SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL ANALYSIS: UNDERSTANDING PATTERNS IN SPACE AND TIME

Spatial and temporal analysis comprises a suite of techniques used to investigate how phenomena vary across space (spatial variability) and time (temporal trends). By integrating spatial patterns with temporal dynamics, researchers can uncover relationships, detect change, and model processes across disciplines including ecology, epidemiology, urban planning, and environmental science. This article reviews key concepts, methods, and applications of spatial and temporal analysis, highlighting its role in interpreting patterns and informing decision‑making. Emphasis is placed on geographic information systems (GIS), time series analysis, spatial statistics, and their combined use in addressing complex real‑world problems.