Granular Computing is concerned with constructing and processing carried out at the level of information granules. Using information granules, we comprehend the world and interact with it, no matter which intelligent endeavor this may involve. The landscape of granular computing is immensely rich and involves set theory (interval mathematics), fuzzy sets, rough sets, random sets linked together in a highly synergetic environment. This volume is a first comprehensive treatment of this emerging paradigm and embraces its fundamentals, underlying methodological framework, and a sound algorithmic environment. The panoply of applications covered includes system identification, telecommunications, linguistics and music processing. Written by experts in the field, this volume will appeal to all developing intelligent systems, either working at the methodological level or interested in detailed system realization.

This book is about Granular Computing (GC) - an emerging conceptual and of information processing. As the name suggests, GC concerns computing paradigm processing of complex information entities - information granules. In essence, information granules arise in the process of abstraction of data and derivation of knowledge from information. Information granules are everywhere. We commonly use granules of time (seconds, months, years). We granulate images; millions of pixels manipulated individually by computers appear to us as granules representing physical objects. In natural language, we operate on the basis of word-granules that become crucial entities used to realize interaction and communication between humans. Intuitively, we sense that information granules are at the heart of all our perceptual activities. In the past, several formal frameworks and tools, geared for processing specific information granules, have been proposed. Interval analysis, rough sets, fuzzy sets have all played important role in knowledge representation and processing. Subsequently, information granulation and information granules arose in numerous application domains. Well-known ideas of rule-based systems dwell inherently on information granules. Qualitative modeling, being one of the leading threads of AI, operates on a level of information granules. Multi-tier architectures and hierarchical systems (such as those encountered in control engineering), planning and scheduling systems all exploit information granularity. We also utilize information granules when it comes to functionality granulation, reusability of information and efficient ways of developing underlying information infrastructures.

Information granules are fundamental conceptual entities facilitating perception of complex phenomena and contributing to the enhancement of human centricity in intelligent systems. The formal frameworks of information granules and information granulation comprise fuzzy sets, interval analysis, probability, rough sets, and shadowed sets, to name only a few representatives. Among current developments of Granular Computing, interesting options concern information granules of higher order and of higher type. The higher order information granularity is concerned with an effective formation of information granules over the space being originally constructed by information granules of lower order. This construct is directly associated with the concept of hierarchy of systems composed of successive processing layers characterized by the increasing levels of abstraction. This idea of layered, hierarchical realization of models of complex systems has gained a significant level of visibility in fuzzy modeling with the well-established concept of hierarchical fuzzy models where one strives to achieve a sound tradeoff between accuracy and a level of detail captured by the model and its level of interpretability. Higher type information granules emerge when the information granules themselves cannot be fully characterized in a purely numerical fashion but instead it becomes convenient to exploit their realization in the form of other types of information granules such as type-2 fuzzy sets, interval-valued fuzzy sets, or probabilistic fuzzy sets. Higher order and higher type of information granules constitute the focus of the studies on Granular Computing presented in this study. The book elaborates on sound methodologies of Granular Computing, algorithmic pursuits and an array of diverse applications and case studies in environmental studies, option price forecasting, and power engineering.

This volume is devoted to interactive and iterative processes of decision-making– I2 Fuzzy Decision Making, in brief. Decision-making is inherently interactive. Fuzzy sets help realize human-machine communication in an efficient way by facilitating a two-way interaction in a friendly and transparent manner. Human-centric interaction is of paramount relevance as a leading guiding design principle of decision support systems. The volume provides the reader with an updated and in-depth material on the conceptually appealing and practically sound methodology and practice of I2 Fuzzy Decision Making. The book engages a wealth of methods of fuzzy sets and Granular Computing, brings new concepts, architectures and practice of fuzzy decision-making providing the reader with various application studies. The book is aimed at a broad audience of researchers and practitioners in numerous disciplines in which decision-making processes play a pivotal role and serve as a vehicle to produce solutions to existing problems. Those involved in operations research, management, various branches of engineering, social sciences, logistics, and economics will benefit from the exposure to the subject matter. The book may serve as a useful and timely reference material for graduate students and senior undergraduate students in courses on decision-making, Computational Intelligence, operations research, pattern recognition, risk management, and knowledge-based systems.

