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multivariate poisson hidden markov models for analysis of spatial ...

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ABSTRACT<br />

Multivariate count data are found in a variety <strong>of</strong> fields. For modeling such data, one<br />

may consider the <strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson distribution. Overdispersion is a problem when<br />

modeling the data with the <strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson distribution. There<strong>for</strong>e, in this thesis we<br />

propose a new <strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson <strong>hidden</strong> Markov model based on the extension <strong>of</strong><br />

independent <strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson finite mixture <strong>models</strong>, as a solution to this problem.<br />

This model, which can take into account the <strong>spatial</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> weed counts, is applied to<br />

weed species counts in an agricultural field. The distribution <strong>of</strong> counts depends on the<br />

underlying sequence <strong>of</strong> states, which are unobserved or <strong>hidden</strong>. These <strong>hidden</strong> states<br />

represent the regions where weed counts are relatively homogeneous. Analysis <strong>of</strong> these<br />

data involves the estimation <strong>of</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> <strong>hidden</strong> states, Poisson means and<br />

covariances. Parameter estimation is done using a modified EM algorithm <strong>for</strong> maximum<br />

likelihood estimation.<br />

We extend the univariate Markov-dependent Poisson finite mixture model to the<br />

<strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson case (bivariate and trivariate) to model counts <strong>of</strong> two or three<br />

species. Also, we contribute to the <strong>hidden</strong> Markov model research area by developing<br />

Splus/R codes <strong>for</strong> the <strong>analysis</strong> <strong>of</strong> the <strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson <strong>hidden</strong> Markov model.<br />

Splus/R codes are written <strong>for</strong> the estimation <strong>of</strong> <strong>multivariate</strong> Poisson <strong>hidden</strong> Markov<br />

model using the EM algorithm and the <strong>for</strong>ward-backward procedure and the bootstrap<br />

estimation <strong>of</strong> standard errors. The estimated parameters are used to calculate the<br />

goodness <strong>of</strong> fit measures <strong>of</strong> the <strong>models</strong>.<br />

ii

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