Using Fuzzy Linguistic Representations to Provide Explanatory Semantics for Data Warehouses

A data warehouse integrates large amounts of extracted and summarized data from multiple sources for direct querying and analysis. While it provides decision makers with easy access to such historical and aggregate data, the real meaning of the data has been ignored. For example, "whether a total sales amount 1,000 items indicates a good or bad sales performance" is still unclear. From the decision makers' point of view, the semantics rather than raw numbers which convey the meaning of the data is very important. In this paper, we explore the use of fuzzy technology to provide this semantics for the summarizations and aggregates developed in data warehousing systems. A three layered data warehouse semantic model, consisting of quantitative (numerical) summarization, qualitative (categorical) summarization, and quantifier summarization, is proposed for capturing and explicating the semantics of warehoused data. Based on the model, several algebraic operators are defined. We also extend the SQL language to allow for flexible queries against such enhanced data warehouses

Towards A Spatial Model of Rurality

The term rural is used to describe people, places, traditions, and spaces. It is often employed as a setting for study as well as an object of study. People’s perceptions of rural are confused and differ considerably. For over a century researchers have attempted to define more precisely this term using social, economic, and or ecological components. However, problems of interpreting official definitions and measurements exist. These definitions require extensions in order to capture a more objective meaning of the word. This thesis presents the foundations of a new approach to measuring and defining rurality. A spatial based approach is taken in which explicitly spatial data instead of social or economic data are collected and indexed. The index is divided into two clusters, a connectivity cluster and an access-to-service cluster. The indicators in the clusters are chosen based on a list of criteria taken from the Institute for International Development. The model employs mathematical foundations of both topology and metrics. The use of fuzzy measures to determine a degree of rurality, instead of classical set theory, enhances the model. A degree of connectivity, a degree of accessibility, and an overall degree of rurality is determined. The model also incorporates scale. The granularity of an indicator depends on a user-required level of detail. The data are manipulated and analyzed in a GIS. The spatial index is tested on a number of towns throughout Maine. A graphical user interface illustrates the results in an easy to understand format. The results of this thesis show that a spatial approach to defining rural extends formal definitions to capture a different facet of rurality, a degree of rurality. Furthermore, spatial, temporal and attribute queries are possible enabling users a choice given a particular task

Thing Complex Fuzzy Systems by Supervised Learning Algorithms

Tuning a fuzzy system to meet a given set of inpuffoutput patterns is usually a difficult task that involves many parameters. This paper presents an study of different approaches that can be applied to perform this tuning process automatically, and describes a CAD tool, named xfsl, which allows applying a wide set of these approaches: (a) a large number of supervised learning algorithms; (b) different processes to simplify the learned system; (c) tuning only specific parameters of the system; (d) the ability to tune hierarchical fuzzy systems, systems with continuous output (like fuzzy controller) as well as with categorical output (like fuzzy classifiers), and even systems that employ user-defined fuzzy functions; and, finally, (e) the ability to employ this tuning within the design flow of a fuzzy system, because xfsl is integrated into the fuzzy system development environment Xfuzzy 3.0.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC2001-1726-C02-0

Constructing 3D faces from natural language interface

This thesis presents a system by which 3D images of human faces can be constructed using a natural language interface. The driving force behind the project was the need to create a system whereby a machine could produce artistic images from verbal or composed descriptions. This research is the first to look at constructing and modifying facial image artwork using a natural language interface. Specialised modules have been developed to control geometry of 3D polygonal head models in a commercial modeller from natural language descriptions. These modules were produced from research on human physiognomy, 3D modelling techniques and tools, facial modelling and natural language processing. [Continues.

Application of a hybrid MCDM method in construction logistics

L

Genetic learning of fuzzy reactive controllers

P. 33-41This paper concerns the learning of basic behaviors in an autonomous robot. It presents a method to adapt basic reactive behaviors using a genetic algorithm. Behaviors are implemented as fuzzy controllers and the genetic algorithm is used to evolve their rules. These rules will be formulated in a fuzzy way using prefixed linguistic labels. In order to test the rules obtained in each generation of the genetic evolution process, a real robot has been used. Numerical results from the evolution rate of the different experiments, as well as an example of the fuzzy rules obtained, are presented and discussedS

Identifying static and dynamic prediction models for NOx emissions with evolving fuzzy systems

