DBSCAN Clustering Algorithm in ML – Explained in Deep

Written By The IoT Academy
Published on September 13th, 2024

Clustering is an important method in machine learning that groups similar data points. As well as one of the popular algorithms for this is Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise. Which is known for finding clusters of any shape and handling noisy data. Unlike k-means, which needs a set number of clusters and assumes they are round. DBSCAN clustering uses data density to find clusters and detect outliers. This makes it useful for tasks like finding anomalies, analyzing images, and studying maps. So in this article, we will explain how DBSCAN works, its uses, and how it compares to other clustering methods.

Table of Contents

Introduction to DBSCAN Clustering

DBSCAN algorithm in ML is used to group data points into clusters. Unlike methods like k-means, which need a set number of clusters and work best with round shapes. DBSCAN can find clusters of any shape based on how close the points are to each other. It identifies clusters where points are densely packed and labels points in less dense areas as noise or outliers. This makes DBSCAN clustering very useful for tasks like finding unusual patterns and analyzing images. It is also useful for studying geographical data, especially when it is messy or has clusters of different shapes.

How Does the DBSCAN Clustering Work?

The DBSCAN algorithm operates by identifying dense regions of data points and forming clusters based on these regions. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how it works:

Step 1: Identify Core Points

DBSCAN starts by finding core points in the dataset. A core point is a data point with several nearby points (MinPts) within a specific distance (epsilon, ε). Also, the distance between these points is usually measured using a method like Euclidean distance.

Step 2: Form Clusters

After finding the core points, DBSCAN creates clusters by connecting core points close to each other (within the ε distance). It keeps adding nearby points to the cluster if they also meet the density requirement. This means they are either core points or are close enough to a core point.

Step 3: Identify Border Points

Border points are data points that are close enough to a core point (within the ε distance). But don’t have enough nearby points to be core points themselves. These points are added to the closest cluster.

Step 4: Identify Noise Points

Data points that don’t fit into any cluster. Either because they are too far from core points or don’t have enough nearby points, are labeled as noise.

DBSCAN Clustering Example

Let’s look at a simple example to explain how DBSCAN works. Imagine a dataset with two clear groups of points and some random noise points scattered around. By choosing the right ε value and MinPts, DBSCAN can find the two groups and ignore the noise. For example, if the points are grouped in two areas with some scattered points elsewhere, DBSCAN clustering will first find the core points in each dense area. Then, it will grow these areas into clusters, adding any nearby border points to the closest cluster. Points that don’t fit into a cluster are labeled as noise.

Example Code Implementation:

from sklearn.cluster import DBSCAN

import numpy as np

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

# Example dataset

X = np.array([[1, 2], [2, 2], [2, 3], [8, 7], [8, 8], [25, 80]])

# Applying DBSCAN

db = DBSCAN(eps=3, min_samples=2).fit(X)

labels = db.labels_

# Visualizing the clusters

plt.scatter(X[:, 0], X[:, 1], c=labels)

plt.title(‘DBSCAN Clustering Example’)

plt.show()

In this example, DBSCAN groups the points using certain criteria, and it ends up identifying two groups and one individual point as an outlier.

DBSCAN Applications

DBSCAN has a wide range of applications in machine learning, particularly in scenarios where the data contains noise or where clusters are not well-separated or spherical. Some common applications include:

Anomaly Detection: DBSCAN clustering is great for spotting unusual or rare data points. By marking less dense areas as noise, it also helps to find anomalies that don’t fit into any group.
Image Segmentation: It can divide an image into different parts based on how closely pixels are grouped. Which helps in tasks like finding objects or separating the background.
Geospatial Data Analysis: It helps find clusters of locations in maps. Like detecting areas with high crime rates or disease outbreaks.
Customer Segmentation: In marketing, DBSCAN groups customers with similar behaviors or preferences, even if the data has outliers or unusual patterns.

Also Read: What is Perceptron Algorithms in Machine Learning – Best Guide

Advantages and Disadvantages of DBSCAN

DBSCAN clustering algorithm is a popular clustering algorithm known for its ability to find clusters of arbitrary shapes and handle outliers. Below are its main advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

No Need to Set Number of Clusters: DBSCAN doesn’t require you to choose the number of clusters beforehand, unlike k-means.
Handles Noise and Outliers: DBSCAN can easily spot and separate noise or outliers, making it great for messy datasets.
Finds Clusters of Any Shape: Unlike k-means, which assumes clusters are round, DBSCAN clustering can find clusters in any shape. As well as making it useful for many different tasks.

Disadvantages

Choice of Parameters: The performance of the DBSCAN algorithm in machine learning depends a lot on choosing the right ε and MinPts. Bad choices can lead to wrong clustering.
Not Good for Different Densities: DBSCAN has trouble with datasets with clusters of different densities and might miss dense clusters if ε is too large.
Scalability: DBSCAN is slower and more complex than k-means, making it less ideal for huge datasets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DBSCAN is a useful clustering algorithm, especially for finding clusters of any shape and handling noisy data. It can find outliers and doesn’t need a set number of clusters. As well as making it flexible for tasks like spotting anomalies, analyzing images, and studying maps. However, DBSCAN clustering’s results depend on choosing the right ε and MinPts values. While it has benefits over methods like k-means, it may not work well for datasets with different densities and can be slower for large datasets. Despite these challenges, clustering with DBSCAN is still a valuable tool for many machine-learning problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Is DBSCAN better than K-Means?

Ans. DBSCAN is better than k-means when dealing with clusters of arbitrary shapes, noise, or outliers. K-means is more effective for well-separated, spherical clusters.

Q. What are the three clusters of DBSCAN?

Ans. The three clusters of DBSCAN are core clusters (dense regions), border clusters (points on the edges of dense regions), and noise (outliers or anomalies).

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The IoT Academy

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