MbgModelRunner: MBG model runner class

In mbg: Model-Based Geostatistics

MBG model runner class

Description

R6 class to run a full MBG model and make predictions.

Details

To see examples of this object, run vignette('mbg')

Public fields

input_data

(data.table::data.table)
Table containing at least the following fields:

• x (numeric) location longitude in decimal degrees
  

• y (numeric) location latitude in decimal degrees
  

• indicator (integer) The number of events in the population
  

• samplesize (integer) The total population, denominator for indicator

id_raster

(terra::SpatRaster)
raster showing the total area that will be predicted using this model.

covariate_rasters

(list())
A list containing all predictor covariates. Each covariate is a terra::SpatRaster object with the same extent and dimensions as id_raster.

aggregation_table

(data.table::data.table)
A table created by build_aggregation_table, used to link each grid cell to higher-level administrative units.

aggregation_levels

(list())
A named list: for each named item, the name is the label for that aggregation level, and the value is a character vector of all fields in the original polygons to be used for aggregation at that level.

population_raster

(terra::SpatRaster)
A raster giving population for each grid cell, to be used for population-weighted aggregation from grid cells to polygon boundaries. Should have the same dimensions as id_raster. If no population raster is passed and the results are aggregated, aggregation will be by simple mean rather than population-weighted mean

admin_bounds

(sf::sf)
Polygons showing the boundaries of administrative divisions within the study region. Only required if use_admin_effect OR stacking_use_admin_bounds is TRUE.

admin_bounds_id

(character)
Field containing unique identifiers for admin_bounds, if passed.

use_covariates

(logical(1))
Should covariate effects be included in the predictive model?

use_gp

(logical(1))
Should a smoothed spatial surface be included in the predictive model?

use_admin_effect

(logical(1))
Should IID administrative-level effects be included in the predictive model?

use_nugget

(logical(1))
Should an IID effect by pixel be included in the predictive model?

use_stacking

(logical(1))
Should machine learning submodels be trained to relate the covariate rasters with the outcome data? Only run if use_covariates is TRUE.

stacking_model_settings

(list())
A named list of submodels to be run. For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

stacking_cv_settings

(list())
How should the stacking submodels be cross-validated? For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

stacking_use_admin_bounds

(logical(1))
Should admin boundaries be included as features in the stacking submodels? For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

stacking_prediction_range

(logical(1))
Range of possible predictions for the stacking submodels. For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

mesh_max_edge

(numeric(2) or NULL)
Maximum size of the INLA SPDE mesh inside (1) and outside (2) of the modeled region. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

mesh_cutoff

(numeric(1))
Minimum size of the INLA mesh, usually reached in data-dense areas. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

spde_integrate_to_zero

(boolean(1))
Should the 'volume' under the SPDE mesh integrate to zero? Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

prior_spde_range

(list())
A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for the SPDE range. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold (set as a proportion of the overall mesh extent), and "prob_below", the prior probability that the value is BELOW that range threshold. The function automatically converts "threshold" from a proportion of the overall mesh extent into a distance. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

prior_spde_sigma

(list())
A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for sigma (standard deviation) of the SPDE object. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the standard deviation, and "prob_above", the prior probability that sigma will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE

prior_nugget

(list())
A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for the nugget term. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the nugget standard deviation, and "prob_above", the prior probability that the standard deviation will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_nugget is TRUE.

prior_admin_effect

(list())
A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for the admin-level IID term. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the standard deviation of admin-level effects, and "prob_above", the prior probability that the standard deviation will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_admin_effect is TRUE.

prior_covariate_effect

(list())
A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for all covariate effects except for the intercept, if an intercept is included. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the size of each fixed effect, and "prob_above", the prior probability that the beta for each covariate will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_covariates is TRUE and use_stacking is FALSE.

inla_link

(character(1))
Link function for fitting the INLA model, typically related to the GLM family.

inverse_link

(character(1))
Inverse function of inla_link.

inla_family

(character)
GLM family to use. For more information, see stats::family.

nugget_in_predict

(logical(1))
If the nugget is used in model fitting, should it also be included as an IID effect by pixel in the model prediction step?

verbose

Should model progress be timed?

model_covariates

(list())
A list of covariates to be included in the INLA model. Either equal to covariate_rasters, or ML model predictions for stacked generalization.

inla_inputs_list

(list())
List of model inputs yielded by prepare_inla_data_stack

inla_fitted_model

(list())
List of model outputs yielded by fit_inla_model

grid_cell_predictions

List of predictive surfaces yielded by generate_cell_draws_and_summarize

aggregated_predictions

List of predictions by administrative unit. Only created if aggregation_table and aggregation_levels are both defined.

