Intensity estimation of spatial point processes based on area-aggregated data

Abstract

We consider estimation of intensity function for spatial point processes based on area-aggregated count data. Given a spatial point pattern of events, we can estimate its intensity function using the kernel method. However, when data are given in a spatially aggregated form with only the numbers of events in geographical subregions available, traditional methods developed for point patterns become infeasible. In this research, a modified kernel method is proposed to estimate the intensity function based on aggregated count data. Some numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.