in a spatial context, semivariogram and covariance functions is used to uncover the dependency rules or prediction rules of the spatial locations(points) and then to predict the the values of unmeasured points. The rules are called spatial autocorrelation.
SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION
Meaning of SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATION in English
Sean Woo's Finance, GIS and real estate English glossary. Английский глоссарий по ГИС(Географическая информационная система) и недвижимости Sean Woo's Finance. 2012