Datasets

The kdiagram.datasets module provides convenient functions to access sample datasets included with the package (like the Zhongshan subsidence data) and to generate various synthetic datasets on the fly.

These datasets are invaluable for:

• Running examples provided in the documentation and gallery.

• Testing k-diagram’s plotting functions with predictable data structures.

• Exploring different scenarios of uncertainty, drift, or model comparison.

Most functions allow you to retrieve data either as a standard pandas.DataFrame or as a Bunch object (using the as_frame parameter). The Bunch object conveniently packages the DataFrame along with metadata like feature/target names, relevant column lists, and a description of the dataset’s origin or generation parameters.

Function Summary

Dataset Loading and Generation Functions

Function	Description
load_uncertainty_data()	Generates synthetic multi-period quantile data with trends, noise, and anomalies. Ideal for drift/consistency plots.
load_zhongshan_subsidence()	Loads the included Zhongshan subsidence prediction sample dataset.
make_taylor_data()	Generates a reference series and multiple prediction series with controlled correlation/standard deviation for Taylor Diagrams.
make_multi_model_quantile_data()	Generates quantile predictions from multiple simulated models for a single time period. Useful for model comparison plots.
make_cyclical_data()	Generates data with true and predicted series exhibiting cyclical/seasonal patterns.
make_fingerprint_data()	Generates a synthetic feature importance matrix for feature fingerprint (radar) plots.

---

Usage Examples

Below are examples demonstrating how to use each function.

Loading Synthetic Uncertainty Data

Generates multi-period quantile data, returned as a Bunch object by default.

from kdiagram.datasets import load_uncertainty_data

# Generate as Bunch (default)
data_bunch = load_uncertainty_data(
    n_samples=10, n_periods=2, seed=1, prefix="flow"
    )

print("--- Bunch Object ---")
print(f"Keys: {list(data_bunch.keys())}")
print(f"Description:\n{data_bunch.DESCR[:200]}...") # Print start of DESCR
print("\nDataFrame Head:")
print(data_bunch.frame.head(3))
print("\nQ10 Columns:")
print(data_bunch.q10_cols)

Example Output (Structure)

--- Bunch Object ---
Keys: ['frame', 'feature_names', 'target_names', 'target', 'quantile_cols', 'q10_cols', 'q50_cols', 'q90_cols', 'n_periods', 'prefix', 'start_year', 'DESCR']
Description:
Synthetic Multi-Period Uncertainty Dataset for k-diagram

**Description:**
Generates synthetic data simulating quantile forecasts (Q10,
Q50, Q90) for 'flow' over 2 periods starting
from 2022 across 10 samples/lo...

DataFrame Head:
   location_id  longitude   latitude   elevation  flow_actual  ...
0            0 -116.8388    35.094262  366.807627    16.816179  ...
1            1 -117.8696    34.045590  247.216119     9.508103  ...
2            2 -119.749534  35.488999  353.628218     5.439137  ...

Q10 Columns:
['flow_2022_q0.1', 'flow_2023_q0.1']

Loading Zhongshan Subsidence Data

Loads the packaged sample dataset. This example loads it as a DataFrame and selects only data for specific years and quantiles.

from kdiagram.datasets import load_zhongshan_subsidence
import warnings

# Suppress potential download warnings if data exists locally
warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message=".*already exists.*")

# Load as DataFrame, subsetting years and quantiles
try:
    df_zhongshan_subset = load_zhongshan_subsidence(
        as_frame=True,
        years=[2023, 2025],
        quantiles=[0.1, 0.9],
        include_target=False, # Exclude 'subsidence_YYYY' cols
        download_if_missing=True # Allow download if not packaged/cached
    )
    print("Loaded Zhongshan Subset DataFrame:")
    print(df_zhongshan_subset.head(3))
    print("\nColumns:")
    print(df_zhongshan_subset.columns)

except FileNotFoundError as e:
    print(f"Error loading Zhongshan data: {e}")
    print("Ensure the package data was installed correctly or "
          "download is enabled/possible.")
except Exception as e:
     print(f"An unexpected error occurred: {e}")

