Spatial Data Analysis in Ecology and Agriculture Using R

Richard E. Plant

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN: 9781040661178
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Probability & Statistics
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Since the publication of the second edition of Richard Plant's bestselling textbook Spatial Data Analysis in Ecology and Agriculture Using R, the methodology of spatial data analysis and the suite of R tools for carrying out this analysis have evolved dramatically. This third edition thus explores both the leading software tools for the analysis of vector and raster data; the first based on sf and associated libraries, the second based on the terra package as it has evolved out of the earlier raster package.

Further, within the methodology of spatial data analysis, the set of methods available has significantly expanded. This book adds several of the most popular and useful, including machine learning methods in spatial data analysis, the use of simulation methods in spatial data analysis, and a new chapter on the analysis of remotely sensed data. These methods are critically compared in the context of addressing the particular goals of the research project.

The book's practical coverage of spatial statistics, real-world examples, and user-friendly approach make this an essential textbook for ecology and agriculture graduate students. Using data sets from cultivated and uncultivated ecosystems, the book guides the reader through the analysis, including setting research objectives, designing the sampling plan, data quality control, exploratory and confirmatory data analysis, and drawing scientific conclusions.

Additional material to accompany the book, including a review of mathematical concepts, the full data sets, and a brief introduction to geographic coordinate systems, can be accessed via the Instructor Resources link on www.routledge.com.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Preface to the First Edition
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Preface to the Third Edition
• About the Author
• Chapter 1 Working with Spatial Data
• Chapter 2 The R Programming Environment
• Chapter 3 Statistical Properties of Spatially Autocorrelated Data
• Chapter 4 Measures of Spatial Autocorrelation
• Chapter 5 Sampling and Data Collection
• Chapter 6 Acquisition and Analysis of Remotely Sensed Data
• Chapter 7 Preparing Spatial Data for Analysis
• Chapter 8 Preliminary Exploration of Spatial Data
• Chapter 9 Nonspatial Methods: Linear and Additive Models
• Chapter 10 Variance Estimation, the Effective Sample Size, and the Bootstrap
• Chapter 11 Measures of Bivariate Association between Two Spatial Variables
• Chapter 12 Machine Learning Methods 1: Recursive Partitioning
• Chapter 13 Machine Learning 2: Supervised Classification Methods
• Chapter 14 The Mixed Model
• Chapter 15 Regression Models for Spatially Autocorrelated Data
• Chapter 16 Assembling Conclusions
• Appendix A: Review of Mathematical Concepts
• References
• Index