Intelligent Data Analysis : An Introduction

The obvious question, when confronted with a book with the title of this one, is why "intelligent" data analysis? The answer is that modern data analysis uses tools developed by a wide variety of intellectual communities and that "intelligent data analysis" , or IDA, has been adopted as an overall term. It should be taken to imply the intelligent application of data analytic tools, and also the application of "intelligent" data analytic tools, computer programs which probe more deeply into structure than first generation methods. These aspects reflect the distinct influences of statistics and machine learning on the subject matter. The importance of intelligent data analysis arises from the fact that the modern world is a data-driven world. We are surrounded by data, numerical and otherwise, which must be analysed and processed to convert it into infor­ mation which informs, instructs, answers, or otherwise aids understanding and decision making. The quantity of such data is huge and growing, the number of sources is effectively unlimited, and the range of areas covered is vast: industrial, commercial, financial, and scientific activities are all generating such data. This monograph is a detailed introcuctory presentation of the key classes of intelligent data analysis methods. The ten coherently written chapters by leading experts provide complete coverage of the core issues. The first half of the book is devoted to the discussion of classical statistical issues, ranging from the basic concepts of probability, through general notions of inference, to advanced multivariate and time series methods, as well as a detailed discussion of the increasingly important Bayesian approach. The following chapters then concentrate on the area of machine learning and artificial intelligence and provide introductions into the topics of rule induction methods, neural networks, fuzzy logic, and stochastic search methods. The book concludes with a higher level overview of the IDA process and illustrations of the breadth of application of the ideas. The book will become a valuable source of reference for professionals concerned with modern data analysis. Students as well as IT professionals interested in learning about intelligent data analysis will appreciate the book as useful text enhanced by numerous illustrations and examples This is a detailed introductory presentation of the key classes of intelligent data analysis (IDA) methods. The first part of the book discusses classical statistical issues. The following chapters concentrate on machine learning and artificial intelligence and provide introductions to the topics of rule induction methods, neural networks, fuzzy logic, and stochastic search methods. The book concludes with a higher level overview of the IDA process and illustrations of its application. Front Matter....Pages I-IX Introduction....Pages 1-14 Statistical Concepts....Pages 15-66 Statistical Methods....Pages 67-127 Bayesian Methods....Pages 129-166 Analysis of Time Series....Pages 167-194 Rule Induction....Pages 195-216 Neural Networks....Pages 217-268 Fuzzy Logic....Pages 269-298 Stochastic Search Methods....Pages 299-350 Systems and Applications....Pages 351-364 Back Matter....Pages 365-401