Example Output (Structure, assuming load successful)

Loaded Zhongshan Subset DataFrame:
     longitude   latitude  subsidence_2023_q0.1  subsidence_2023_q0.9  subsidence_2025_q0.1  subsidence_2025_q0.9
0   113.237984  22.494591              ...              ...              ...              ...
1   113.220802  22.513592              ...              ...              ...              ...
2   113.225632  22.530231              ...              ...              ...              ...

Columns:
Index(['longitude', 'latitude', 'subsidence_2023_q0.1',
       'subsidence_2023_q0.9', 'subsidence_2025_q0.1',
       'subsidence_2025_q0.9'], dtype='object')

Generating Taylor Diagram Data

Uses make_taylor_data() to generate a reference series and multiple prediction series suitable for Taylor diagrams. Returns a Bunch containing arrays and calculated stats.

from kdiagram.datasets import make_taylor_data

taylor_data = make_taylor_data(n_models=2, n_samples=50, seed=101)

print("--- Taylor Data Bunch ---")
print(f"Reference shape: {taylor_data.reference.shape}")
print(f"Number of prediction series: {len(taylor_data.predictions)}")
print(f"Prediction shapes: {[p.shape for p in taylor_data.predictions]}")
print("\nCalculated Stats:")
print(taylor_data.stats)
print(f"\nActual Reference Std Dev: {taylor_data.ref_std:.4f}")

Example Output

--- Taylor Data Bunch ---
Reference shape: (50,)
Number of prediction series: 2
Prediction shapes: [(50,), (50,)]

Calculated Stats:
           stddev  corrcoef
Model_A  0.729855  0.835114
Model_B  1.029889  0.508220

Actual Reference Std Dev: 0.9404

Generating Multi-Model Quantile Data

Uses make_multi_model_quantile_data() to simulate quantile predictions from different models for the same target variable.

from kdiagram.datasets import make_multi_model_quantile_data

# Get as DataFrame
df_multi_model = make_multi_model_quantile_data(
    n_samples=5, n_models=2, seed=5, as_frame=True,
    quantiles=[0.1, 0.5, 0.9]
)

print("--- Multi-Model Quantile DataFrame ---")
print(df_multi_model)

Example Output

--- Multi-Model Quantile DataFrame ---
   y_true  feature_1  feature_2  pred_Model_A_q0.1  pred_Model_A_q0.5  pred_Model_A_q0.9  pred_Model_B_q0.1  pred_Model_B_q0.5  pred_Model_B_q0.9
0  50.853502   0.533165   5.108194          43.514661          49.740457          54.158097          36.189075          46.430960          58.077600
1  46.300911   0.639037   1.962088          41.607881          45.545123          51.889254          35.546803          41.932122          51.628643
2  44.874897   0.138801   5.689870          42.241030          44.652911          49.972431          37.209904          42.587300          50.182159
3  52.396877   0.948104   2.990119          45.163347          52.437158          57.719859          45.359873          54.715327          60.382700
4  53.938741   0.776598   5.808982          43.275494          53.397751          61.104506          39.947971          52.309521          63.340564

Generating Cyclical Data

Uses make_cyclical_data() to create time series with seasonal or cyclical patterns, useful for visualizing relationships where angle represents phase.

from kdiagram.datasets import make_cyclical_data

# Get as Bunch
cycle_bunch = make_cyclical_data(
    n_samples=12, n_series=1, cycle_period=12, seed=5,
    amplitude_true=5, offset_true=10
)

print("--- Cyclical Data Bunch ---")
print(f"Frame shape: {cycle_bunch.frame.shape}")
print(f"Series names: {cycle_bunch.series_names}")
print(cycle_bunch.frame[['time_step', 'y_true', 'model_A']].head())

