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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Görz, Sheila T., Fried, Roland
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11599
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author Görz, Sheila T.
Fried, Roland
author_facet Görz, Sheila T.
Fried, Roland
contents We propose statistical procedures for detecting changes in the mean of spatial random fields observed on regular grids. The proposed framework provides a general approach to change detection in spatial processes. Extending a block-based method originally developed for time series, we introduce two test statistics, one based on Gini's mean difference and a novel variance-based variant. Under mild moment conditions, we derive asymptotic normality of the variance-based statistic and prove its consistency against almost all non-constant mean functions (in a sense of positive Lebesgue measure). To accommodate spatial dependence, we further develop a de-correlation algorithm based on estimated autocovariances. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that both tests maintain appropriate size and power for both independent and dependent data. In an application to satellite images, especially our variance-based test reliably detects regions undergoing deforestation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_11599
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Detecting changes in the mean of spatial random fields on a regular grid
Görz, Sheila T.
Fried, Roland
Methodology
We propose statistical procedures for detecting changes in the mean of spatial random fields observed on regular grids. The proposed framework provides a general approach to change detection in spatial processes. Extending a block-based method originally developed for time series, we introduce two test statistics, one based on Gini's mean difference and a novel variance-based variant. Under mild moment conditions, we derive asymptotic normality of the variance-based statistic and prove its consistency against almost all non-constant mean functions (in a sense of positive Lebesgue measure). To accommodate spatial dependence, we further develop a de-correlation algorithm based on estimated autocovariances. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that both tests maintain appropriate size and power for both independent and dependent data. In an application to satellite images, especially our variance-based test reliably detects regions undergoing deforestation.
title Detecting changes in the mean of spatial random fields on a regular grid
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.11599