users Discussion" <[email protected]>
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 8:51 AM
Paul Ramsey wrote:
Faster than creating a multipoint is to recognize that
ST_Centroid()
is just going to return the center of the bbox of the
collection
anyways...
Unfortunately, Paul, ST_Centroid returns the center of
mass, not the center of the bbox.
SELECT astext(st_centroid(st_collect(column1))),
FROM (values ('POINT(0 0)'),
('POINT(0 1)'),
('POINT(0 2)'),
('POINT(1 0)')) as foo;
astext
------------------
POINT(0.25 0.75)
(1 row)
Your second post, taking the avg of the x,y does seem to be
the nice approach, and produces the same results as
ST_Centroid - the center of mass.
SELECT astext(st_makepoint(avg(st_x(column1)),
avg(st_y(column1))))
FROM (values ('POINT(0 0)'),
('POINT(0 1)'),
('POINT(0 2)'),
('POINT(1 0)')) as foo;
astext
------------------
POINT(0.25 0.75)
(1 row)
If Dustin is after the center of the collection, then
something along your first suggestion might be more
appropriate.
(taking the center of the extents)
Cheers,
Kevin
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Timberline Natural Resource Group · http://www.timberline.ca
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