Example Output

--- Cyclical Data Bunch ---
Frame shape: (12, 3)
Series names: ['model_A']
   time_step     y_true    model_A
0          0   9.830655   9.801473
1          1  14.369168  14.775036
2          2  14.989960  15.554347
3          3   9.668771  10.262745
4          4   4.783064   5.812793

Generating Fingerprint Data

Uses make_fingerprint_data() to generate a matrix of feature importances across multiple layers, suitable for plot_feature_fingerprint().

from kdiagram.datasets import make_fingerprint_data

# Get as DataFrame
fp_df = make_fingerprint_data(
    n_layers=3, n_features=5, seed=303, as_frame=True,
    sparsity=0.2, add_structure=True
)

print("--- Fingerprint Data Frame ---")
print(fp_df)

Example Output

--- Fingerprint Data Frame ---
           Feature_1  Feature_2  Feature_3  Feature_4  Feature_5
Layer_A     0.941006   0.000000   0.000000   0.000000   0.000000
Layer_B     0.130220   0.870414   0.456472   0.769115   0.322668
Layer_C     0.391512   0.139630   1.022977   0.000000   0.000000

---

Integrated Plotting Example

This example shows how to generate a dataset using a load_ or make_ function (requesting the DataFrame directly with as_frame=True) and immediately pass it to a relevant k-diagram plotting function. Here, we generate uncertainty data and create an anomaly magnitude plot.

import kdiagram as kd
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# 1. Generate data as DataFrame
df = kd.datasets.load_uncertainty_data(
    as_frame=True,
    n_samples=200,
    n_periods=1, # Only need first period for this plot
    anomaly_frac=0.2, # Ensure anomalies exist
    prefix="flow",
    start_year=2024,
    seed=99
)

# 2. Create the plot using the generated DataFrame
ax = kd.plot_anomaly_magnitude(
    df=df,
    actual_col='flow_actual',
    q_cols=['flow_2024_q0.1', 'flow_2024_q0.9'],
    title="Anomaly Magnitude on Generated Data",
    cbar=True,
    savefig="../images/dataset_plot_example_anomaly.png"
)
plt.close() # Close plot after saving

🧠 Analysis and Interpretation

This Anomaly Magnitude Plot visualizes the errors from the synthetic dataset generated by load_uncertainty_data(). Only points where the ‘actual’ value falls outside the [Q10, Q90] interval are shown.

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Angle (θ): Represents the index of the generated sample (0 to 199), distributed around the circle.

• Radius (r): Shows the magnitude of the anomaly – how far the flow_actual value was from the closest bound (flow_2024_q0.1 or flow_2024_q0.9). Larger radii indicate more severe prediction interval failures.

• Color: Distinguishes between under-predictions (actual < Q10, shown in blues by default and in the legend) and over-predictions (actual > Q90, shown in reds by default and in the legend). The intensity of the color, indicated by the colorbar, also reflects the anomaly magnitude (radius).

🔍 Key Insights from this Example:

• The presence of both blue and red points confirms that the data generation process successfully created both under- and over-prediction anomalies as requested by anomaly_frac=0.2.

• The points are scattered across various angles, suggesting the anomalies were introduced randomly across the samples, without a strong angular (index-based) pattern in this synthetic dataset.

• The radii vary, with some points near the center (small anomaly magnitude) and others further out (larger magnitude, up to ~8 units according to the color bar), indicating a range of error severities was generated.

💡 Connection to Data Generation:

• n_samples=200 created 200 potential points around the circle.

• anomaly_frac=0.2 aimed to make ~40 points appear as anomalies.

• prefix="flow" and start_year=2024 determined the column names (flow_actual, flow_2024_q0.1, flow_2024_q0.9) required by the plotting function call.

• The range of radii (anomaly magnitudes) seen reflects the random deviations introduced during the synthetic anomaly generation step within the load_uncertainty_data function.

