On the use of divergence distance in fuzzy clustering

Clustering algorithms divide up a dataset into a set of classes/clusters, where similar data objects are assigned to the same cluster. When the boundary between clusters is ill defined, which yields situations where the same data object belongs to more than one class, the notion of fuzzy clustering becomes relevant. In this course, each datum belongs to a given class with some membership grade, between 0 and 1. The most prominent fuzzy clustering algorithm is the fuzzy c-means introduced by Bezdek (Pattern recognition with fuzzy objective function algorithms, 1981), a fuzzification of the k-means or ISODATA algorithm. On the other hand, several research issues have been raised regarding both the objective function to be minimized and the optimization constraints, which help to identify proper cluster shape (Jain et al., ACM Computing Survey 31(3):264–323, 1999). This paper addresses the issue of clustering by evaluating the distance of fuzzy sets in a feature space. Especially, the fuzzy clustering optimization problem is reformulated when the distance is rather given in terms of divergence distance, which builds a bridge to the notion of probabilistic distance. This leads to a modified fuzzy clustering, which implicitly involves the variance–covariance of input terms. The solution of the underlying optimization problem in terms of optimal solution is determined while the existence and uniqueness of the solution are demonstrated. The performances of the algorithm are assessed through two numerical applications. The former involves clustering of Gaussian membership functions and the latter tackles the well-known Iris dataset. Comparisons with standard fuzzy c-means (FCM) are evaluated and discussed.     

Fuzzy clustering using multiple Gaussian kernels with optimized-parameters

In this paper, we propose a new kernel-based fuzzy clustering algorithm which tries to find the best clustering results using optimal parameters of each kernel in each cluster. It is known that data with nonlinear relationships can be separated using one of the kernel-based fuzzy clustering methods. Two common fuzzy clustering approaches are: clustering with a single kernel and clustering with multiple kernels. While clustering with a single kernel doesn’t work well with “multiple-density” clusters, multiple kernel-based fuzzy clustering tries to find an optimal linear weighted combination of kernels with initial fixed (not necessarily the best) parameters. Our algorithm is an extension of the single kernel-based fuzzy c-means and the multiple kernel-based fuzzy clustering algorithms. In this algorithm, there is no need to give “good” parameters of each kernel and no need to give an initial “good” number of kernels. Every cluster will be characterized by a Gaussian kernel with optimal parameters. In order to show its effective clustering performance, we have compared it to other similar clustering algorithms using different databases and different clustering validity measures.     

A modified rough c-means clustering algorithm based on hybrid imbalanced measure of distance and density

Traditional c-means clustering partitions a group of objects into a number of non-overlapping sets. Rough sets provide more flexible and objective representation than classical sets with hard partition and fuzzy sets with subjective membership function for a given dataset. Rough c-means clustering and its extensions were introduced and successfully applied in many real life applications in recent years. Each cluster is represented by a reasonable pair of lower and upper approximations. However, the most available algorithms pay no attention to the influence of the imbalanced spatial distribution within a cluster. The limitation of the mean iterative calculation function, with the same weight for all the data objects in a lower or upper approximation, is analyzed. A hybrid imbalanced measure of distance and density for the rough c-means clustering is defined, and a modified rough c-means clustering algorithm is presented in this paper. To evaluate the proposed algorithm, it has been applied to several real world data sets from UCI. The validity of this algorithm is demonstrated by the results of comparative experiments.     

土壤分类的模糊集成算法与应用

土壤是一个多性状的连续体,其分类的首选方法是模糊聚类分析.但是模糊聚类分析中现有的基于模糊等价关系的动态聚类法和模糊c-均值法各有利弊,采用其中一种方法聚类肯定存在不足.为此集成两种聚类方法的优点,避其缺点,提出了用基于模糊等价关系的动态聚类方法和方差分析方法确定聚类数目和初始聚类中心,再用模糊c-均值法决定最终分类结果的集成算法,并将其应用到松花江流域土壤分类中,得到了较为切合实际的分类结果.     

