“Spatial data analysis involves examining data with a geospatial component, with a focus on the data’s geographic locations and attributes — such as climate, population density, housing prices or land use — and how they interact within a given area. Spatial data is inherently connected to geographic locations, meaning all such data relates to specific features or areas on the Earth’s surface. From there, spatial data is generally categorized into two types:

• Vector data, which uses points, lines and polygons to represent discrete features like trees, roads and city boundaries.
• Raster data, which consists of gridded cells, each with a specific value, ideal for representing continuous data on Earth’s surface such as elevation and temperature. Satellite and drone imagery are also considered as raster data.

On a broad level, spatial analysis gathers information from various sources, identifies how points correspond to spatial features, uncovers patterns and generates models and simulations. These visualizations transform raw information into practical formats, which in turn helps organizations make informed decisions. … Spatial data analysis uses a large variety of techniques to uncover patterns, relationships and predictions that inform decision-making. These methods range from overlaying datasets to creating predictive models, offering tools for professionals in fields like urban planning, healthcare and environmental management.” (What Is Spatial Data Analysis? November 18, 2024, https://gis.usc.edu/blog/what-is-spatial-data-analysis/)

References:

Ansari, M. Y., Ahmad, A., Khan, S. S., Bhushan, G., & Mainuddin. (2020). Spatiotemporal clustering: a review. Artificial Intelligence Review, 53, 2381-2423.

Fotheringham, A. S., & Rogerson, P. A. (Eds.). (2008). The SAGE handbook of spatial analysis. Sage.

Kanade, V. (2022) What Is Spatial Analysis? Definition, Working, and Examples. spiceworks.com

Shi, Z., & Pun-Cheng, L. S. (2019). Spatiotemporal data clustering: A survey of methods. ISPRS international journal of geo-information, 8(3), 112.

Wikipedia. Spatial analysis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spatial_analysis