MAUP – Modifiable Areal Unit Problem

What Is the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP)?

The modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) is a statistical bias that occurs when you aggregate point data.

There are two types of biases for the MAUP:

• Scale effect
• Zonal effect

Let’s dive into some examples of how the modifiable areal unit problem works.

Scale Effect

The scale effect occurs when maps show different analytical results at different levels of aggregation. Despite using the same points, each successive smaller unit consequently changes the pattern.

The scale effect can yield different results based on the size of the boundary. As you move from higher to lower aggregation levels yields different results, each level of aggregation paints a different picture

Zonal Effect

The zonal effect occurs when you group data by various artificial boundaries. In this type of MAUP error, each subsequent boundary yields major analytical differences.

For example, here are points aggregated at a county level. But when you aggregate at a state level, it produces different visible results.

Gerrymandering and Redistricting

The zonal effect can occur by accident or on purpose. For example, this can occur when a political party wants to favor an election by

Gerrymandering – Manipulation of electoral districts for political gain.
Redistricting – Changing the boundary lines for electoral districts.

For example, you can manipulate any of the political boundaries below to favor either blue or red.

Conclusion

The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) occurs by aggregating data and representing it with bias at different scales or boundary extents.

Despite being essentially an unsolvable issue, you can help map readers by:

• Stating the scale of aggregation.
• Representing it at multiple scales simultaneously.

As described in the book “How To Lie With Maps”, mapmakers – consciously or unconsciously – can present only one of many possible stories about the places it depicts.