Spatial sampling design and covariance-robust minimax prediction based on convex design ideas

This paper presents new ideas on sampling design and minimax prediction in a geostatistical model setting. Both presented methodologies are based on regression design ideas. For this reason the appendix of this paper gives an introduction to optimum Bayesian experimental design theory for linear regression models with uncorrelated errors. The presented methodologies and algorithms are then applied to the spatial setting of correlated random fields. To be specific, in Sect. 1 we will approximate an isotropic random field by means of a regression model with a large number of regression functions with random amplitudes, similarly to Fedorov and Flanagan (J Combat Inf Syst Sci: 23, 1997). These authors make use of the Karhunen Loeve approximation of the isotropic random field. We use the so-called polar spectral approximation instead; i.e. we approximate the isotropic random field by means of a regression model with sine-cosine-Bessel surface harmonics with random amplitudes and then, in accordance with Fedorov and Flanagan (J Combat Inf Syst Sci: 23, 1997), apply standard Bayesian experimental design algorithms to the resulting Bayesian regression model. Section 2 deals with minimax prediction when the covariance function is known to vary in some set of a priori plausible covariance functions. Using a minimax theorem due to Sion (Pac J Math 8:171-176, 1958) we are able to formulate the minimax problem as being equivalent to an optimum experimental design problem, too. This makes the whole experimental design apparatus available for finding minimax kriging predictors. Furthermore some hints are given, how the approach to spatial sampling design with one a priori fixed covariance function may be extended by means of minimax kriging to a whole set of a priori plausible covariance functions such that the resulting designs are robust. The theoretical developments are illustrated with two examples taken from radiological monitoring and soil science.