CAR (Conditional Autoregressive) Model

A Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) model is a statistical technique used to analyze data that is grouped or located in different areas, like regions or neighborhoods. It looks at how the value in a specific area depends on its neighboring areas, capturing spatial relationships. By considering the influence of nearby locations, a CAR model helps identify patterns and dependencies across space, making it useful for mapping disease spread, real estate prices, or environmental factors. Essentially, it models how each area's data "conditionally" depends on surrounding data, providing insights into spatial structures and correlations.