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Spatial Autocorrelation

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Handbook of Applied Spatial Analysis

Abstract

In this chapter we review the concept of spatial autocorrelation and its attributes. Our purpose is to outline the various formulations and measures of spatial autocorrelation and to point out how the concept helps assess the spatial nature of georeferenced data. For a fuller treatment of the subject, a number of texts, written at various junctures in the development of the concept and at differing levels of mathematical sophistication, spell out many of the details not discussed here (Cliff and Ord 1973, 1981; Miron 1984; Upton and Fingleton 1985; Goodchild 1986; Odland 1988; Anselin 1988; Haining 1990a; Legendre 1993; Dubin 1998; Griffith 1987, 1988, 2003). In addition, and as background to this chapter, Haining’s contribution in this volume (see Chapter B.1) gives a clear view of the nature of georeferenced data. Our goal is to briefly describe the literature on this subject so that the spatial autocorrelation concept is accessible to those who (i) are new to dealing with georeferenced data in a research framework or (ii) have worked with georeferenced data previously but without explicit knowledge of how the concept can be beneficial to them in their research. We are constrained by space and, as a result, our plan is to be short on explanations but identify key literature where the reader will find further details.

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  1. Department of Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Arthur Getis

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  1. Arthur Getis
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  1. Inst. Wirtschaftsgeographie und, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Nordbergstraße 15/4, Vienna, 1090, Austria

    Manfred M. Fischer

  2. Dept. Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, 92182-4493, U.S.A.

    Arthur Getis

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Getis, A. (2010). Spatial Autocorrelation. In: Fischer, M., Getis, A. (eds) Handbook of Applied Spatial Analysis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03647-7_14

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