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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rutten, Sara, Neyens, Thomas, Duarte, Elisa, Faes, Christel
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.16376
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author Rutten, Sara
Neyens, Thomas
Duarte, Elisa
Faes, Christel
author_facet Rutten, Sara
Neyens, Thomas
Duarte, Elisa
Faes, Christel
contents We present a novel Bayesian spatial disaggregation model for count data, providing fast and flexible inference at high resolution. First, it incorporates non-linear covariate effects using penalized splines, a flexible approach that is not typically included in existing spatial disaggregation methods. Additionally, it employs a spline-based low-rank kriging approximation for modeling spatial dependencies. The use of Laplace approximation provides computational advantages over traditional Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approaches, facilitating scalability to large datasets. We explore two estimation strategies: one using the exact likelihood and another leveraging a spatially discrete approximation for enhanced computational efficiency. Simulation studies demonstrate that both methods perform well, with the approximate method offering significant computational gains. We illustrate the applicability of our model by disaggregating disease rates in the United Kingdom and Belgium, showcasing its potential for generating high-resolution risk maps. By combining flexibility in covariate modeling, computational efficiency and ease of implementation, our approach offers a practical and effective framework for spatial disaggregation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_16376
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Bayesian Geoadditive Model for Spatial Disaggregation
Rutten, Sara
Neyens, Thomas
Duarte, Elisa
Faes, Christel
Methodology
We present a novel Bayesian spatial disaggregation model for count data, providing fast and flexible inference at high resolution. First, it incorporates non-linear covariate effects using penalized splines, a flexible approach that is not typically included in existing spatial disaggregation methods. Additionally, it employs a spline-based low-rank kriging approximation for modeling spatial dependencies. The use of Laplace approximation provides computational advantages over traditional Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approaches, facilitating scalability to large datasets. We explore two estimation strategies: one using the exact likelihood and another leveraging a spatially discrete approximation for enhanced computational efficiency. Simulation studies demonstrate that both methods perform well, with the approximate method offering significant computational gains. We illustrate the applicability of our model by disaggregating disease rates in the United Kingdom and Belgium, showcasing its potential for generating high-resolution risk maps. By combining flexibility in covariate modeling, computational efficiency and ease of implementation, our approach offers a practical and effective framework for spatial disaggregation.
title A Bayesian Geoadditive Model for Spatial Disaggregation
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.16376