In a contribution (Bartlett, 1971 a) to the Symposium on Statistical
Ecology at Yale in 1969, I noted in my introductory remarks that that
paper was not intended to be in any way a review of statistical
techniques for analysing spatial patterns. My contribution to a
conference at Sheffield in 1973 aimed, at least in part, to supply such
a review and forms the basis of this monograph; but in these prefatory
remarks I must still make clear what I decided to discuss, and what I
have omitted. Broadly speaking, the coverage is that included in
seminars and lectures I have given on this theme since 1969. We may
divide problems of spatial pattern (in contrast with complete random
chaos) into (i) detecting departures from randomness, Oi) analysing such
departures when detected, for example, in relation to some stochastic
model and (iii) special problems which require separate consideration;
for example, sophisticated problems of pattern recognition in specific
fields, such as the computer reading of handwriting or recognition of
chromosomes.