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Proposed Method for Disaggregation of Secondary Data: The Model for External Reliance of Localities in the Coastal Management Zone (MERLIN-CMZ)
Citation:
Buck, K. Proposed Method for Disaggregation of Secondary Data: The Model for External Reliance of Localities in the Coastal Management Zone (MERLIN-CMZ). 2015 Annual Meeting Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers, Pensacola, FL, November 22 - 24, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
Abstract for oral presentation "Methods and Models" Paper Session at the 70th Annual SouthEastern Division Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting
Description:
The Model for External Reliance of Localities In (MERLIN) Coastal Management Zones is a proposed solution to allow scaling of variables to smaller, nested geographies. Utilizing a Principal Components Analysis and data normalization techniques, smaller scale trends are linked to those within larger geographies and scaling factors developed for each. In this paper, the MERLIN model is applied to coastal counties along the Gulf Coast of Florida to create a well-being index at the Census Tract level. The goal is to provide an index at finer geographic levels that allows effectively aligning with management priorities and ensuring a better fit with the spatial extents of ecological data. The results of the scaling method reveal a landscape with more detail that better fits the true variance found in real life and better accounts for the localized patterns of values situated within a larger geographic unit.