Thank you for this feedback. As others have noted, Interpolate Points does not use IDW for the interpolation. Instead, it uses Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK), which we consider to be our best automatic interpolation method.
We will add extra information about the particular EBK settings that are used in Interpolate Points to the REST API documentation in the near future, but for now, this is what you need to know. Most parameters from EBK are controlled by the "Optimize for" parameter in Interpolate Points. This parameter has three setting: Speed, Accuracy, and an unnamed default option that I will call "Medium".
If you choose the "Speed" setting, EBK will use the following parameters:
- Data transformation type: NONE
- Semivariogram model type: POWER
- Maximum number of points in each local model: 50
- Local model area overlap factor: 1
- Number of simulated semivariograms: 30
- Number of neighbors: 8
If you choose the "Medium" (default) setting, EBK will use the following parameters:
- Data transformation type: NONE
- Semivariogram model type: POWER
- Maximum number of points in each local model: 75
- Local model area overlap factor: 1.5
- Number of simulated semivariograms: 100
- Number of neighbors: 10
If you choose the "Accuracy" setting, EBK will use the following parameters:
- Data transformation type: EMPIRICAL
- Semivariogram model type: K_BESSEL
- Maximum number of points in each local model: 200
- Local model area overlap factor: 3
- Number of simulated semivariograms: 200
- Number of neighbors: 15
You can learn more about these parameters here. Let me know if you have any other questions.