---

Generating Taylor Data and Plotting

This example generates data suitable for Taylor diagrams using make_taylor_data() and plots it using plot_taylor_diagram(). The data is retrieved as a Bunch object, and relevant attributes are passed to the plot function.

import kdiagram as kd
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# 1. Generate data as Bunch object
taylor_data = kd.datasets.make_taylor_data(
    n_models=4,
    n_samples=150,
    seed=101,
    corr_range=(0.6, 0.98),
    std_range=(0.8, 1.2)
)

# 2. Create the plot using data from the Bunch
# Assuming plot function is kd.plot_taylor_diagram
ax = kd.plot_taylor_diagram(
    *taylor_data.predictions, # Unpack list of prediction arrays
    reference=taylor_data.reference,
    names=taylor_data.model_names,
    title="Taylor Diagram on Generated Data",
    acov='half_circle',
    # Save the plot
    savefig="../images/dataset_plot_example_taylor.png"
)
plt.close() # Close plot after saving

🧠 Analysis and Interpretation

This example first uses make_taylor_data() to generate a reference dataset and four simulated model prediction datasets with varying statistical properties. It then visualizes these using plot_taylor_diagram().

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Axes & Reference: The plot displays standard deviation as the radial distance from the origin and correlation as the angle (decreasing clockwise from the left ‘W’ axis, where Corr=1.0). The red arc represents the standard deviation of the reference data (which is approximately 1.0).

• Model Performance: Each colored dot represents a model:

  • Model A (Red): High correlation (~0.9) and standard deviation slightly less than the reference (~0.9). It captures the pattern well but slightly underestimates variability.

  • Model B (Purple): Lower correlation (~0.7) and much higher standard deviation (~1.3). It matches the pattern less well and overestimates variability.

  • Model C (Brown): Good correlation (~0.8) but lower standard deviation (~0.8). Captures the pattern reasonably but underestimates variability.

  • Model D (Grey): Similar correlation to Model B (~0.75) but lower standard deviation (~0.85), closer to Model A/C in variability.

• Overall Skill (RMSD): The distance from each model point to the reference point on the arc (at Corr=1.0, StdDev=1.0) indicates the centered RMS difference. Model C appears closest, followed perhaps by Model A, suggesting they have the best overall balance in this simulation. Model B is clearly the furthest (worst RMSD).

💡 Connection to Data Generation:

• The spread of points reflects the target ranges set in make_taylor_data: corr_range=(0.6, 0.98) and std_range=(0.8, 1.2). The function successfully generated models whose actual statistics fall within or near these target ranges relative to the reference standard deviation of ~1.0.

• This demonstrates how the generation function can create diverse scenarios for testing how different models might appear on a Taylor Diagram.

---

Generating Fingerprint Data and Plotting

This example uses make_fingerprint_data() to generate a feature importance matrix (returned directly as a DataFrame using as_frame=True) and visualizes it with plot_feature_fingerprint().

import kdiagram as kd
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# 1. Generate data as DataFrame
fp_df = kd.datasets.make_fingerprint_data(
    n_layers=4,
    n_features=7,
    layer_names=['SVM', 'RF', 'MLP', 'XGB'],
    feature_names=['F1', 'F2', 'F3', 'F4', 'F5', 'F6', 'F7'],
    seed=303,
    as_frame=True, # Get DataFrame directly
)

# 2. Create the plot using the generated DataFrame
# plot_feature_fingerprint takes the importance matrix (df/array),
# features (list/df.columns), and labels (list/df.index)
ax = kd.plot_feature_fingerprint(
    importances=fp_df, # Pass DataFrame directly
    features=fp_df.columns.tolist(), # Get features from columns
    labels=fp_df.index.tolist(),     # Get labels from index
    title="Feature Fingerprint on Generated Data",
    fill=True,
    cmap='Accent',
    # Save the plot
    savefig="../images/dataset_plot_example_fingerprint.png"
)
plt.close() # Close plot after saving

🧠 Analysis and Interpretation

This Feature Importance Fingerprint plot uses a radar chart to compare the importance profiles of 7 features (F1-F7) across 4 simulated models (SVM, RF, MLP, XGB), generated using make_fingerprint_data().

