Density Estimation

Abstract

Density estimation seeks to construct a probability density function from a sample. Given its power in data visualization and exploration, density estimation methods have been widely used in many research fields that involve spatially referenced data, such as medical geography, criminology, ecology, and traffic analysis. By converting a set of discrete geographic events or features into a continuous field, density estimation helps identify the spatial patterns embedded in data and circumvents the analytical challenges raised by aggregation.