Q & A

Frequently Asked Questions

• What can I use PECT for?
  
• How do I install PECT?
  
• Is PECT free to use?
  
• What output formats can PECT create?
  
• Can I use Jupyter notebooks with PECT?
  
• Who are the developers of PECT?
  
• Why the name PECT?
  
• Where can I report bugs or request PECT?
  
• How can I share documents and have people comment on them?

Answers

What can I use PECT for?

PECT is designed to automate the identification of “front, rear, and side” edges of each parcel lot using advanced data preprocessing techniques in Python, based on the spatial relationships between roads and parcels, as well as address matching, making it valuable for research in regional planning, housing, and transportation planning.

How do I install necessary packages for PECT?

Visit the Quick Satrt - Step1: Install & Import Packages, which provides installation instructions for Python enviroment.

Is PECT free to use?

Yes, PECT is free to use for academic and research purposes. However, some restrictions may apply depending on the project scope and usage. Please check the license agreement for more details.

What output formats can PECT create?

PECT provides three outputs: a shapefile for parcel edges classification (parcel_edges_classification.shp), a shapefile for the confidential area (confidential_area.shp), and a figure showing the percentage of correctly classified parcels.

Can I use Jupyter notebooks with PECT?

Absolutely! PECT is compatible with Jupyter notebooks, making it easy to visualize parcel geometries, apply spatial operations, and explore results interactively. The package also includes several Jupyter-friendly functions for in-depth spatial analysis and visualization.

Who are the developers of PECT?

PECT was developed by a research team led by Professor Carole Voulgaris at Harvard University. The team includes several research associates(Houpu Li & Kamryn Mansfield) with expertise in urban data science and spatial analysis.

Why the name PECT?

PECT stands for Parcel Edge Classification Tool. The name reflects the primary functionality of the package: automating the process of classifying parcel boundaries based on spatial&address relationships between parcels and roads.

Where can I report bugs or request PECT?

You can report bugs, request features, or contribute to the project by visiting our GitHub repository. Alternatively, you can reach out to the development team via email or submit an issue directly through the report bugs in our portal.

How can I share documents and have people comment on them?

You can export PECT-generated outputs in commonly used formats like GeoJSON or Shapefile and share them via platforms such as Dropbox. For interactive commenting, consider using online documents that allow team members to annotate and discuss manual revisions. For more details, please refer to the manual optimization guide available on our portal.