5. Spatio-temporal analysis and modeling

Having time available for each event is a considerable asset in spatial analyses in epidemiology. By taking time into account, we can avoid taking into account spatial relationships of proximity that are irrelevant and can distort analyses.

Retrospective spatio-temporal analyses mainly concern :

• global spatio-temporal analysis (correlation between time and distance, spatio-temporal autocorrelation);

• analysis of the displacement of synthesis elements (moving average points);

• the search for aggregates and hotspots and their evolution over time ;

• study of emergence and diffusion (find the cases at the origin of diffusion – called index cases –, study the geometric parameters of diffusion);

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