Antipollution legislation in automotive internal combustion engines requires active control and prediction of pollutant formation and emissions. Predictive emission models are of great use in the system calibration phase, and also can be integrated for the engine control and on-board diagnosis tasks. In this paper, fuzzy modelling of the NOx emissions of a diesel engine is investigated, which overcomes some drawbacks of pure engine mapping or analytical physical-oriented models. For building up the fuzzy NOx prediction models, the FLEXFIS approach (short for FLEXible Fuzzy Inference Systems) is applied, which automatically extracts an appropriate number of rules and fuzzy sets by an evolving version of vector quantization (eVQ) and estimates the consequent parameters of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems with the local learning approach in order to optimize the least squares functional. The predictive power of the fuzzy NOx prediction models is compared with that one achieved by physical-oriented models based on high-dimensional engine data recorded during steady-state and dynamic engine states.This work was supported by the Upper Austrian Technology and Research Promotion. This publication reflects only the author's view. Furthermore, we acknowledge PSA for providing the engine and partially supporting our investigation. Special thanks are given to PO Calendini, P Gaillard and C. Bares at the Diesel Engine Control Department.Lughofer, E.; Macian Martinez, V.; Guardiola García, C.; Klement, EP. (2011). Identifying static and dynamic prediction models for NOx emissions with evolving fuzzy systems. Applied Soft Computing. 11(2):2487-2500. doi:10.1016/j.asoc.2010.10.004S2487250011

AUTOMATED INTERPRETATION OF THE BACKGROUND EEG USING FUZZY LOGIC

A new framework is described for managing uncertainty and for deahng with artefact corruption to introduce objectivity in the interpretation of the electroencephalogram (EEG). Conventionally, EEG interpretation is time consuming and subjective, and is known to show significant inter- and intra-personnel variation. A need thus exists to automate the interpretation of the EEG to provide a more consistent and efficient assessment. However, automated analysis of EEGs by computers is complicated by two major factors. The difficulty of adequately capturing in machine form, the skills and subjective expertise of the experienced electroencephalbgrapher, and the lack of a reliable means of dealing with the range of EEG artefacts (signal contamination). In this thesis, a new framework is described which introduces objectivity in two important outcomes of clinical evaluation of the EEG, namely, the clinical factual report and the clinical 'conclusion', by capturing the subjective expertise of the electroencephalographer and dealing with the problem of artefact corruption. The framework is separated into two stages .to assist piecewise optimisation and to cater for different requirements. The first stage, 'quantitative analysis', relies on novel digital signal processing algorithms and cluster analysis techniques to reduce data and identify and describe background activities in the EEG. To deal with artefact corruption, an artefact removal strategy, based on new reUable techniques for artefact identification is used to ensure that artefact-free activities only are used in the analysis. The outcome is a quantitative analysis, which efficiently describes the background activity in the record, and can support future clinical investigations in neurophysiology. In clinical practice, many of the EEG features are described by the clinicians in natural language terms, such as very high, extremely irregular, somewhat abnormal etc. The second stage of the framework, 'qualitative analysis', captures the subjectivity and linguistic uncertainty expressed.by the clinical experts, using novel, intelligent models, based on fuzzy logic, to provide an analysis closely comparable to the clinical interpretation made in practice. The outcome of this stage is an EEG report with qualitative descriptions to complement the quantitative analysis. The system was evaluated using EEG records from 1 patient with Alzheimer's disease and 2 age-matched normal controls for the factual report, and 3 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 7 age-matched nonnal controls for the 'conclusion'. Good agreement was found between factual reports produced by the system and factual reports produced by qualified clinicians. Further, the 'conclusion' produced by the system achieved 100% discrimination between the two subject groups. After a thorough evaluation, the system should significantly aid the process of EEG interpretation and diagnosis

Lotfi A. Zadeh: On the man and his work

AbstractZadeh is one of the most impressive thinkers of the current time. An engineer by formation, although the range of his scientific interests is very broad, this paper only refers to his work towards reaching computation, mimicking ordinary reasoning, expressed in natural language, namely, with the introduction of fuzzy sets, fuzzy logic, and soft computing, as well as more recently, computing with words and perceptions

Assessing system architectures: the Canonical Decomposition Fuzzy Comparative methodology

The impacts of decisions made during the selection of the system architecture propagate throughout the entire system lifecycle. The challenge for system architects is to perform a realistic assessment of an inherently ambiguous system concept. Subject matter expert interpretations, intuition, and heuristics are performed quickly and guide system development in the right overall direction, but these methods are subjective and unrepeatable. Traditional analytical assessments dismiss complexity in a system by assuming severability between system components and are intolerant of ambiguity. To be defensible, a suitable methodology must be repeatable, analytically rigorous, and yet tolerant of ambiguity. The hypothesis for this research is that an architecture assessment methodology capable of achieving these objectives is possible by drawing on the strengths of existing approaches while addressing their collective weaknesses. The proposed methodology is the Canonical Decomposition Fuzzy Comparative approach. The theoretical foundations of this methodology are developed and tested through the assessment of three physical architectures for a peer-to-peer wireless network. An extensible modeling framework is established to decompose high-level system attributes into technical performance measures suitable for analysis via computational modeling. Canonical design primitives are used to assess antenna performance in the form of a comparative analysis between the baseline free space gain patterns and the installed gain patterns. Finally, a fuzzy inference system is used to interpret the comparative feature set and offer a numerical assessment. The results of this experiment support the hypothesis that the proposed methodology is well suited for exposing integration sensitivity and assessing coupled performance in physical architecture concepts --Abstract, page iii