Smoothing-Based and Gaussian-Process-Based Methods for Non-Parametric Regression in Environmental Problems
Mar 26, 2007 - Mar 30, 2007
ICMS, 14 India Street, Edinburgh
Organisers
| Name | Institution |
|---|---|
| Anderson, Clive | University of Sheffield |
| Barnett, Vic | Nottingham Trent University |
| Bowman, Adrian | University of Glasgow |
| Scott, Marian | University of Glasgow |
| Smith, Richard | University of North Carolina |
| Smith, Ron | CEH Edinburgh |
| Turkman, Antonia | University of Lisbon |
Short Report
The workshop aimed to provide an overview of the current state of research in smoothing and Gaussian process based approaches to non-parametric regression with applications in environmental sciences. A brief summary of the content is as follows: six speakers gave a series of presentations that reflected new developments in Bayesian and Gaussian process modeling, four speakers outlined the challenges in environmental science; three talks discussed connections between the three main areas of the workshop; and six speakers addressed new developments and applications. For example, Professor Marian Scott and Vic Barnett opened the workshop with a brief introduction to SPRUCE (co scientific sponsor) and to the themes of the workshops, these being then followed by more technical introductions to smoothing, Gaussian process and the nature of environmental problems. Mark Hallard (SEPA), Gavin Simpson (UCL- Environmental change) and Jan Dick and Peter Levy (CEH) all spoke about their needs as environmental scientists.
Download the pdf file of the full report
Original Details
The meeting will bring together leading experts in (a) modern smoothing techniques in data analysis; (b) Gaussian process based Bayesian statistical methodology; and (c) environmental statistics. The objectives will be to:
- explore the relationship between smoothing-based and Bayesian-Gaussian-process-based approaches to non-parametric regression and model uncertainty, and assess the potential for transfer of computational tools and theoretical constructs between the two;
- confront non-parametric regression methodology with large scale environmental problems of trend detection and assessment, and of model uncertainty, and to formulate proposals for practical solutions;
- explore the power of non-parametric regression techniques in spatial and spatio-temporal contexts and consider advantages and disadvantages of the techniques with any computational issues.
Discussion themes include:
Theme 1: Challenges in modern smoothing techniques in regression and time series: model-based opportunities?
Theme 2: Gaussian processes and Bayesian methodology: strategies for implementation in high-dimensional environmental contexts.
Theme 3: Environmental science problems and questions needing a statistical solution. Too much data, too little information?
Theme 4: Spatial and spatio-temporal non-parametric modelling
Theme 5: Computational challenges
Numbers will be limited to a maximum of 40, there will be a contribution to local costs (including accommodation and subsistence) from an award to ICMS from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and a Registration Fee of £30 will be payable.
Those interested in attending should contact Marian Scott (marian@stats.gla.ac.uk) or Clive Anderson (c.w.anderson@shef.ac.uk) by January 15 2007.
Arrangements
Venue
The Workshop will be held at the head-quarters of ICMS at 14 India Street. This house is the birthplace of James Clerk Maxwell and is situated in the historic New Town of Edinburgh, very near the centre. The seminar room is fully equipped with large whiteboards, overhead and data projectors. Other facilities include PCs, wireless network and rooms suitable for small discussion meetings.
The ICMS travel pages show the location of India St and have links to pages with advice on how to get to Edinburgh and travel around once here.
Registration etc
Registration will be from 12.00-14.00 on Monday 26, with a sandwich lunch provided. The talks will start at 14.00 and the workshop will end at 12.00 on Friday 30.
Accommodation
ICMS will arrange rooms in local guest houses for those who require it. Participants are also free to make their own arrangements and may claim back the cost, with receipts, up to a maximum of £45 per night for bed and breakfast. A list of Edinburgh accommodation of various sorts and prices is available here. Sections 1-3 are particularly relevant.
Meals and Refreshments
Morning and afternoon refreshments will be provided throughout the Workshop. A sandwich lunch will be supplied on Monday only. There will be a wine reception on Monday evening, a group meal on Tuesday evening and the Workshop Dinner on Thursday evening.
