Luc E. Anselin

Led the development of techniques for geospatial data analysis. Defined the field of spatial econometrics and identified the two problematic characteristics of spatial data: spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity, integrating methodologies from geography, spatial statistics, and econometrics. Developed statistical tests for spatial autocorrelation in regression models and refined and evaluated alternative estimation methods. Used geographic information systems to visualize and explore spatial autocorrelation. Led the software development and developed algorithms that make techniques accessible to researchers and educators in many disciplines. Software application GeoDa (2003) incorporates algorithms and methods of exploratory spatial data analysis that are becoming standard for teaching introductory spatial analysis.