Researcher awarded in Information Communication Technology field
Among the many innovative research projects in the 10th National Research Awards, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, ‘A Non-iterative Reasoning Algorithm for Fuzzy Cognitive Maps based on Type 2 Fuzzy Sets’ by principal investigator Dr Alya Talib al Farsi, assistant dean for Academic Affairs at Middle East College, was awarded in the Information and Communication Technologies field in the PHD category.
Elaborating on her research project, Dr Alya said that a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) is a causal knowledge graph connecting concepts using directional and weighted connections making it an effective approach for reasoning and decision making. However, the modelling and reasoning capabilities of a conventional FCM for real world problems in the presence of uncertain data is limited as it relies on Type 1 Fuzzy Sets (T1FSS).
In this work, Dr Alya and her team extended the capability of
FCMS for capturing greater uncertainties in the interrelations of the modelled concepts by introducing a new reasoning algorithm that uses Type 2 Fuzzy Sets based on z slices for the modelling of uncertain weights connecting FCM’S concepts, explaining that these Type 2 Fuzzy Sets are generated using interval valued data from surveyed participants and aggregated using the Interval Agreement Approach method.
Dr Alya mentioned that the study’s algorithm performed late defuzzification of the FCM’S values at the end of the reasoning process, preserving the uncertainty in values for as long as possible.
The proposed algorithm was applied to the evaluation of the performance of modules of an undergraduate Mathematical programme. The results obtained showed a greater correlation to domain experts’ subjective knowledge on the modules’ performance than both a corresponding FCM with weights modelled using T1FS and a statistical method currently used for evaluating the modules’ performance. Sensitivity analysis conducted demonstrated that the new algorithm effectively preserves the propagation of uncertainty captured from input data.
This research project was published in Information Science. The research team consisted of Dr Alya and her PHD supervisors Dr Dobrila Petrovic and Dr Faiyaz Doctor.
“Receiving the National Research Award recognises years of passionate research and is deeply gratifying. To have my work distinguished on the national stage inspires me to continue pursuing impactful projects that advance Fuzzy Systems in Oman.
“I feel proud that through commitment to excellence in my research, I am playing an active part in an area His Majesty, the Sultan, has singled out during his recent speech on Oman Council as vital to the future prosperity of Oman.”