APPROXIMATE CLUSTERING VIA THE MOUNTAIN METHOD

We develop a simple and effective approach for approximate estimation of the cluster centers on the basis of the concept of a mountain funct ion. We call the procedure the mountain method. It can be useful for o btaining the initial values of the clusters that are required by more complex cluster algorithms. It also can be used as a stand alone simpl e approximate clustering technique. The method is based upon a griding on the space, the construction of a mountain function from the data a nd then a destruction of the mountains to obtain the cluster centers.