Detection of changes in spatial processes has long been of interest to quantitative geographers seeking to test models, validate theories, and anticipate change. Given the current “data‐rich” environment of today, it may be time to reconsider the methodological approaches used for quantifying change in spatial processes. New tools emerging from computer vision research may hold particular potential to make significant advances in quantifying changes in spatial processes. In this article, two comparative indices from computer vision, the structural similarity (SSIM) index, and the complex wavelet structural similarity (CWSSIM) index were examined for their utility in the comparison of real and simulated spatial data sets. Gaussian Markov random fields were simulated and compared with both metrics. A case study into comparison of snow water equivalent spatial patterns over northern Canada was used to explore the properties of these indices on real‐world data. CWSSIM was found to be less sensitive than SSIM to changing window dimension. The CWSSIM appears to have significant potential in characterizing change and/or similarity; distinguishing between map pairs that possess subtle structural differences. Further research is required to explore the utility of these approaches for empirical comparison cases of different forms of landscape change and in comparison to human judgments of spatial pattern differences.

中文翻译：

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探索使用计算机视觉度量标准进行空间模式比较

长期以来，对于寻求测试模型，验证理论并预测变化的定量地理学家来说，检测空间过程中的变化一直很有意义。考虑到当今的当前“数据丰富”环境，可能是时候重新考虑用于量化空间过程变化的方法论了。计算机视觉研究中出现的新工具可能具有在量化空间过程变化方面取得重大进展的特殊潜力。在本文中，我们从计算机视觉中比较了两个比较指标：结构相似性（SSIM）索引和复数小波结构相似性（CWSSIM）索引，以比较它们在真实空间数据集和模拟空间数据集中的效用。模拟了高斯马尔可夫随机场，并与两个指标进行了比较。通过对加拿大北部雪水当量空间格局进行比较的案例研究，探索了这些指数在实际数据中的特性。发现CWSSIM不如SSIM对更改窗口尺寸敏感。CWSSIM在表征变化和/或相似性方面似乎具有巨大潜力；区分具有细微结构差异的地图对。需要进一步研究以探索这些方法在不同形式的景观变化的经验比较案例中以及与人类对空间格局差异的判断相比的实用性。CWSSIM在表征变化和/或相似性方面似乎具有巨大潜力；区分具有细微结构差异的地图对。需要进一步研究以探索这些方法在不同形式的景观变化的经验比较案例中以及与人类对空间格局差异的判断相比的实用性。CWSSIM在表征变化和/或相似性方面似乎具有巨大潜力；区分具有细微结构差异的地图对。需要进一步研究以探索这些方法在不同形式的景观变化的经验比较案例中以及与人类对空间格局差异的判断相比的实用性。