Methods

Public methods

• MbgModelRunner$new()

• MbgModelRunner$prepare_covariates()

• MbgModelRunner$fit_mbg_model()

• MbgModelRunner$generate_predictions()

• MbgModelRunner$aggregate_predictions()

• MbgModelRunner$run_mbg_pipeline()

• MbgModelRunner$get_predictive_validity()

• MbgModelRunner$clone()

---

Method new()

Create a new MbgModelRunner object

Usage

MbgModelRunner$new(
  input_data,
  id_raster,
  covariate_rasters = NULL,
  aggregation_table = NULL,
  aggregation_levels = NULL,
  population_raster = NULL,
  admin_bounds = NULL,
  admin_bounds_id = NULL,
  use_covariates = TRUE,
  use_gp = TRUE,
  use_admin_effect = FALSE,
  use_nugget = TRUE,
  use_stacking = FALSE,
  stacking_cv_settings = list(method = "repeatedcv", number = 5, repeats = 5),
  stacking_model_settings = list(gbm = NULL, treebag = NULL, rf = NULL),
  stacking_use_admin_bounds = FALSE,
  stacking_prediction_range = NULL,
  mesh_max_edge = c(0.2, 5),
  mesh_cutoff = c(0.04),
  spde_integrate_to_zero = FALSE,
  prior_spde_range = list(threshold = 0.1, prob_below = 0.05),
  prior_spde_sigma = list(threshold = 3, prob_above = 0.05),
  prior_nugget = list(threshold = 3, prob_above = 0.05),
  prior_admin_effect = list(threshold = 3, prob_above = 0.05),
  prior_covariate_effect = list(threshold = 3, prob_above = 0.05),
  inla_link = "logit",
  inverse_link = "plogis",
  inla_family = "binomial",
  nugget_in_predict = TRUE,
  verbose = TRUE
)

Arguments

input_data

(data.table::data.table) Table containing at least the following fields:

• x (numeric) location x position, in the same projection as the id_raster
  

• y (numeric) location y position, in the same projection as the id_raster
  

• indicator (integer) The number of events in the population
  

• samplesize (integer) The total population, denominator for indicator
  

id_raster

(terra::SpatRaster) raster showing the total area that will be predicted using this model

covariate_rasters

(list(), default NULL) A list containing all predictor covariates. Each covariate is a terra::SpatRaster object with the same extent and dimensions as id_raster.

aggregation_table

(data.table::data.table) A table created by build_aggregation_table, linking each grid cell to one or more polygons

aggregation_levels

(list()) A named list: for each named item, the name is the label for that aggregation level, and the value is a character vector of all fields in the original polygons to be used for aggregation at that level.

population_raster

(terra::SpatRaster) A raster giving population for each grid cell, to be used for population-weighted aggregation from grid cells to polygon boundaries. Should have the same dimensions as id_raster. If no population raster is passed and the results are aggregated, aggregation will be by simple mean rather than population-weighted mean

admin_bounds

(sf::sf, default NULL) Polygons showing the boundaries of administrative divisions within the study region. Only required if use_admin_effect OR stacking_use_admin_bounds is TRUE.

admin_bounds_id

(character, default NULL) Field containing unique identifiers for admin_bounds, if passed.

use_covariates

(logical(1), default TRUE) Should covariate effects be included in the predictive model?

use_gp

(logical(1), default TRUE) Should a smoothed spatial surface be included in the predictive model?

use_admin_effect

(logical(1) default FALSE) Should IID administrative-level effects be included in the predictive model?

use_nugget

(logical(1), default TRUE) Should an IID effect by pixel be included in the predictive model?

use_stacking

(logical(1), default FALSE) Should machine learning submodels be trained to relate the covariate rasters with the outcome data? Only run if use_covariates is TRUE.

stacking_cv_settings

(list()) How should the stacking submodels be cross-validated? For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

stacking_model_settings

(list()) A named list of submodels to be run. For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

stacking_use_admin_bounds

(logical(1), default FALSE) Should admin boundaries be included as features in the stacking submodels? For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

stacking_prediction_range

(numeric(2), default NULL) Range of possible predictions for the stacking submodels. For more information about this term, see run_regression_submodels. Only considered if use_stacking is TRUE.

mesh_max_edge

(numeric(2), default c(0.2, 5)) Maximum size of the INLA SPDE mesh inside (1) and outside (2) of the modeled region. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

mesh_cutoff

(numeric(1), default 0.04) Minimum size of the INLA mesh, usually reached in data-dense areas. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

spde_integrate_to_zero

(boolean(1), default FALSE) Should the 'volume' under the SPDE mesh integrate to zero? Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

prior_spde_range

(list()) A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for the SPDE range. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold (set as a proportion of the overall mesh extent), and "prob_below", the prior probability that the value is BELOW that range threshold. The function automatically converts "threshold" from a proportion of the overall mesh extent into a distance. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE.