硬聚类和模糊聚类的结合——双层FCM快速算法

模糊c均值(FCM)聚类算法在模式识别领域中得到了广泛的应用,但FCM算法在大数据集的情况下需要大量的CPU时间,令用户感到十分不便,提高算法的速度是一个急待解决的问题。本文提出的双层FCM聚类算法是一种快速算法,它体现了硬聚类和模糊聚类的结合,以硬聚类的结果对模糊聚类的初始值进行指导,从而明显地缩短了迭代过程。双层FCM算法所用的CPU时间仅为FCM算法的十三分之一,因而具有很强的实用价值。     

Multiobjective improved spatial fuzzy c-means clustering for image segmentation combining Pareto-optimal clusters

In this paper, we propose a grayscale image segmentation method based on a multiobjective optimization approach that optimizes two complementary criteria (region and edge based). The region-based fitness used is the improved spatial fuzzy c-means clustering measure that is shown performing better than the standard fuzzy c-means (FCM) measure. The edge-based fitness used is based on the contour statistics and the number of connected components in the image segmentation result. The optimization algorithm used is the multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO), which is well suited to handle continuous variables problems, the case of FCM clustering. In our case, each particle of the swarm codes the centers of clusters. The result of the multiobjective optimization technique is a set of Pareto-optimal solutions, where each solution represents a segmentation result. Instead of selecting one solution from the Pareto front, we propose a method that combines all solutions to get a better segmentation. The combination method takes place in two steps. The first step is the detection of high-confidence points by exploiting the similarity between the results and the membership degrees. The second step is the classification of the remaining points by using the high-confidence extracted points. The proposed method was evaluated on three types of images: synthetic images, simulated MRI brain images and real-world MRI brain images. This method was compared to the most widely used FCM-based algorithms of the literature. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.     

Soft clustering – Fuzzy and rough approaches and their extensions and derivatives

Clustering is one of the most widely used approaches in data mining with real life applications in virtually any domain. The huge interest in clustering has led to a possibly three-digit number of algorithms with the k-means family probably the most widely used group of methods. Besides classic bivalent approaches, clustering algorithms belonging to the domain of soft computing have been proposed and successfully applied in the past four decades. Bezdek’s fuzzy c-means is a prominent example for such soft computing cluster algorithms with many effective real life applications. More recently, Lingras and West enriched this area by introducing rough k-means. In this article we compare k-means to fuzzy c-means and rough k-means as important representatives of soft clustering. On the basis of this comparison, we then survey important extensions and derivatives of these algorithms; our particular interest here is on hybrid clustering, merging fuzzy and rough concepts. We also give some examples where k-means, rough k-means, and fuzzy c-means have been used in studies.     

An new initialization method for fuzzy c-means algorithm

In this paper an initialization method for fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm is proposed in order to solve the two problems of clustering performance affected by initial cluster centers and lower computation speed for FCM. Grid and density are needed to extract approximate clustering center from sample space. Then, an initialization method for fuzzy c-means algorithm is proposed by using amount of approximate clustering centers to initialize classification number, and using approximate clustering centers to initialize initial clustering centers. Experiment shows that this method can improve clustering result and shorten clustering time validly.     

A modified fuzzy clustering for documents retrieval: application to document categorization

The paper advocates the use of a new fuzzy-based clustering algorithm for document categorization. Each document/datum will be represented as a fuzzy set. In this respect, the fuzzy clustering algorithm, will be constrained additionally in order to cluster fuzzy sets. Then, one needs to find a metric measure in order to detect the overlapping between documents and the cluster prototype (category). In this respect, we use one of the interclass probabilistic reparability measures known as Bhattacharyya distance, which will be incorporated in the general scheme of the fuzzy c-means algorithm for measuring the overlapping between fuzzy sets. This enables the introduction of fuzziness in the document clustering in the sense that it allows a single document to belong to more than one category. This is in line with semantic multiple interpretations conveyed by single words, which support multiple membership to several classes. Performances of the algorithms will be illustrated using a case study from the construction sector.     

