Markov chain geostatistics

Markov chain geostatistics refer to the Markov chain models, simulation algorithms and associated spatial correlation measures (e.g., transiogram) based on the Markov chain random field theory, which extends a single Markov chain into a multi-dimensional field for geostatistical modeling. A Markov chain random field is still a single spatial Markov chain. The spatial Markov chain moves or jumps in a space and decides its state at a location through interactions with its nearest known neighbors in different directions, including its last stay location. Because single-step transition probability matrices are difficult to estimate from sparse sample data and are impractical in representing the complex spatial heterogeneity of states, the transiogram, which is defined as a transition probability function over the distance lag, is proposed as the accompanying spatial measure of Markov chain random fields.

References

1. Li, W. 2007. Markov chain random fields for estimation of categorical variables. Math. Geol., 39(3): 321-335.
2. Li, W. and C. Zhang. 2007. A random-path Markov chain algorithm for simulating categorical soil variables from random point samples. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 71(3): 656-668.