Basic concepts and methods of estimation

Abstract

In previous chapters we have tacitly assumed that the parameters of the random field model are known. An exception is Chap. 2 where we discussed regression analysis for estimating the coefficients of trend functions. However, the parameters of spatial models constructed for spatial data sets are typically not known a priori. In simulations we use spatial models with specified parameters, which have been derived from available data using model estimation procedures. This chapter examines some of the methods that can be used to estimate the model parameters from available spatial data. The focus will be on the estimation of parameters for stochastic models, instead of the simpler deterministic models examined in Chap. 10.