A Global Optimization RLT-based Approach for Solving the Fuzzy Clustering Problem

The field of cluster analysis is primarily concerned with the partitioning of data points into different clusters so as to optimize a certain criterion. Rapid advances in technology have made it possible to address clustering problems via optimization theory. In this paper, we present a global optimization algorithm to solve the fuzzy clustering problem, where each data point is to be assigned to (possibly) several clusters, with a membership grade assigned to each data point that reflects the likelihood of the data point belonging to that cluster. The fuzzy clustering problem is formulated as a nonlinear program, for which a tight linear programming relaxation is constructed via the Reformulation-Linearization Technique (RLT) in concert with additional valid inequalities. This construct is embedded within a specialized branch-and-bound (B&B) algorithm to solve the problem to global optimality. Computational experience is reported using several standard data sets from the literature as well as using synthetically generated larger problem instances. The results validate the robustness of the proposed algorithmic procedure and exhibit its dominance over the popular fuzzy c-means algorithmic technique and the commercial global optimizer BARON.     

基于微分进化算法的FCM图像分割算法

为提高模糊C均值(FCM)算法的自动化程度,提出基于微分进化算法的FCM图像分割算法(DEFCM),利用微分进化算法全局性和鲁棒性的特点自动确定分类数和初始聚类中心,再将其作为模糊c均值聚类的初始聚类中心,弥补FCM算法的不足.实验表明该算法不仅能够正确地对图像分类,而且能获得较好的图像分割效果和质量.     

Mixed fuzzy inter-cluster separation clustering algorithm

Based on inter-cluster separation clustering (ICSC) fuzzy inter-cluster separation clustering (FICSC) deals with all the distances between the cluster centers, maximizes these distances and obtains the better performances of clustering. However, FICSC is sensitive to noises the same as fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering. Possibilistic type of FICSC is proposed to combine FICSC and possibilistic c-means (PCM) clustering. Mixed fuzzy inter-cluster separation clustering (MFICSC) is presented to extend possibilistic type of FICSC because possibilistic type of FICSC is sensitive to initial cluster centers and always generates coincident clusters. MFICSC can produce both fuzzy membership values and typicality values simultaneously. MFICSC shows good performances in dealing with noisy data and overcoming the problem of coincident clusters. The experimental results with data sets show that our proposed MFICSC holds better clustering accuracy, little clustering time and the exact cluster centers.     

基于模糊径向基函数神经网络的模糊数据建模研究

提出将模糊径向基函数神经网络(FRBFN)用于模糊数据的建模,并提出融和圆锥模糊向量的聚类方法和模糊线性回归的学习算法。仿真研究表明．FRBFN及其算法在模糊数据建模方面有一定的优势。     

An Evolutionary Approach to Spatial Fuzzy c-Means Clustering

Fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm (FCM) can provide a non-parametric and unsupervised approach to the cluster analysis of data. Several efforts of fuzzy clustering have been undertaken by Bezdek and other researchers. Earlier studies in this field have reported problems due to the setting of optimum initial condition, cluster validity measure, and high computational load. More recently, the fuzzy clustering has benefited of a synergistic approach with Genetic Algorithms (GA) that play the role of an useful optimization technique that helps to better tolerate some classical drawbacks, such as sensitivity to initialization, noise and outliers, and susceptibility to local minima. We propose a genetic-level clustering methodology able to cluster objects represented by R ^p spaces. The unsupervised cluster algorithm, called SFCM (Spatial Fuzzy c-Means), is based on a fuzzy clustering c-means method that searches the best fuzzy partition of the universe assuming that the evaluation of each object with respect to some features is unknown, but knowing that it belongs to circular regions of R ² space. Next we present a Java implementation of the algorithm, which provides a complete and efficient visual interaction for the setting of the parameters involved into the system. To demonstrate the applications of SFCM, we discuss a case study where it is shown the generality of our model by treating a simple 3-way data fuzzy clustering as example of a multicriteria optimization problem.     

