Automatic modeling of (cross) covariance tables using fast Fourier transform

Covariance models pro vide the basic measure of spatial continuity in geostatistics. Traditionally, a closed-form analytical model is fitted to allow for interpolation of sample covariance values while ensuring the positive definiteness condition. For cokriging, the modeling task is made even more difficult because of the restriction imposed by the linear coregionalization model. Bochner's theorem maps the positive definite constraints into much simpler constraints on the Fourier transform of the covariance, that is the density spectrum. Accordingly, we propose to transform the experimental (cross) covariance tables into quasidensity spectrum tables using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). These quasidensity spectrum tables are then smoothed under constraints of positivity and unit sum. A backtransform (FFT) yields permissible (jointly) positive definite (cross) covariance tables, At no point is any analytical modeling called for and the algorithm is nor restricted by the linear coregionalization model. A case study shows the proposed covariance modeling to be easier and much faster than the traditional analytical covariance modeling, yet yields comparable kriging or simulation results.