What do we call an analysis that evaluates how features exist together in space?

The analysis that evaluates how features exist together in space is known as colocation analysis. This form of analysis specifically investigates the spatial relationships and patterns between different geographic entities or features, determining whether certain features are found together more or less than expected due to chance.

Colocation analysis often leverages statistical methods to quantify the degree of association between different datasets, such as points, polygons, or any spatial data layers. It is particularly valuable in fields like ecology, urban planning, and geography, where understanding the distribution of features in relation to one another can inform resource management, policy-making, and spatial planning decisions.

While spatial analysis is a broader term encompassing a variety of techniques for understanding spatial relationships, including spatial patterns, distributions, and trends, colocation analysis focuses specifically on the interplay and coexistence of multiple features. Interaction analysis pertains to the assessment of the relationships and drivers between features but is not exclusively focused on the spatial aspect. The contiguity method generally refers to techniques used to analyze spatial relationships where one area directly connects to another, but it does not specifically address how features co-locate in space.