Nonparametric inference for nonstationary spatial point processes

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Nolau, Izabel, Gonçalves, Flávio B., Gamerman, Dani
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Nolau, Izabel
Gonçalves, Flávio B.
Gamerman, Dani
author_facet Nolau, Izabel
Gonçalves, Flávio B.
Gamerman, Dani
contents Point pattern data often exhibit features such as abrupt changes, hotspots and spatially varying dependence in local intensity. Under a Poisson process framework, these correspond to discontinuities and nonstationarity in the underlying intensity function -- features that are difficult to capture with standard modeling approaches. This paper proposes a spatial Cox process model in which nonstationarity is induced through a random partition of the spatial domain, with conditionally independent Gaussian process priors specified across the resulting regions. This construction allows for heterogeneous spatial behavior, including sharp transitions in intensity. To ensure exact inference, a discretization-free MCMC algorithm is developed to target the infinite-dimensional posterior distribution without approximation. The random partition framework also reduces the computational burden typically associated with Gaussian process models. Spatial covariates can be incorporated to account for structured variation in intensity. The proposed methodology is evaluated through synthetic examples and real-world applications, demonstrating its ability to flexibly capture complex spatial structures. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential extensions and directions for future work.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_17600
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonparametric inference for nonstationary spatial point processes
Nolau, Izabel
Gonçalves, Flávio B.
Gamerman, Dani
Methodology
Point pattern data often exhibit features such as abrupt changes, hotspots and spatially varying dependence in local intensity. Under a Poisson process framework, these correspond to discontinuities and nonstationarity in the underlying intensity function -- features that are difficult to capture with standard modeling approaches. This paper proposes a spatial Cox process model in which nonstationarity is induced through a random partition of the spatial domain, with conditionally independent Gaussian process priors specified across the resulting regions. This construction allows for heterogeneous spatial behavior, including sharp transitions in intensity. To ensure exact inference, a discretization-free MCMC algorithm is developed to target the infinite-dimensional posterior distribution without approximation. The random partition framework also reduces the computational burden typically associated with Gaussian process models. Spatial covariates can be incorporated to account for structured variation in intensity. The proposed methodology is evaluated through synthetic examples and real-world applications, demonstrating its ability to flexibly capture complex spatial structures. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential extensions and directions for future work.
title Nonparametric inference for nonstationary spatial point processes
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.17600