ClusterSeer analyzes pattern in spatial and spatio-temporal data. These methods analyze study subjects, such as cases and susceptible individuals, as study units described at the individual or group level. Most ClusterSeer data files will be expected in plain text format. Shapefiles and SpaceStatTM sparse ASCII files are used to specify neighbor relationships for some methods.
Study units may have associated spatial information, expressed as point locations or areas. Data on individuals can be fixed to a point location, such as a workplace or residence. Group-level data is often aggregated over a region, a wider spatial area such as a township or county. Data may be represented as an area (a polygon). Data from an area or region may also be assigned to a representative single point (often the region's centroid). See Spatial data formats.
Study units may have associated temporal information. These temporal references can represent either a point in time or an interval of time. For individuals, time point may indicate the date of diagnosis or symptom onset. For groups, time intervals may be used to aggregate study subjects into time-dependent collections of individuals. See Temporal data formats.
Study units may have associated spatial and temporal information. In order to minimize data repetition, several input files may be required. See formats for both spatial and temporal data.
Note: ClusterSeer does not take data in the form of grids, rasters, or images.