Grey systems. Theory and applications. (Q606886)

The purpose of this monograph is to collect the most recent advances accomplished by scientists from around the world, and to systematically expose the fundamental theory, methods, and techniques of practical application of the theory of grey systems. The precedent may be seen in the earlier book ``Grey information: theory and practical applications'', published by Springer by the same authors in 2005. Grey systems theory was initiated by \textit{D. Ju-Long} in [Syst. Control Lett. 1, 288--294 (1982; Zbl 0482.93003)] and today its research objects consist of such uncertain systems that they are known only partially with small samples and poor information. It focuses on the production and extraction of the partially known information for the accurate description and understanding of the material world. Incompleteness in information is fundamentally termed by grey and it can exist in one of the following four cases: (i) the information about the elements (parameters) is incomplete, (ii) the information about the structure of the system is incomplete, (iii) the information about the boundary of the system is incomplete, and (iv) the information on the system's behaviors is incomplete. Between black (completely unknown information) and white (completely known information), the greyness can be expanded or stretched covering the following situations: incomplete information, blurred appearance, changing processes, multivariate properties, change for better methods, tolerant attitude, and multi-solutions outcomes. In this context grey systems theory focuses on the uncertainty problems of small samples and poor information, investigating objects processing clear extension and unclear intension, that are difficult for fuzzy mathematics (where research objects possess the characteristic of clear intension and unclear extension) and probability mathematics (where phenomena of stochastic uncertainty are revealed by historical statistical laws). On the other hand, by denoting with \(\Omega\) the totality of all matters in the world and respectively by \(A, B, C\), and \(D\) the sets of simple matters, complex matters, deterministic matters, and indeterminate matters, the set of indeterminate semi-complex problems can be identified by \(\bar A \cap \overline B \cap D\), which, at the same time, is the research object of the grey systems theory. In order to give the reader a feeling for the content and applicability of this book, we point out in the sequel the titles of the chapters and the subchapters: 1. Introduction to grey systems theory (Appearance and growth of grey systems research; Basics of grey systems); 2. Basic building blocks (Grey numbers, degree of greyness, and whitenization; Sequence operators; Generation of grey sequence; Exponentiality of accumulating generators); 3. Grey incidence and evaluations (Grey incidence and degree of grey incidences; General grey incidences; Grey incidence models based on similarity and closeness; Grey cluster evaluations; Grey evaluation using triangular whitenization function; Applications); 4. Grey systems modeling (The GM(I,I) model; Improvements on GM(I,I) models; Applicable ranges of GM(I,I) models; The GM(r,h) models; Grey systems predictions); 5. Discrete grey prediction models (Grey systems predictions; The basics; Generalization and optimization of discrete grey models; Approximately nonhomogeneous exponential growth; Discrete grey models of multi-variables); 6. Combined grey models (Grey econometrics models; Combined grey linear regression models; Grey Cobb-Douglas model; Grey artificial neural network models; Grey Markov model; Combined grey-rough models); 7. Grey models for decision making (Different approaches for grey decisions; Decision makings with synthesized targets; Multi-attribute intelligent grey target decision models); 8. Grey game models (Strategic game models for duopolies with limited rationality and knowledge; A new situational forward induction model; Chain structure model of evolutionary games of industrial agglomerations and its stability); 9. Grey control systems (Controllability and observability of grey systems; Transfer functions of grey systems; Robust stability of grey systems; Several typical grey controls); 10. Introduction to grey systems modeling software (Features and functions; Main components; Operation guide); Appendix A. Interval analysis and grey systems theory (Brief historical account of interval analysis; Main blocks of interval analysis); Appendix B. Approaches of uncertainty (Foundation for a unified information theory; Relevant practical uncertainties; Some final words and open questions); Appendix C. How uncertainties appear: a general systems approach (Evolutionary transitions; The systemic yoyo structure of general systems; Laws on state of motion of systems; Uncertainties everywhere; A few final words). The book includes a computer software package developed for grey systems modeling. In particular, it may be mentioned here that the following authors' recent achievements are highlighted in the book: the characteristics of unascertained systems, the simplicity principle of science, the grey algebraic system developed on the concepts of cores and degrees of greyness, a series of new types of practical buffer operators, grey incidence models are developed on the basis of similarity and closeness, the grey evaluation models are based on the central-point triangular whitenization weight functions and comparisons of two classes of these evaluation models, discrete grey models, multi-variable discrete grey models, optimal discrete grey models, combined grey-rough models, multi-attribute intelligent grey target decision models, robust stability of grey systems. This meticulous work is based on an extensive bibliography that is converted into a very valuable reference book by a careful topic selection and by the significance of applications and examples. The book is highly recommended to graduate students or high-level undergraduate students and to any other scientists or professionals in areas of science, technology, agriculture, medicine, astronomy, earth science, economics, and management.