Artificial neural networks are used to model systems that receive inputs and produce outputs. The relationships between the inputs and outputs and the representation parameters are critical issues in the design of related engineering systems, and sensitivity analysis concerns methods for analyzing these relationships. Perturbations of neural networks are caused by machine imprecision, and they can be simulated by embedding disturbances in the original inputs or connection weights, allowing us to study the characteristics of a function under small perturbations of its parameters. This is the first book to present a systematic description of sensitivity analysis methods for artificial neural networks. It covers sensitivity analysis of multilayer perceptron neural networks and radial basis function neural networks, two widely used models in the machine learning field. The authors examine the applications of such analysis in tasks such as feature selection, sample reduction, and network optimization. The book will be useful for engineers applying neural network sensitivity analysis to solve practical problems, and for researchers interested in foundational problems in neural networks.

The idea of simulating the brain was the goal of many pioneering works in Artificial Intelligence. The brain has been seen as a neural network, or a set of nodes, or neurons, connected by communication lines. Currently, there has been increasing interest in the use of neural network models. This book contains chapters on basic concepts of artificial neural networks, recent connectionist architectures and several successful applications in various fields of knowledge, from assisted speech therapy to remote sensing of hydrological parameters, from fabric defect classification to application in civil engineering. This is a current book on Artificial Neural Networks and Applications, bringing recent advances in the area to the reader interested in this always-evolving machine learning technique.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are powerful tools that are used in various engineering fields. Their characteristics enable them to solve prediction, regression, and classification problems. Nevertheless, the ANN is usually thought of as a black box, in which it is difficult to determine the effect of each explicative variable (input) on the dependent variables (outputs) in any problem. To investigate such effects, sensitivity analysis is usually applied on the optimal pre-trained ANN. Existing sensitivity analysis techniques suffer from drawbacks. Their basis on a single optimal pre-trained ANN model produces instability in parameter sensitivity analysis because of the uncertainty in neural network modeling. To overcome this deficiency, two successful sensitivity analysis paradigms, the neural network committee (NNC)-based sensitivity analysis and the neural network ensemble (NNE)-based parameter sensitivity analysis, are illustrated in this chapter. An NNC is applied in a case study of geotechnical engineering involving strata movement. An NNE is implemented for sensitivity analysis of two classic problems in civil engineering: (i) the fracture failure of notched concrete beams and (ii) the lateral deformation of deep-foundation pits. Results demonstrate good ability to analyze the sensitivity of the most influential parameters, illustrating the underlying mechanisms of such engineering systems.

This volume provides readers with a compact, stimulating and multifaceted introduction to interpretability, a key issue for developing insightful statistical and machine learning approaches as well as for communicating modelling results in business and industry. Different views in the context of Industry 4.0 are offered in connection with the concepts of explainability of machine learning tools, generalizability of model outputs and sensitivity analysis. Moreover, the book explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence and robust analysis of variance for big data mining and monitoring in Additive Manufacturing, and sheds new light on interpretability via random forests and flexible generalized additive models together with related software resources and real-world examples.

An accessible and up-to-date treatment featuring the connection between neural networks and statistics A Statistical Approach to Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition presents a statistical treatment of the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), which is the most widely used of the neural network models. This book aims to answer questions that arise when statisticians are first confronted with this type of model, such as: How robust is the model to outliers? Could the model be made more robust? Which points will have a high leverage? What are good starting values for the fitting algorithm? Thorough answers to these questions and many more are included, as well as worked examples and selected problems for the reader. Discussions on the use of MLP models with spatial and spectral data are also included. Further treatment of highly important principal aspects of the MLP are provided, such as the robustness of the model in the event of outlying or atypical data; the influence and sensitivity curves of the MLP; why the MLP is a fairly robust model; and modifications to make the MLP more robust. The author also provides clarification of several misconceptions that are prevalent in existing neural network literature. Throughout the book, the MLP model is extended in several directions to show that a statistical modeling approach can make valuable contributions, and further exploration for fitting MLP models is made possible via the R and S-PLUS® codes that are available on the book's related Web site. A Statistical Approach to Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition successfully connects logistic regression and linear discriminant analysis, thus making it a critical reference and self-study guide for students and professionals alike in the fields of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and electrical engineering.

Introduces machine learning and its algorithmic paradigms, explaining the principles behind automated learning approaches and the considerations underlying their usage.