Inference for stationary random fields given Poisson samples

Abstract

Given a d-dimensional random field and a Poisson process independent of it, suppose that it is possible to observe only the location of each point of the Poisson process and the value of the random field at that (randomly located) point. Non-parametric estimators of the mean and covariance function of the random field—based on observation over compact sets of single realizations of the Poisson samples—are constructed. Under fairly mild conditions these estimators are consistent (in various senses) as the set of observation becomes unbounded in a suitable manner. The state estimation problem of minimum mean-squared error reconstruction of unobserved values of the random field is also examined.