prior_spde_sigma

(list()) A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for sigma (standard deviation) of the SPDE object. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the standard deviation, and "prob_above", the prior probability that sigma will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_gp is TRUE

prior_nugget

(list()) A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for the nugget term. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the nugget standard deviation, and "prob_above", the prior probability that the standard deviation will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_nugget is TRUE.

prior_admin_effect

(list()) A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for the admin-level IID term. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the standard deviation of admin-level effects, and "prob_above", the prior probability that the standard deviation will EXCEED that threshold. Only considered if use_admin_effect is TRUE.

prior_covariate_effect

(list()) A named list specifying the penalized complexity prior for all covariate effects except for the intercept, if an intercept is included. The two named items are "threshold", the test threshold for the size of each fixed effect, and "prob_above", the prior probability that the beta for each covariate will exceed that threshold. Only considered if use_covariates is TRUE and use_stacking is FALSE.

inla_link

(character(1), default 'logit') Link function for fitting the INLA model, typically related to the GLM family.

inverse_link

(character(1), default 'plogis') Inverse function of inla_link.

inla_family

(character(1), default 'binomial') GLM family to use. For more information, see stats::family().

nugget_in_predict

(logical(1), default TRUE) If the nugget is used in model fitting, should it also be included as an IID effect by pixel in the model prediction step?

verbose

(logical(1), default TRUE) Should model progress be timed?

---

Method prepare_covariates()

Prepare covariates for MBG model fitting

Usage

MbgModelRunner$prepare_covariates()

---

Method fit_mbg_model()

Fit MBG model

Usage

MbgModelRunner$fit_mbg_model()

---

Method generate_predictions()

Generate predictions by grid cell

Usage

MbgModelRunner$generate_predictions(n_samples = 1000, ui_width = 0.95)

Arguments

n_samples

(integer(1), default 1000) Number of posterior predictive samples to generate from the fitted model object.

ui_width

(numeric(1), default 0.95) Uncertainty interval width. This method will create summary rasters for quantiles ((1 - ui_width)/2) and (1 - (1 - ui_width)/2).

---

Method aggregate_predictions()

Aggregate grid cell predictions

Usage

MbgModelRunner$aggregate_predictions(ui_width = 0.95)

Arguments

ui_width

(numeric(1), default 0.95) Uncertainty interval width. This method will create summary "upper" and "lower" fields rasters for quantiles ((1 - ui_width)/2) and (1 - (1 - ui_width)/2).

Returns

List with the same names as self$aggregation_levels, aggregating by the columns specified in self$aggregation_levels

---

Method run_mbg_pipeline()

Run a full MBG pipeline, including stacking, MBG model fitting, and prediction

Usage

MbgModelRunner$run_mbg_pipeline(n_samples = 1000, ui_width = 0.95)

Arguments

n_samples

(integer(1), default 1000) Number of posterior predictive samples to generate from the fitted model object.

ui_width

(numeric(1), default 0.95)

---

Method get_predictive_validity()

Get predictive validity metrics for the fitted model

Usage

MbgModelRunner$get_predictive_validity(
  in_sample = TRUE,
  validation_data = NULL,
  na.rm = FALSE
)

Arguments

in_sample

(logical(1), default TRUE) Compare model predictions to the data used to generate the model? If FALSE, does not return the WAIC, which is only useful for in-sample predictive validity.

validation_data

(data.table::data.table, default NULL) Observed data to compare against. Expected for out-of-sample model validation. Table containing at least the following fields:

• x (numeric) location x position, in the same projection as the id_raster
  

• y (numeric) location y position, in the same projection as the id_raster
  

• indicator (integer) The number of events in the population
  

• samplesize (integer) The total population, denominator for indicator

na.rm

(logical(1), default FALSE) Should NA values be dropped from the RMSE and log predictive density calculations?

Details

Returns the point RMSE (compared against the mean estimates by pixel), log-posterior density (compared against the predictive draws), and the Watanabe-Aikake Information Criterion (WAIC, only returned for in-sample predictive validity).

Returns

data.table::data.table Containing the following fields:

• 'rmse': Root mean squared error when compared against the mean estimates by pixel. Lower RMSE is better.
  

• 'lpd': Log posterior predictive density when compared against pixel-level samples from the model. Higher LPD is better.
  

• 'waic' (in-sample only): Watanable-Aikake information criterion estimated by INLA. Lower WAIC is better.
  For clarity, these fields will have the suffix "_is" for in-sample models, and "_oos" for out-of-sample models.

---

Method clone()

The objects of this class are cloneable with this method.

Usage

MbgModelRunner$clone(deep = FALSE)

Arguments

deep

Whether to make a deep clone.

mbg documentation built on April 4, 2025, 2:06 a.m.