Jenks' natural breaks data classification method identifies natural breaks within the data set. Typically these natural breaks are ideal beginnings and endings for data classes, but finding the natural breaks and defining each natural break class can be difficult and time consuming. The Jenks' natural breaks data classification method makes data classification based on natural breaks quick and easy.
MapViewer uses the Fisher-Jenks algorithm to calculate the ideal natural breaks in the data. The algorithm is based on Fisher's statement that any optimal classification of data consists of the sum of optimal classes of subsets of the data.
To learn more about Jenks' natural breaks data classification method, please refer to Slocum, Terry A. Thematic Cartography and Visualization. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1999.
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