Fuzzy set approaches are particularly suitable for issues of modeling uncertainty in spatial data. Previous work of the authors describes a framework to support uncertainty by using an object-oriented approach to modeling spatial data. The original research focused on how to incorporate spatial data into a fuzzy object model. This paper expands upon that by discussing the implications of incorp...

Results from a set o f questionnaires designed to compare methods of obtaining membership functions were analyzed to identify general trends in fuzziness. It was found that fuzziness in comprehension is ahvays reflected in the answer; concepts such as difficulty, imprecision, and shape of membership functions are clearly interrelated; and the transition between crisp extremes through fuzziness ...

We investigate the use of fuzzy clustering for the analysis of software metrics databases. Software metrics are collected at various points during software development, in order to monitor and control the quality of a software product. We use fuzzy clustering to examine three collections of software metrics. This is one of the very few attempts to use unsupervised learning in the software metri...

The motivation of this study is the research of an originally engineering field, but with important implications and applications for economics, in general and finance, in particular. Forecasting financial time series is the goal of many studies that combine concepts from various disciplines, in terms of classical theories or of the latest approaches, forming a point of great interest. Financia...

Department stores were once universal providers. Their present market positions can at best be termed "fuzzy" in both Canada and Australia. To understand how this occurred and the current dilemma for department stores, the study analysed historic trends in market positioning, competition and capabilities in two distinct periods, preand post-1950. The implications for retailers are that re-inven...

The purpose of this paper is to describe a fuzzy cognitive map based on the random neural network model, and to illustrate its application in the modeling of process. This model is based on the probability of activation of the neurons/concepts in the network. Our model carries out inferences via numerical calculation instead of symbolic deduction. The arcs define dynamic relationships between c...

— We present a compiler and object query system for Fril++, an object-oriented logic programming language incorporating fuzzy sets and support logic. Based on Fril, the fuzzy relational inference language, Fril++ provides extensions to support full object-oriented programming in a soft computing logic programming environment. We present the design implications of Fril++, with special emphasis o...

In insurance, credibility theory (CT) is used to develop a weighted average of the claims experience of an individual contract and the experience for the whole portfolio, where the weight factor is the credibility attached to the individual experience. Recently, Liu and Liu (2002) and Liu (2007), in the study of the behavior of fuzzy phenomena, formulated an alternate version of credibility the...

This paper presents a study on inference in a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC). Inference is made up of interpretation, implication, combination and defuzzification. These last two steps can be performed in two sequences. An explanation, through approximate reasoning, on how to implement other than the welìknown Mamdani and Larsen implications is given. (Dis)advantages of several combinations of im...

recycling and reuse of wastewaters are of the new policies that provide water resources to respond to the need of the growing population. in many societies, social acceptability of these processes has an important role in the success of the reuse from refined wastewater, because the final product of this process is in direct relation with the consumer. therefore, social and cultural implication...