A study on sampling design for optimal prediction of space-time stochasticprocesses

Optimal selection of sampling strategies is considered for the prediction o f spatio-temporal processes in a state-space-model framework. General condi tions are assumed in relation to the basic elements of the problem: modelli ng space-time interaction, formulating prediction objectives, defining the type and structure of sampling configurations, and formulating optimality c riteria. An empirical study, involving a diversity of cases selected within two different examples, is carried out with the aim of illustrating some a spects of interest inherent to the problem considered, with special emphasi s on highlighting the important effect of the space-time interaction struct ure on the ratios of information associated with different possible samplin g configurations.