Nearest Neighbour analysis

• Nearest neighbour can be used to compare distribution patterns and their change over time 
• Nearest neighbour measures according to whether they are clustered, random, or regular.
• The nearest-neighbour formula will produce a result between 0 and 2.15.
• Nearest neighbour analysis allows patterns that have been visually observed or mapped to be objectively measured 
• Nearest neighbour analysis allows one area to be quantitively compared to another 
• Calculating one overall index for an area may hide patterns within the area when doing a Nearest neighbour analysis.
• The size of the area can affect the result when doing a Nearest neighbour analysis, for example, what may appear clustered in a small area may become random if a larger area is considered 
• Area boundaries are often subjective when doing a Nearest neighbour analysis
• During the nearest neighbour analysis, when comparing two areas, this analysis is not very precise where there is more than one cluster. 
• In a nearest neighbour analysis, no account is taken for the influence of the physical landscape on the location of features, which can distort the result.