On the efficiency of evolutionary fuzzy clustering

This paper tackles the problem of showing that evolutionary algorithms for fuzzy clustering can be more efficient than systematic (i.e. repetitive) approaches when the number of clusters in a data set is unknown. To do so, a fuzzy version of an Evolutionary Algorithm for Clustering (EAC) is introduced. A fuzzy cluster validity criterion and a fuzzy local search algorithm are used instead of their hard counterparts employed by EAC. Theoretical complexity analyses for both the systematic and evolutionary algorithms under interest are provided. Examples with computational experiments and statistical analyses are also presented.     

Fuzzy relational clustering around medoids: A unified view

Medoid-based fuzzy clustering generates clusters of objects based on relational data, which records pairwise similarities or dissimilarities among objects. Compared with single-medoid based approaches, our recently proposed fuzzy clustering with multiple-weighted medoids has shown superior performance in clustering via experimental study. In this paper, we present a new version of fuzzy relational clustering in this family called fuzzy clustering with multi-medoids (FMMdd). Based on the new objective function of FMMdd, update equations can be derived more conveniently. Moreover, a unified view of FMMdd and two existing fuzzy relational approaches fuzzy c-medoids (FCMdd) and assignment-prototype (A-P) can be established, which allows us to conduct further analytical study to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach as well as the limitations of existing ones. The robustness of FMMdd is also investigated. Our theoretical and numerical studies show that the proposed approach produces good quality of clusters with rich cluster-based information and it is less sensitive to noise.     

Fuzzy clustering algorithms for mixed feature variables

This paper presents fuzzy clustering algorithms for mixed features of symbolic and fuzzy data. El-Sonbaty and Ismail proposed fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering for symbolic data and Hathaway et al. proposed FCM for fuzzy data. In this paper we give a modified dissimilarity measure for symbolic and fuzzy data and then give FCM clustering algorithms for these mixed data types. Numerical examples and comparisons are also given. Numerical examples illustrate that the modified dissimilarity gives better results. Finally, the proposed clustering algorithm is applied to real data with mixed feature variables of symbolic and fuzzy data.     

Some robust objectives of FCM for data analyzing

There are many data clustering techniques available to extract meaningful information from real world data, but the obtained clustering results of the available techniques, running time for the performance of clustering techniques in clustering real world data are highly important. This work is strongly felt that fuzzy clustering technique is suitable one to find meaningful information and appropriate groups into real world datasets. In fuzzy clustering the objective function controls the groups or clusters and computation parts of clustering. Hence researchers in fuzzy clustering algorithm aim is to minimize the objective function that usually has number of computation parts, like calculation of cluster prototypes, degree of membership for objects, computation part for updating and stopping algorithms. This paper introduces some new effective fuzzy objective functions with effective fuzzy parameters that can help to minimize the running time and to obtain strong meaningful information or clusters into the real world datasets. Further this paper tries to introduce new way for predicting membership, centres by minimizing the proposed new fuzzy objective functions. And experimental results of proposed algorithms are given to illustrate the effectiveness of proposed methods.     

改进的遗传模糊聚类算法

对基于遗传算法的FCM(模糊c^-均值法)聚类算法进行了改进,能更好地把遗传算法的全局搜索能力和FCM的局部搜索能力结合起来。实验结果表明,这种改进的算法在分类正确率和稳定性上优于[1]和[3]中的方法;收敛速度和对初值的敏感性都明显优于FCM。     

The bi-objective fuzzy c-means cluster analysis for TSK fuzzy system identification

For conventional fuzzy clustering-based approaches to fuzzy system identification, a fuzzy function is used for cluster formation and another fuzzy function is used for cluster validation to determine the number and location of the clusters which define IF parts of the rule base. However, the different fuzzy functions used for cluster formation and validation may not indicate the same best number and location of the clusters. This potential disparity motivates us to propose a new fuzzy clustering-based approach to fuzzy system identification based on the bi-objective fuzzy c-means (BOFCM) cluster analysis. In this approach, we use the BOFCM function for both cluster formation and validation to simultaneously determine the number and location of the clusters which we hope can efficiently and effectively define IF parts of the rule base. The proposed approach is validated by applying it to the truck backer-upper problem with an obstacle in the center of the field.