Wavelet analysis and its statistical applications

Abstract

In recent years there has been a considerable development in the use of wavelet methods in statistics. As a result, we are now at the stage where it is reasonable to consider such methods to be another standard tool of the applied statistician rather than a research novelty. With that in mind, this paper gives a relatively accessible introduction to standard wavelet analysis and provides a review of some common uses of wavelet methods in statistical applications. It is primarily orientated towards the general statistical audience who may be involved in analysing data where the use of wavelets might be effective, rather than to researchers who are already familiar with the field. Given that objective, we do not emphasize mathematical generality or rigour in our exposition of wavelets and we restrict our discussion to the more frequently employed wavelet methods in statistics. We provide extensive references where the ideas and concepts discussed can be followed up in greater detail and generality if required. The paper first establishes some necessary basic mathematical background and terminology relating to wavelets. It then reviews the more well-established applications of wavelets in statistics including their use in nonparametric regression, density estimation, inverse problems, changepoint problems and in some specialized aspects of time series analysis. Possible extensions to the uses of wavelets in statistics are then considered. The paper concludes with a brief reference to readily available software packages for wavelet analysis.