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Axes: Each axis radiating from the center corresponds to one of the features (F1 through F7).

• Polygons (Layers): Each colored, filled polygon represents one model, as indicated by the legend.

• Radius (Normalized Importance): The distance from the center along a feature’s axis indicates the relative importance of that feature for that specific model. Since normalization is applied per model (the default normalize=True was used here), the radius scales from 0 to 1 (maximum importance for that model).

• Shape (“Fingerprint”): The overall shape of each polygon provides a distinct “fingerprint”, showing which features are most influential for each model relative to its own other features.

🔍 Key Insights from this Example:

• Distinct Profiles: Each model clearly relies on different features. For instance:

  • SVM (Green): Primarily driven by F3, with some contribution from F1 and F2.

  • RF (Orange): Shows high relative importance for F1 and F6, moderate for F2.

  • MLP (Blue): Relies most heavily on F3 and F5.

  • XGB (Brown): Dominated by F4, with moderate importance for F2, F3, and F5.

• Feature Comparison: We can compare feature relevance across models. F3 is important for SVM, MLP, and XGB, but not RF. F7 appears relatively unimportant for all models shown. F1 is crucial for RF but less so for others.

• Normalization Effect: Because normalization was used, we are comparing the patterns of importance. We cannot directly compare the absolute importance score of F3 for SVM vs. F3 for MLP from this plot alone (use normalize=False for that).

💡 Connection to Data Generation:

• The number of axes (7) and polygons (4) match the n_features and n_layers parameters passed to make_fingerprint_data.

• The distinct shapes reflect the add_structure=True (default) setting in the generator, which aims to make fingerprints differ.

• The radius scaling to 1.0 for each polygon’s maximum point is due to normalize=True being active.

---

Generating Cyclical Data and Plotting Relationship

This example generates data with cyclical patterns using make_cyclical_data() (as a DataFrame) and then plots the relationship between the true values (mapped to angle) and the normalized predictions (mapped to radius) using plot_relationship().

import kdiagram as kd # Assuming top-level access or specific imports
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np

# 1. Generate cyclical data as DataFrame
cycle_df = kd.datasets.make_cyclical_data(
    n_samples=365, # Simulate daily data for a year
    n_series=2,
    cycle_period=365,
    pred_bias=[0.5, -0.5],
    pred_phase_shift=[0, np.pi / 12], # Second model lags slightly
    seed=404,
    as_frame=True # Get DataFrame directly
)

# 2. Create the plot using the generated DataFrame
ax = kd.plot_relationship(
    cycle_df['y_true'],
    cycle_df['model_A'], # Access generated prediction columns
    cycle_df['model_B'],
    names=['Model A', 'Model B'], # Use generated names
    title="Relationship Plot on Generated Cyclical Data",
    theta_scale='uniform', # Use uniform angle spacing (like time steps)
    acov='default',      # Full circle
    s=15, alpha=0.6,
    # Save the plot
    savefig="../images/dataset_plot_example_cyclical.png"
)
plt.close() # Close plot after saving

🧠 Analysis and Interpretation

This plot visualizes the relationship between a synthetically generated cyclical ‘true’ signal and predictions from two models (Model A, Model B), created using make_cyclical_data(). The plot uses plot_relationship().

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Angle (θ): Represents the time step index (0 to 364), distributed uniformly around the full 360 degrees because theta_scale='uniform' was used. It does not directly represent the magnitude of y_true in this case.

