Grouping Municipalities by Similarities and Impact Levels: a Cluster analysis

In many studies that will be conducted by the Brumadinho UFMG Project, the researchers indicate that their projects will carry out a Cluster analysis. What does that mean?

Posted on 22/01/2021

The word Cluster is a noun that comes from English and can be translated by a group of things or similar characteristics; group; a group of cases; a subgroup. This term can be found in several fields of science, for example, in chemistry, to refer to an aggregate of atoms that have the same type of element; in genetics, when talking about groups of genetic codes; in astronomy, to refer to a cluster of galaxies; in computer technology, in which the term Cluster means a cluster that allows more than one computer to work together to accomplish a task.

In statistical science, Cluster analysis is a multivariate analysis technique, that is, an analysis that incorporates three or more variables (sex, age, education, income, city size, occupation, etc.). Through this analysis, the researchers observe what are the common, similar variables that make it possible to form certain groups. For example, access to basic sanitation when looking at the size of the city, education, color / race and people's income. For a group to be formed, there must be as many similarities between the variables in that group and also as many differences as possible in relation to the other groups.

And what is this type of grouping for? A Cluster analysis can, for example, assist in medical studies to identify a set of cases and groups of people (young, old, children, obese, sedentary) who are most affected by certain diseases, such as Covid-19, diabetes, heart disease, among others. This identification helps to indicate the causes of diseases, the forms of treatments and even prevention.

We will exemplify this type of analysis with Subproject 47 of the Brumadinho UFMG Project. This project is coordinated by Professor Frederico Jayme Gonzaga Jr. The main objective of the study is to identify the impact of the disaster of the rupture of the Córrego do Feijão mine on the collection, on the fiscal and financial situation of the affected municipalities.

In order to study the impact on the collection and on the fiscal and financial situation of the municipalities since the disaster, Subproject 47 will make an analysis that will group the cities directly affected and make a comparison between them (by population size, economic activities, levels and types of fiscal and financial impact, etc.). Thus, it will be possible to draw a comparative panorama between municipalities, grouping them by similarities and differences in fiscal and financial conditions.

To find out more about this study, check out the video of Subproject 47 coordinator and follow the news about the research activities on our website