Spatial regression models over two-dimensional manifolds

We propose a regression model for data spatially distributed over general two-dimensional Riemannian manifolds. This is a generalized additive model with a roughness penalty term involving a differential operator computed over the non-planar domain. By virtue of a semiparametric framework, the model allows inclusion of space-varying covariate information. Estimation can be performed by conformally parameterizing the non-planar domain and then generalizing existing models for penalized spatial regression over planar domains. The conformal coordinates and the estimation problem are both computed with a finite element approach.