Spatial Distribution of Population Density in China

Data description

The map Spatial Distribution of Population Densityreflects the distribution of population density in 2001 in China.

Data introduction

The data of population density is from each county statistic, others are from the public version 1:1000000 data produced by national administration of surveying, mapping and geoinformation.

The data in the datasource is described in detail below.

Dataset name	Dataset types	Data classification	Detailed descriptions
ProvinceCapital_P	Point dataset	Administrative point	Provincial capital
County_P	County level administrative district
HeiHeTengChong_P	Heihe, Tengchong
Border_L	Line Dataset	Administrative line	Border
Province_L	Provincial boundaries
Coastline_L	Coast line
Country_R	Region Dataset	Administrative region	China
County_R	County region
PopDensity_R	Thematic elements	Isoregions extracted
Island_R	Other region elements	Island
Pop	Text dataset	Auxiliary elements	Map name
PopElements	CAD dataset	Auxiliary elements	Legend and other auxiliary elements

Data processing

1. Interpolation analysis

The original data includes the county point data of population density property, this data is interpolated with the population density as the interpolation field. The result of interpolation analysis is obtained from all external rectangles that participate in the interpolation points, but the external rectangles of all county points can’t include the whole range for creating a map, so we need copy the range of county region to generate the rectangular raster data.

2. Ectracting Isoregions

By the function “Extract All Isoregions” in Spatial Analysis > Raster Analysis

Surface Analysis to extract isoregions to the result of interpolation analysis and to smooth the contour. Because of the result is triangle, the extracted isosurface is triangle, it needs to be clippied.

Drawing points

• Making the interpolation analysis to the county point with population density data (recommended the resolution is set to 1500) and extracting isosurface. And then creates range thematic map for the isosurface to directly display the population distribution.
• It is made the difference in population density is more clear that adding provincial boundary and provincial city.
• Heihe-Tengchong Line (Hu Line) is proposed in 1935 by the geologist Hu Huanyong, it roughly distinguishes the disparity of population distribution between the southeast and northwest of china.
• Creating a unique thematic map for regions of China, Setting gray and a certain offset for it, then superimposed on the bottom of the base map which will made the bottom map presents a three-dimensional effect.
• Map name and legend can enhance map performance.

Maps procedure

1. Makinga base map with three-dimensional effect

New map window, adding the regions of China, creating a unique thematic map by SmUserID as an expression.

2. Producing a thematic map for population density range

The isosurface creates a range thematic map with the population density as a expression. Dividing the population density into 13 segments by selecting the method of equidistant segmentation and setting an appropriate color scheme.

3. Add the provincial capitals and mark

Adding the provincial capitals and producing thematic map for them as marks to intuitively display the national population density distribution while increasing the expressiveness of the map.

4. Add other auxiliary elements

(1)Adding Heihe-Tengchong Line (Hu Line), it is proposed in 1935 by the geologist Hu Huanyong, it roughly distinguishes the disparity of population distribution between the southeast and northwest of china.

(2)Adding map name and legend.

Map display