Chapter 2: Data information and organization

The accuracy of the results and analysis depends on the quality of the data and the information used. The analysis of cities and communities considered various characteristics of the population centers (e.g., climate zone, existence of bodies of water, and population size), grouping factors, and other sources of data information. A codification system was developed to facilitate data organization and analyze similarities among population centers of similar characteristics. The codification center reflected similarities in climate, population size, and the presence of bodies of water. The chapter also includes a brief discussion on the procedures implemented to avoid bias in the selection of population centers and the considerations in the scope and dimensions of the analysis.