Soft Computing Evaluation Logic

A novel approach to decision engineering, with a verified framework for modeling human reasoning Soft Computing Evaluation Logic provides an in-depth examination of evaluation decision problems and presents comprehensive guidance toward the use of the Logic Scoring of Preference (LSP) method in modeling complex decision criteria. Fully aligned with current developments in computational intelligence, the discussion covers the design and use of LSP criteria for evaluation and comparison in diverse areas, such as search engines, medical conditions, real estate, space management, habitat mitigation projects in ecology, and land use and residential development suitability maps, with versatile transfer to other similar decision-modeling contexts. Human decision making is rife with fuzziness, imprecision, uncertainty, and half-truths—yet humans make evaluation decisions every day. In this book, such decision processes are observed, analyzed, and modeled. The result is graded logic, a soft computing mathematical infrastructure that provides both formal logic and semantic generalizations of classical Boolean logic. Graded logic is used for logic aggregation in the context of evaluation models consistent with observable properties of human reasoning. The LSP method, based on graded logic and logic aggregation, is a vital component of an industrial-strength decision engineering framework. Thus, the book: Provides detailed theoretical background for graded logic Provides a theory of logic aggregators Explains the LSP method for designing complex evaluation criteria and their use Shows techniques for evaluation, comparison, and selection of complex systems, as well as the cost/suitability analysis, optimization, sensitivity analysis, tradeoff analysis, and missingness-tolerant aggregation Includes a survey of available LSP software tools, including ISEE, ANSY and LSP.NT. With quantitative modeling of human reasoning, novel approaches to modeling decision criteria, and a verified decision engineering framework applicable to a broad array of applications, this book is an invaluable resource for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners working within the decision engineering realm.

A novel approach to decision engineering, with a verified framework for modeling human reasoning Soft Computing Evaluation Logic provides an in-depth examination of evaluation decision problems and presents comprehensive guidance toward the use of the Logic Scoring of Preference (LSP) method in modeling complex decision criteria. Fully aligned with current developments in computational intelligence, the discussion covers the design and use of LSP criteria for evaluation and comparison in diverse areas, such as search engines, medical conditions, real estate, space management, habitat mitigation projects in ecology, and land use and residential development suitability maps, with versatile transfer to other similar decision-modeling contexts. Human decision making is rife with fuzziness, imprecision, uncertainty, and half-truths—yet humans make evaluation decisions every day. In this book, such decision processes are observed, analyzed, and modeled. The result is graded logic, a soft computing mathematical infrastructure that provides both formal logic and semantic generalizations of classical Boolean logic. Graded logic is used for logic aggregation in the context of evaluation models consistent with observable properties of human reasoning. The LSP method, based on graded logic and logic aggregation, is a vital component of an industrial-strength decision engineering framework. Thus, the book: Provides detailed theoretical background for graded logic Provides a theory of logic aggregators Explains the LSP method for designing complex evaluation criteria and their use Shows techniques for evaluation, comparison, and selection of complex systems, as well as the cost/suitability analysis, optimization, sensitivity analysis, tradeoff analysis, and missingness-tolerant aggregation Includes a survey of available LSP software tools, including ISEE, ANSY and LSP.NT. With quantitative modeling of human reasoning, novel approaches to modeling decision criteria, and a verified decision engineering framework applicable to a broad array of applications, this book is an invaluable resource for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners working within the decision engineering realm.

Admittedly, the notion “intelligence or intelligent computing” has been around us for several decades, implicitly indicating any non-conventional methods of solving complex system problems such as expert systems and intelligent control techniques that mimic human skill and replace human operators for automation. Various kinds of intelligent methods have been suggested, phenomenological or ontological, and we have been witnessing quite successful applications. On the other hand, “Soft Computing Techniques” is the concept coined by Lot? Zadeh, referring to “a set of approaches of computing which parallels the remarkable ability of the human mind to reason and learn in an environment of uncertainty, imprecision and partial truth. ” Such a notion is well contrasted with the conventionalbinary logic based hard c- puting and has been effectively utilized with the guiding principle of “exploiting the tolerance for uncertainty,imprecision and partial truth to achieve tractability, - bustness and low solution cost. ” The soft computing techniques are often employed as the technical entities in a tool box with tools being FL, ANN, Rough Set, GA etc. Based on one’s intuition and experience, an engineer can build and realize hum- like systems by smartly mixing proper technical tools effectivelyand ef?ciently in a wide range of ?elds. For some time, the soft computing techniques are also referred to as intelligent computing tools.

