Extrapolation Definition | GIS Dictionary

extrapolation

[statistics, spatial analysis] The process of using known or observed data to infer or calculate values for unobserved times, locations, or other variables outside a sampled area. In the absence of data, extrapolation is a common method for making predictions, but it is not always accurate. For example, based on observed economic indicators, an economist can forecast (or extrapolate) a region's future economic stability. However, such predictions cannot consider all potential random events, such as natural disasters, that impact the projected outcomes.