Further information will be provided in the Invitation Letter.
Programme
Monday 26 March
| 12.00-14.00 | Sandwich lunch & Registration |
| 14.00-15.30 | Introduction sessions Vic Barnett Marian Scott Round table and introductions, discussion groups set |
| 15.30-16.00 | Coffee |
| 16.00-17.30 | The workshop themes Clive Anderson tba Adrian Bowman The use of additive models in environmental modelling Marian Scott What makes some environmental problems especially challenging statistically? |
| 17.30 | Reception with wine |
Tuesday 27 March
| 09.00-10.30 | Gaussian and Bayesian based process models Nial Friel Inference for binary Markov random fields without simulation Dan Cornford Data assimilation, Bayesian inference and Gaussian processes: opportunities and challenges |
| 10.30-11.00 | Coffee |
| 11.00-12.30 | Gaussian and Bayesian based process models Mark Girolami tba Mannfred Opper A variational Gaussian approximation for stochastic differential equations |
| 12.30-14.00 | Lunch break |
| 14.00-15.30 | Environmental science issues and needs Mark Hallard tba Gavin Simpson Identifying patterns of change in noisy water chemistry time series data CEH speakers - Janet Dick, Peter Levy |
| 15.30-16.00 | Coffee |
| 16.00-17.30 | Environmental science issues and needs Discussion |
| 19.30 | Group meal at Nargile, Hanover Street |
Wednesday 28 March
Thursday 29 March
| 09.00-10.30 | General applications Feridun Turkman Spatial extremes of wild-ï¬re sizes; A Bayesian Hierarchical model Anthony Davison Smoothing and Temperature Extremes Download presentation |
| 10.30-11.00 | Coffee |
| 11.00-12.30 | General applications |
| 12.30-14.00 | Lunch break |
| 14.00-15.30 | Uncertainties Peter Challenor Thermohaline Bayesian analysis Download presentation John Paul Gosling Uncertainty in environmental modelling: carbon flux calculations for England and Wales |
| 15.30-16.00 | Coffee |
| 16.00-17.30 | Round-up discussion |
| 19.30 | Workshop Dinner at Howies, Waterloo Place |
Participants
| Name | Institution |
|---|---|
| Anderson, Clive | University of Sheffield |
| Barnett, Vic | Nottingham Trent University |
| Boukouvalas, Alexis | Aston University |
| Bowman, Adrian | University of Glasgow |
| Butler, Adam | Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland |
| Challenor, Peter | National Oceanography Centre |
| Cornford, Dan | Aston University |
| Crujeiras, Rosa | University of Santiago de Compostela |
| Csato, Lehel | Babes-Bolyai University |
| Daneshkhah, Alireza | University of Strathclyde |
| Davison, Anthony | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne |
| Dick, Janet | CEH Edinburgh |
| Ferguson, Claire | University of Glasgow |
| Friel, Nial | University of Glasgow |
| Gattiker, James | University of Southampton |
| Girolami, Mark | University of Glasgow |
| Gosling, John Paul | University of Sheffield |
| Haslett, John | Trinity College Dublin |
| Holmes, Chris | University of Oxford |
| Illian, Janine | University of St Andrews |
| Lee, Dae-Jin | Universidad Carlos III de Madrid |
| Levy, Peter | CEH Edinburgh |
| Marrel, Amandine | French Atomic Energy Commission |
| Opper, Manfred | Technische Universität Berlin |
| Pan, Jianxin | University of Manchester |
| Parnell, Andrew | Trinity College Dublin |
| Retkute, Renata | University of Surrey |
| Rue, Havard | Norwegian University of Science & Technology |
| Scott, Marian | University of Glasgow |
| Simpson, Gavin | University College London |
| Smith, Ron | CEH Edinburgh |
| Turkman, Antonia | University of Lisbon |
| Turkman, Feridun | University of Lisbon |
| Vrettas, Michail | Aston University, Neural Computing Research Group (NCRG) |
| Williams, Chris | University of Edinburgh |