• Radius (r): Represents the normalized predicted value for each model, scaled independently to the range [0, 1]. Radius=1 corresponds to the maximum prediction for that specific model, and Radius=0 corresponds to its minimum prediction.

• Colors: Distinguish Model A (blue-grey) from Model B (brown-orange).

🔍 Key Insights from this Example:

• Cyclical Patterns: Both models clearly exhibit cyclical behavior, forming distinct orbital patterns, reflecting the underlying sine wave generated by make_cyclical_data.

• Phase Shift: Model B’s pattern appears slightly rotated clockwise relative to Model A’s pattern. This visualizes the pred_phase_shift introduced during data generation, where Model B was made to lag Model A.

• Normalization Effect: The radial positions show the relative level of each prediction within its own range. We can compare if Model A is at its peak (radius near 1) at the same time step (angle) as Model B is at its peak.

• Bias Effect: The slight difference in the average radial position between the two models might reflect the different pred_bias values applied during generation.

💡 When to Use:

• Visualize Cyclical Relationships: Ideal when y_true (or the variable mapped to angle) represents a cyclical process like time of day, day of year, or phase angle.

• Compare Normalized Model Responses: Useful for comparing the relative pattern or timing of different model predictions over a cycle or sequence, even if their absolute scales differ, thanks to the independent radial normalization.

• Identify Lags/Leads: Phase differences between prediction series become visually apparent as angular offsets.

---

Loading Uncertainty Data for Model Drift Plot

This example generates synthetic multi-period data using load_uncertainty_data() (returned as a Bunch object) and visualizes the uncertainty drift across horizons using plot_model_drift(). The Bunch object makes accessing the required column lists straightforward.

import kdiagram as kd # Assuming plots and datasets accessible
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# 1. Generate data as Bunch object
# Generate 5 periods for a clearer drift visual
data = kd.datasets.load_uncertainty_data(
    as_frame=False, # Get Bunch object
    n_samples=100,
    n_periods=5,
    prefix='drift_val',
    start_year=2020,
    interval_width_trend=0.8, # Make width increase over time
    seed=50
)

# 2. Prepare arguments for the plot function from Bunch attributes
# Ensure horizon labels match the generated periods
horizons = [str(data.start_year + i) for i in range(data.n_periods)]

# 3. Create the plot using the generated data and extracted info
ax = kd.plot_model_drift(
    df=data.frame,          # The DataFrame within the Bunch
    q10_cols=data.q10_cols, # List of Q10 columns from Bunch
    q90_cols=data.q90_cols, # List of Q90 columns from Bunch
    horizons=horizons,      # Generated horizon labels
    title="Model Drift on Generated Data",
    acov='quarter_circle',
    # Save the plot
    savefig="../images/dataset_plot_example_drift.png"
)
plt.close() # Close plot after saving

🧠 Analysis and Interpretation

This example uses load_uncertainty_data() to generate synthetic data simulating increasing interval widths over 5 periods (2020-2024). The resulting DataFrame and column lists (extracted from the Bunch object) are then passed to plot_model_drift() to visualize this trend.

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Plot Type: A polar bar chart confined to a 90-degree arc (acov='quarter_circle').

• Angle (θ): Each position corresponds to a forecast horizon, labeled here with the years 2020 through 2024.

• Radius (r): The length of each bar represents the average prediction interval width (mean of Q90 - Q10) calculated across all samples for that specific year.

• Color: Bars are colored using the default coolwarm map, transitioning from cool (blue) for lower radial values to warm (red) for higher values.

• Annotations: The number above each bar shows the calculated mean interval width for that horizon.

🔍 Key Insights from this Example:

• Increasing Uncertainty: The bars clearly get taller (larger radius) moving clockwise from 2020 to 2024. This visually confirms the positive drift in average uncertainty.

• Quantified Drift: The annotations show the mean width increasing steadily from ~3.97 in 2020 to ~7.12 in 2024.

