How to model a spatial point process with INLA?

  • Model the intensity of the spatial point process over the whole study region. So consider the intensity as the response variable.
  • The linear predictor for the intensity is modelled as a local intercept plus a GMRF with zero mean and a Matérn correlation (spatial random effect).
  • To do that, an SPDE (stochastic partial differential equation) is fitted on the vertices of a triangulated mesh.