Risk Assessment and Decision Analysis with Bayesian Networks Now Available from CRC Press

Nov. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Although many Bayesian Network (BN) applications are now in everyday use, BNs have not yet achieved mainstream penetration. Focusing on practical real-world problem solving and model building, as opposed to algorithms and theory, Risk Assessment and Decision Analysis with Bayesian Networks explains how to incorporate knowledge with data to develop and use (Bayesian) causal models of risk that provide powerful insights and better decision making.

Provides all tools necessary to build and run realistic Bayesian network models
Supplies extensive example models based on real risk assessment problems in a wide range of application domains provided; for example, finance, safety, systems reliability, law, and more
Introduces all necessary mathematics, probability, and statistics as needed

The book first establishes the basics of probability, risk, and building and using BN models, then goes into the detailed applications. The underlying BN algorithms appear in appendices rather than the main text since there is no need to understand them to build and use BN models. Keeping the body of the text free of intimidating mathematics, the book provides pragmatic advice about model building to ensure models are built efficiently.

A dedicated website, www.BayesianRisk.com, contains executable versions of all of the models described, exercises and worked solutions for all chapters, PowerPoint slides, numerous other resources, and a free downloadable copy of the AgenaRisk software.

Praise

… although there have been several excellent books dedicated to Bayesian networks and related methods, these books tend to be aimed at readers who already have a high level of mathematical sophistication … . As such they are not accessible to readers who are not already proficient in those subjects. This book is an exciting development because it addresses this problem. … it should be understandable by any numerate reader interested in risk assessment and decision making. The book provides sufficient motivation and examples (as well as the mathematics and probability where needed from scratch) to enable readers to understand the core principles and power of Bayesian networks. However, the focus is on ensuring that readers can build practical Bayesian network models … readers are provided with a tool that performs the propagation, so they will be able to build their own models to solve real-world risk assessment problems.
—From the Foreword by Judea Pearl, UCLA Computer Science Department and 2011 Turing Award winner

As computational chip size and product development cycle time approach zero, survival in the software industry becomes predicated on three related capabilities: prediction, diagnosis, and causality. These are the competitive advantages in 21st century software design testing. Fenton and Neil not only make a compelling case for Bayesian inference, but they also meticulously and patiently guide software engineers previously untrained in probability theory toward competence in mathematics. We have been waiting for decades for the last critical component that will make Bayesian a household word in industry: the incredible combination of an accessible software tool and an accompanying and brilliantly written textbook. Now software testers have the math, the algorithms, the tool, and the book. We no longer have any excuses for not dramatically raising our technology game to meet that challenge of continuous testing. Fenton and Neil came to our rescue, and just in the nick of time. Thanks, guys.
—Michael Corning, Microsoft Corporation

This is an awesome book on using Bayesian networks for risk assessment and decision analysis. What makes this book so great is both its content and style. Fenton and Neil explain how the Bayesian networks work and how they can be built and applied to solve various decision-making problems in different areas. Even more importantly, the authors very clearly demonstrate motivations and advantages for using Bayesian networks over other modelling techniques. The core ideas are illustrated by lots of examples—from toy models to real-world applications. In contrast with many other books, this one is very easy to follow and does not require a strong mathematical or statistical background. I highly recommend this book to all researchers, students and practitioners who would like to go beyond traditional statistics or automated data mining techniques and incorporate expert knowledge in their models.
—Dr. Lukasz Radlinski, Ben Gurion University of the Negev

For More Information Please Visit:

http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439809105

ISBN 9781439809105, November 2012, 524