Soft computing is a new, emerging discipline rooted in a group of technologies that aim to exploit the tolerance for imprecision and uncertainty in achieving solutions to complex problems. The principal components of soft computing are fuzzy logic, neurocomputing, genetic algorithms and probabilistic reasoning. This volume is a collection of up-to-date articles giving a snapshot of the current state of the field. It covers the whole expanse, from theoretical foundations to applications. The contributors are among the world leaders in the field. Contents:Fuzzy Logic and Genetic AlgorithmsLearningFuzzy and Hybrid SystemsDecision and Aggregation TechniquesFuzzy Logic in DatabasesFoundations of Fuzzy LogicApplications of Fuzzy Sets Readership: Researchers and computer scientists. keywords:

Soft computing (SC) consists of several computing paradigms, including neural networks, fuzzy set theory, approximate reasoning, and derivative-free optimization methods such as genetic algorithms. The integration of those constituent methodologies forms the core of SC. In addition, the synergy allows SC to incorporate human knowledge effectively, deal with imprecision and uncertainty, and learn to adapt to unknown or changing environments for better performance. Together with other modern technologies, SC and its applications exert unprecedented influence on intelligent systems that mimic human intelligence in thinking, learning, reasoning, and many other aspects. Knowledge engineering (KE), which deals with knowledge acquisition, representation, validation, inferencing, explanation, and maintenance, has made significant progress recently, owing to the indefatigable efforts of researchers. Undoubtedly, the hot topics of data mining and knowledge/data discovery have injected new life into the classical AI,world. This book tells readers how KE has been influenced and extended by SC and how SC will be helpful in pushing the frontier of KE further. It is intended for researchers and graduate students to use as a reference in the study of knowledge engineering and intelligent systems. The reader is expected to have a basic knowledge of fuzzy logic, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and knowledge-based systems.

Risk is a crucial element in virtually all problems people in diverse areas face in their activities. It is impossible to find adequate models and solutions without taking it into account. Due to uncertainty and complexity in those problems, traditional "hard" tools and techniques may be insufficient for their formulation and solution. This is the first book in the literature that shows how soft computing methods (fuzzy logic, neural networks, genetic algorithms, etc.) can be employed to deal with various problems related to risk analysis, evaluation and management in various fields of technology, environment and finance.

This book is a tribute to Lotfi A. Zadeh, the father of fuzzy logic, on the occasion of his 90th Birthday. The book gathers original scientific contributions written by top scientists and presenting the latest theories, applications and new trends in the fascinating and challenging field of soft computing.

The present volume collects selected papers arising from lectures delivered by the authors at the School on Fuzzy Logic and Soft Computing held during the years 1996/97/98/99 and sponsored by the Salerno University. The authors contributing to this volume agreed with editors to write down, to enlarge and, in many cases, to rethink their original lectures, in order to offer to readership, a more compact presentation of the proposed topics. The aim of the volume is to offer a picture, as a job in progress, of the effort that is coming in founding and developing soft computing's techniques. The volume contains papers aimed to report on recent results containing genuinely logical aspects of fuzzy logic. The topics treated in this area cover algebraic aspects of Lukasiewicz Logic, Fuzzy Logic as the logic of continuous t-norms, Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic. Aspects of fuzzy logic based on similar ity relation are presented in connection with the problem of flexible querying in deductive database. Departing from fuzzy logic, some papers present re sults in Probability Logic treating computational aspects, results based on indishernability relation and a non commutative version of generalized effect algebras. Several strict applications of soft computing are presented in the book. Indeed we find applications ranging among pattern recognition, image and signal processing, evolutionary agents, fuzzy cellular networks, classi fication in fuzzy environments. The volume is then intended to serve as a reference work for foundational logico-algebraic aspect of Soft Computing and for concrete applications of soft computing technologies.