This book offers a comprehensive treatise on the recent pursuits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) by casting the crucial features of interpretability and explainability in the original framework of Granular Computing. The innovative perspective established with the aid of information granules provides a high level of human centricity and transparency central to the development of AI constructs. The chapters reflect the breadth of the area and cover recent developments in the methodology, advanced algorithms and applications of XAI to visual analytics, knowledge representation, learning and interpretation. The book appeals to a broad audience including researchers and practitioners interested in gaining exposure to the rapidly growing body of knowledge in AI and intelligent systems.

This volume contains the papers selected for presentation at the 10th Int- national Conference on Rough Sets, Fuzzy Sets, Data Mining, and Granular Computing, RSFDGrC 2005, organized at the University of Regina, August 31st–September 3rd, 2005. This conference followed in the footsteps of inter- tional events devoted to the subject of rough sets, held so far in Canada, China, Japan,Poland,Sweden, and the USA. RSFDGrC achievedthe status of biennial international conference, starting from 2003 in Chongqing, China. The theory of rough sets, proposed by Zdzis law Pawlak in 1982, is a model of approximate reasoning. The main idea is based on indiscernibility relations that describe indistinguishability of objects. Concepts are represented by - proximations. In applications, rough set methodology focuses on approximate representation of knowledge derivable from data. It leads to signi?cant results in many areas such as ?nance, industry, multimedia, and medicine. The RSFDGrC conferences put an emphasis on connections between rough sets and fuzzy sets, granularcomputing, and knowledge discoveryand data m- ing, both at the level of theoretical foundations and real-life applications. In the case of this event, additional e?ort was made to establish a linkage towards a broader range of applications. We achieved it by including in the conference program the workshops on bioinformatics, security engineering, and embedded systems, as well as tutorials and sessions related to other application areas.

During the past few years, data mining has grown rapidly in visibility and importance within information processing and decision analysis. This is par ticularly true in the realm of e-commerce, where data mining is moving from a "nice-to-have" to a "must-have" status. In a different though related context, a new computing methodology called granular computing is emerging as a powerful tool for the conception, analysis and design of information/intelligent systems. In essence, data mining deals with summarization of information which is resident in large data sets, while granular computing plays a key role in the summarization process by draw ing together points (objects) which are related through similarity, proximity or functionality. In this perspective, granular computing has a position of centrality in data mining. Another methodology which has high relevance to data mining and plays a central role in this volume is that of rough set theory. Basically, rough set theory may be viewed as a branch of granular computing. However, its applications to data mining have predated that of granular computing.

In an era defined by the deluge of data, navigating the complexities of decision-making under conditions of uncertainty has emerged as a formidable challenge for scholars and practitioners alike. The sheer volume and velocity of information inundating decision-makers often leads to paralysis or misguided choices, amplifying the risks inherent in uncertain environments. Granular Computing and Big Data Advancements provides insights and solutions in this challenging landscape. The impact of Granular Computing and Big Data Advancements reverberates across the research community, offering a cohesive resource that bridges the gap between theory and practice. With its interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on innovation, the book fosters collaboration and empowers scholars to tackle complex challenges head-on. Whether researchers seek novel methodologies, practitioners aim to enhance decision-making processes, or students embark on their academic journey, this publication serves as a cornerstone in the quest for effective decision-making amidst the uncertainties of the modern world.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Rough Sets, Fuzzy Sets, Data Mining, and Granular Computing, RSFDGrC 2003, held in Chongqing, China in May 2003. The 39 revised full papers and 75 revised short papers presented together with 2 invited keynote papers and 11 invited plenary papers were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 245 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on rough sets foundations and methods; fuzzy sets and systems; granular computing; neural networks and evolutionary computing; data mining, machine learning, and pattern recognition; logics and reasoning; multi-agent systems; and Web intelligence and intelligent systems.

This book constitutes the refereed conference proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Rough Sets, Fuzzy Sets, Data Mining and Granular Computing, RSFDGrC 2015, held in Tianjin, China in November 2015 as one of the co-located conference of the 2015 Joint Rough Set Symposium, JRS 2015. The 44 papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 97 submissions. The papers in this volume cover topics such as rough sets: the experts speak; generalized rough sets; rough sets and graphs; rough and fuzzy hybridization; granular computing; data mining and machine learning; three-way decisions; IJCRS 2015 data challenge.