• Color Reinforcement: The color shift from blue towards red also indicates the increasing magnitude of the average interval width across the horizons.

💡 Connection to Data Generation:

• The clear increase in bar height is a direct result of setting interval_width_trend=0.8 when calling load_uncertainty_data. This parameter caused the synthetic interval widths to widen, on average, for each subsequent period.

• The labels 2020-2024 correspond correctly to start_year=2020 and n_periods=5.

• The use of the Bunch object simplified plotting by providing pre-parsed lists data.q10_cols and data.q90_cols.

---

Zhongshan Data: Interval Consistency Plot (Half Circle)

Load Zhongshan data (as Bunch) and plot interval consistency (using coefficient of variation for radius) restricted to a 180-degree view.

import kdiagram as kd
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import warnings
import pandas as pd

warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message=".*already exists.*")
ax = None
try:
    # 1. Load data as Bunch
    data = kd.datasets.load_zhongshan_subsidence(
        as_frame=False, download_if_missing=True
        )

    # 2. Check data
    if (data is not None and hasattr(data, 'frame')
            and data.q10_cols and data.q50_cols and data.q90_cols):
        print(f"Plotting interval consistency for Zhongshan.")

        # 3. Create the Interval Consistency plot
        ax = kd.plot_interval_consistency(
            df=data.frame,
            qlow_cols=data.q10_cols,
            qup_cols=data.q90_cols,
            q50_cols=data.q50_cols, # Use Q50 for color context
            use_cv=True,           # Use Coefficient of Variation
            acov='half_circle',    # <<< Use 180 degree view
            title="Zhongshan Interval Consistency (CV, 180°)",
            cmap='Purples',
            s=15, alpha=0.7,
            # Save the plot
            savefig="../images/dataset_plot_example_zhongshan_consistency_half.png"
        )
        plt.close()
    else:
        print("Loaded data object missing required attributes.")

except FileNotFoundError as e:
    print(f"ERROR - Zhongshan data not found: {e}")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"An unexpected error occurred: {e}")

if ax is None: print("Plot generation skipped.")

🧠 Analysis and Interpretation

This plot uses plot_interval_consistency() to show the stability of prediction interval widths (Q90-Q10) over time (2022-2026) for the Zhongshan sample dataset. The angular coverage is set to 180 degrees (acov='half_circle').

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Angle (θ): Represents the sample index (location 0-897), mapped linearly onto the top half of the circle (0° to 180°).

• Radius (r): Shows the Coefficient of Variation (CV) of the interval width across the years for each location. A higher radius signifies greater relative inconsistency in the predicted uncertainty width over time.

• Color: Represents the average Q50 (median subsidence prediction) across all years for each location, using the Purples colormap (lighter = lower avg Q50, darker = higher avg Q50), as shown by the color bar.

🔍 Key Insights from this Example:

• Dominant Consistency: Similar to the previous consistency plot (which used a narrower angle), the overwhelming majority of locations cluster very close to the origin (radius near 0). This indicates very high consistency (low CV) in the predicted interval widths over the 5-year period for most sample points.

• Identified Outliers: A small number of distinct outlier points are visible at much larger radii (CVs > 20), indicating locations where the model’s uncertainty prediction is highly variable across the years relative to its average width.

• Color Context: The dense cluster near the center mostly shows lighter purple shades, suggesting that the highly consistent predictions often correspond to areas with lower average Q50 subsidence values. The few high-CV outliers show a mix of colors.

• Effect of `acov`: Compared to an eighth_circle, the half_circle view displays roughly four times as many locations, confirming the pattern holds across a larger sample subset.

💡 Use Case Connection:

• This reinforces the finding that while the uncertainty estimate is stable for most locations in the sample, specific outlier locations exist where the model’s uncertainty predictions are erratic over time and require scrutiny.

• Decision-makers might trust the uncertainty bounds more in the low-CV cluster, especially where average predicted subsidence (color) is also low.

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