Editing Geostatistics (section)

{{short description|Branch of statistics focusing on spatial data sets}}
{{Distinguish|statistical geography}}

'''Geostatistics''' is a branch of [[statistics]] focusing on spatial or [[Spacetime|spatiotemporal]] [[dataset]]s. Developed originally to predict [[probability distribution]]s of [[ore grade]]s for [[mining]] operations,<ref>Krige, Danie G. (1951). "A statistical approach to some basic mine valuation problems on the Witwatersrand". J. of the Chem., Metal. and Mining Soc. of South Africa 52 (6): 119–139</ref> it is currently applied in diverse disciplines including [[petroleum geology]], [[hydrogeology]], [[hydrology]], [[meteorology]], [[oceanography]], [[geochemistry]], [[geometallurgy]], [[geography]], [[forestry]], [[environmental control]], [[landscape ecology]], [[soil science]], and [[agriculture]] (esp. in [[precision farming]]). Geostatistics is applied in varied branches of [[geography]], particularly those involving the spread of diseases ([[epidemiology]]), the practice of commerce and military planning ([[logistics]]), and the development of efficient [[spatial network]]s. Geostatistical algorithms are incorporated in many places, including [[geographic information systems]] (GIS).