A Constrained Cluster Analysis with Homogeneity of External Criterion

Constrained cluster analysis is a semi-supervised approach of clustering where some additional information about the clusters is incorporated as constraints. For example, sometimes, we need to consider the constraint of homogeneity among all obtained clusters. This paper presents an algorithm for constrained cluster analysis with homogeneity of clusters and shows a practical application of the algorithm in formulating survey blocks in official statistics such as the Economic Census, which reveals the effectiveness of the algorithm. In this application, travel distance is utilized considering the property of homogeneity of this clustering.