Notes on Subdivider MBX.

The aim of the MBX is to subdivide a set of regions into polygons of equal size. There are 5 possibilities that can be selected: Consider a region of 5.4 sq kms. Option 1: 5 regions of 1 sq km and a residual of .4 sq kms. Option 2: 5 regions of 1.08 sq kms Option 3: 6 regions of 0.9 sq kms Option 4: 3 regions of 1.8 sq kms Option 5: Mesh 5x3 of 0.36 sq kms Area units can be selected from Hectares, Sq Kms, Acres or Sq Miles. In addition a multiplier can be applied to the area, such as 40 to acres (the back 40) or 100 for 100 Aker Wood in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Other common names for larger groupings of squares are; Hectad (10Km x 10Km, 100Sq Kms) and Myriad (100Km x 100Km, 10,000 Sq Kms). Using Scandinavia as an example, each full polygon (with a stippled fill) covers 10,000 Sq Kms and the residue is shown with a lightly dotted fill on the Eastern side of each country.

Kielder Mire has been used for the following examples Kielder Mire covers 47.07 Sq Kms: Divided into 47 x 1 Sq Km Polygons + 1 residual area of .07 Sq Km (on the very right)

Subdivided into 48 stripes of .98 sq kms

Subdivided into 48 polygons of .98 sq kms

Subdivided into a 17x9 mesh; each polygon 0.308 sq kms

Divided into 7 equal areas of 6.72 sq kms

Overlaying a 2x1 with a 1x2 Mesh shows where the centroid (centre of area) is of the region

Kielder divided into 11 4SqKm blocks (striped) and a residual block (dotted) of 3.07 SqKm.

The Buttonpad

Use the open folder icon to select the input table and create the output table and to set the options. It displays the dialog shown below.

Use the open folder icon to select the input table and create the output table and to set the options. In the dialog, click the Identify table to subdivide. In the new dialog select either already open table or load a table. If using already open, pick the table and press OK Otherwise pick the table you wish to use. It will be loaded as Readonly. The checkbox will be ticked and the message changed to Set. The Set results table button is now enabled. Use this to set up the output table. By default a default name and path is suggested. It is probably worth adding a sequel such as M5x3 for a 5x3 mesh. The checkbox will be ticked and the message changed to Set. Use the partition radio group to select the type of partition you want. If you select the mesh option the Area Multiple text will change and the two edit areas for the dimensions will show. You need to select one option to activate the Area Units radio group. The checkbox will be ticked and the message changed to Set. Area Units. Pick the units you wish to use. The area units should be relevant to the actual sizes of the objects. A 200sqkm site blocked at 1 hectare will result in 20,000 1km blocks. You need to pick one option to enable the Set check box to be set. If necessary set the area unit multiplier or mesh size. Closure tolerance. By default this is set to .0001 of the selected unmodified area unit. The larger the tolerance, the higher the accumulated error will reduce the area of the final cut.

Combine and block column data option. In options 1 to 4, the site is sliced vertically into portions of the required area. If this box is ticked, then these columns can be combined and split horizontally. The rule is that the width of the combined columns should be less than 1.25 the width of modified area unit, ie 1000m for 1 sqkm, 100m for a hectare etc. Check and confirm selection options. This checks if all the critical options have been set, and then enables the OK button.

If option 1 to 4 has been selected the scissors button will be enabled. Option 5 enables the mesh button. On clicking the appropriate button, the regions will be subdivided. On completion, the cutting button will be disabled and the save button enabled so that the any changes you have made to the output file are saved. The Reset button closes the output file without saving it and displays the original regions table; the file and options button is also enabled.