Ethical Spatial Analysis: Addressing Endogenous Bias Through Visual Analytics

Chuan Chen; Peng Luo; Bo Zhao; Shengkai Wang; Yu Feng; Liqiu Meng

doi:10.1007/s41651-025-00243-2

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Journal article

Ethical Spatial Analysis: Addressing Endogenous Bias Through Visual Analytics

Chuan Chen, Peng Luo, Bo Zhao, Shengkai Wang, Yu Feng and Liqiu Meng

Journal of geovisualization and spatial analysis, Vol.10(1), p.4

06/01/2026

DOI: 10.1007/s41651-025-00243-2

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Abstract

Spatial analysis can generate both exogenous and endogenous bia ses, which will lead to ethics issues. Exogenous biases arise from external factors or environments and are unrelated to internal operating mechanisms, while endogenous biases stem from internal processes or technologies. Although much attention has been given to exogenous biases, endogenous biases in spatial analysis have been largely overlooked, and a comprehensive methodology for addressing them is yet to be developed. To tackle this challenge, we propose that visual analytics can play a key role in understanding geographic data and improving the interpretation of analytical results. In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation using various visualization techniques to explore endogenous biases. Our findings demonstrate the potential of visual analytics to uncover hidden biases and identify associated issues. Additionally, we synthesized these visualization strategies into a framework that approximates a method for detecting endogenous biases. We conducted a user study to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. Through this work, we advocate for the integration of visualization at three critical stages of spatial analysis in order to minimize errors, address ethical concerns, and reduce misinterpretations associated with endogenous biases.

Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Geography

Geography, Physical

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Physical Geography

Physical Sciences

Remote Sensing

Science & Technology

Social Sciences

Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Ethical Spatial Analysis: Addressing Endogenous Bias Through Visual Analytics
Creators: Chuan Chen - Technical University of Munich
Peng Luo - Technical University of Munich
Bo Zhao - University of Washington
Shengkai Wang - Technical University of Munich
Yu Feng - Technical University of Munich
Liqiu Meng - Technical University of Munich
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geovisualization and spatial analysis, Vol.10(1), p.4
DOI: 10.1007/s41651-025-00243-2
ISSN: 2509-8810
eISSN: 2509-8829
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 31
Grant note: Technische Universitt Mnchen (1025)
Language: English
Date published: 06/01/2026
Academic Unit: School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability
Record Identifier: 9985219859902771

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