ABSTRACT
Spatial data are used across a wide range of fields to support decision-making, including environment, public health, ecology, agriculture, urban planning, economy, and society. These data arise from various sources and are available in multiple formats. Spatial data can also be derived from mobile phone usage and social media which can provide information on the location and activities of individuals. Three types of spatial data are distinguished through the characteristics of the domain D, namely, areal (or lattice) data, geostatistical data, and point patterns. In areal or lattice data, the domain D is a fixed countable collection of (regular or irregular) areal units at which variables are observed. Areal data usually arise when the number of events corresponding to some variable of interest are aggregated in areas. Point patterns arise when the variable to be analyzed corresponds to the location of events.
