Spatstat

spatstat is an R package for spatial statistics focused on the analysis of spatial point patterns. It provides a comprehensive framework for creating, manipulating, and analyzing data consisting of point locations within a defined observation window, typically in two dimensions. The package centers on core data classes such as ppp for a point pattern and owin for the observation window, with additional structures for marked and multitype patterns.

A typical workflow involves computing descriptive statistics, estimating spatial intensity, and examining second-order properties. spatstat implements kernel-based intensity estimation, edge correction, and a range of summary statistics such as the K-function, L-function, and pair correlation function, along with their inhomogeneous variants. It also supports goodness-of-fit testing and Monte Carlo envelope tests to compare observed patterns with simulated null or alternative models.

The package provides tools for simulation and modeling of point processes, including homogeneous and inhomogeneous Poisson processes, cluster processes, and more general models. It supports marked point patterns, multitype analyses, and the inclusion of spatial covariates. Visualization and diagnostic tools are integrated to explore patterns and model fit.

Spatstat is open-source software available on the CRAN repository and is widely used in ecology, epidemiology, geography, and materials science. It has a large user community and extensive documentation, reflecting its role as a standard toolkit for planar spatial point-pattern analysis in R.