# $ARIMA(p,d,q)+X_t$, Simulation over Forecasting period

I have time series data and I used an $ARIMA(p,d,q)+X_t$ as the model to fit the data. The $X_t$ is an indicator random variable that is either 0 (when I don’t see a rare event) or 1 (when I see the rare event). Based on previous observations that I have for $X_t$ , I can develop a model for $X_t$ using Variable Length Markov Chain methodology. This enables me to simulate the $X_t$ over the forecasting period and gives a sequence of zeros and ones. Since this is a rare event, I will not see $X_t=1$ often. I can forecast and obtain the prediction intervals based on the simulated values for $X_t$.

Question:

How can I develop an efficient simulation procedure to take into account the occurrence of 1’s in the simulated $X_t$ over the forecasting period? I need to obtain the mean and the forecasting intervals.

The probability of observing 1 is too small for me to think that the regular Monte Carlo simulation will work well in this case. Maybe I can use “importance sampling”, but I am not sure exactly how.

Thank you.

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 Guys, please don't change the title and the body of my question too much! "Mixing" and "variable-length Markov chain" is not my question. The question is about forecasting and simulation. Please let me decide how to ask the question ... – Stat Aug 26 '12 at 0:00 What is importance of Arima component in your question? It's seems that it is not related to the question at all? – mpiktas Aug 27 '12 at 9:15 Another thought, if probability of $P(X_t=1)=p$ is very low, compared with $X_t=0$ the prediction interval of $[0,0]$ will have coverage probability $1-p$. So maybe prediction intervals are not that useful in your case? Furthermore if $d>0$ for your $ARIMA(p,d,q)$ model, then $ARIMA(p,d,q)$ part will dominate the $X_t$. – mpiktas Aug 27 '12 at 9:32 @mpiktas: thank you for the comments. Arima is indeed important in my question, since this is the main model I used to fit. What do you mean by “prediction interval of [0,0]”? I think the forecasting intervals are useful even in this case. I have $d>0$, however the effect of $X_t$ over the fitted values $ARIMA(p,d,q)$ is prominent. Even over the forecasted period, $X_t$ has its own effect. – Stat Aug 27 '12 at 13:06