Production of conditional simulations via the LU triangular decomposition of the covariance matrix

Abstract

This paper reviews the turning band method and fast Fourier transform method of producing a nonconditional simulation of a multinormal random function with a given covariance structure. A review of the two common methods of conditioning the simulation to honor the data shows that they are formally equivalent. Another method for directly pondering a conditional simulation based on the LU triangular decomposition of the covariance matrix is presented. Computational and implementation difficulties are discussed.