Implementing functions for spatial statistical analysis using the R language

Abstract

R is a language similar to S for statistical data analysis, based on modern programming concepts and released under the GNU General Public License. It permits the integration of program scripts with compiled dynamically loaded libraries of functions when computing speed is important. Following a broad outline of existing collections of functions for spatial statistics written for S, we show how they may be ported to R, and compare their characteristics.We further demonstrate how existing work may be extended to topics not yet covered, and how libraries of functions may be constructed. Functions for three types of spatial statistics are covered: spatially continuous data, point pattern data, and area data.We present packaged R functions for spatial statistical analysis, and their application to standard data sets. Both the development of R, and of these functions, is on-going, but have now reached a critical mass making

an attractive platform for teaching and applying spatial statistics.