In interpolation methods, a weighted sum involves calculating an estimated value at an unknown point by assigning different weights to known data points based on their distances or other criteria. This approach ensures that data points closer to the unknown point have a more significant influence on the estimated value than those farther away.
Applications:
Weighted sum interpolation methods like IDW are widely used in various fields, including:
- Geospatial Analysis: Estimating environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation, or pollution levels at unsampled locations based on nearby measurements.
- Meteorology: Predicting weather conditions at specific locations using data from surrounding weather stations.
- Geology: Mapping mineral concentrations or other geological features from sparse sampling points.