  Bayesian hierarchical models with latent Gaussian layers have proven very
flexible in capturing complex stochastic behavior and hierarchical structures
in high-dimensional spatial and spatio-temporal data. Whereas simulation-based
Bayesian inference through Markov Chain Monte Carlo may be hampered by slow
convergence and numerical instabilities, the inferential framework of
Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) is capable to provide accurate
and relatively fast analytical approximations to posterior quantities of
interest. It heavily relies on the use of Gauss-Markov dependence structures to
avoid the numerical bottleneck of high-dimensional nonsparse matrix
computations. With a view towards space-time applications, we here review the
principal theoretical concepts, model classes and inference tools within the
INLA framework. Important elements to construct space-time models are certain
spatial Mat\'ern-like Gauss-Markov random fields, obtained as approximate
solutions to a stochastic partial differential equation. Efficient
implementation of statistical inference tools for a large variety of models is
available through the INLA package of the R software. To showcase the practical
use of R-INLA and to illustrate its principal commands and syntax, a
comprehensive simulation experiment is presented using simulated non Gaussian
space-time count data with a first-order autoregressive dependence structure in
time.
