Fuzzy Data Analysis

Data analysis has been described as “the search for structure in data”, or as a means of reducing complexity. Most of the traditional methods for data analysis or data mining are dichotomous, i.e. they assume that patterns to be detected are two-valued. Whenever this is not the case the relationship between data or elements on one hand and classes to which these data shall be assigned on the other hand becomes gradual. In these cases fuzzy classification methods become appropriate. After a short introduction into data analysis algorithmic as well as knowledge based approaches of fuzzy data analysis are described. Finally tools and industrial applications will be presented.