Geostatistics uses kriging to estimate values for unsampled points in geology, often used in mining and environmental geology. Variations include point, block, and universal kriging. It is used to monitor groundwater, soil quality, and the spread of pathogens, as well as fisheries, radioactivity, and air pollution.
Geostatistics is a branch of statistics used in geology when it is not possible to make measurements in all locations. Often used in mining and environmental geology, it is usually based on a statistical concept called kriging. Data at certain locations helps estimate a value for a point that hasn’t been sampled, which is usually useful for creating contour maps. Variations of the concept include point, block, point, and universal kriging. The statistical procedure is named after Danie Krige, a South African mining engineer who helped develop the technique in the mid-20th century.
Known measurements within a general area are typically used to derive mathematical values for unmeasured locations. For kriging, data from a semivariogram, which plots the degree of spatial difference between sampled locations, is often added to these known details. Semivariance is a principle used to derive values on the graph. These values tend to increase with distance from the sample mean values, up to a point. The estimated point values typically change in relation to the semivariance.
Environmental engineers often use point kriging, where the average numbers for an entire area need not be close to locally calculated values. The concept block type is for estimating a value for a general area, based on measurements taken in the vicinity. Measurements for a particular point can also be estimated based on calculations for other local points, which are usually similar to estimates using small blocks of space. Universal kriging is most often used when the average values for measurements change gradually or a trend is being monitored.
Kriging is typically used in mining operations or where ore locations are being mapped. It helps in estimating the distance between sample fields or boreholes, as well as the elevation of different areas. Height variations between locations are also resolved with this method. Statistical analysis using kriging is also performed to monitor groundwater, soil quality, agricultural health, and the spread of pathogens. It is often useful for hydrological measurements and for studying changes in groundwater levels over time.
Scientists have also expanded the use of kriging to monitor the status of fisheries and the presence of radioactivity. You can also monitor groundwater pollution, the status of wildlife conservation areas, and the prevalence of air pollution in urban environments. Statistical data can help create accurate models of local or widespread areas for scientific analysis.
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