Project description
Efficient computations in a data-driven world
From climate models to social networks, today’s spatial data is so large and complex that it stretches current statistical tools to their limits. Existing models often oversimplify how data points relate across space and time because capturing real-world dependencies is computationally demanding. The ERC-funded FunCalc4Stats project is tackling this challenge by exploiting advanced techniques from pure mathematics for statistical modelling. Using functional calculus, the project will develop new ways to describe and compute intricate spatial or spatiotemporal relationships efficiently. By linking spatial statistics to numerical analysis for partial differential equations, FunCalc4Stats will make it possible to analyse large-scale environmental and social data with greater prediction accuracy.
Objective
Computations with spatial or spatiotemporal data occur in various areas such as the social and environmental sciences. The technological progress in data collection and storage capacities in recent years has caused a tremendous growth in data, and thereby exposed the limitations of state-of-the-art computational methods for statistical inference and predictions. Achieving computational feasibility severely limits the dependency structures of underlying random processes in currently deployed models. Above all, there is a strong need for methodologies that capture intricate spatial or spatiotemporal dependencies.
This project seeks to characterize flexible dependency structures by means of functional calculus and to exploit this characterization for efficient computations with Gaussian processes. My overall aim consists of a systematic construction and approximation of covariance operators, corresponding to sophisticated nonlocal dependencies, via the action of functions on local linear differential operators.
To establish numerical methods for operator functions, I will consider contour integral representations. Expedient transformations of the contours will facilitate operator-valued quadratures based on sinc approximations, which I will combine with uniformly stable discretizations for variational formulations of partial differential equations (PDEs) such as elliptic diffusion, parabolic and Stokes equations. To derive sharp rates of convergence, I will employ discrete inf-sup theory. Thereby I will address specific classes of functions and of differential operators suitable for inference from data. A particular focus will be on spatiotemporal statistical models based on fractional powers of non-autonomous parabolic operators, for which I will analyse space-time finite element methods.
This project will considerably strengthen the interaction between Numerical Analysis and Statistics by enabling PDE-based methodologies for efficient computations with spatial data.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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100 44 Stockholm
Sweden
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