A direct approximation method for parameter estimation in partial differential equations (Q1067394)

A direct approximation method for estimating the parameters p in equations of the type \(u_{xx}=f(x,t,u,u_ x,u_ t;p)\), \(a<x<b\), \(t<0\) is presented. The method uses measured data to generate a direct solution and then the parameters are selected to match the original equation. The performance of this direct method has been compared with initial boundary value problem techniques of parameter estimation based on two numerical problems. It is claimed that the direct method is efficient for problems of the present type and is more economic in generating initial estimates.