Keywords
fuzzy cognitive maps, modeling, decision making, tool
Start Date
26-6-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
26-6-2018 3:20 PM
Abstract
A Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) is an efficient and a relatively easy to understand semi-quantitative extension of cognitive maps, combining aspects of fuzzy logic and neural networks. It has found a great applicability in diverse scientific domains for modeling and providing decision making support in complex problems with high uncertainty, including environmental management. In essence, the FCM modeling approach attempts to capture the functional and causal interactions about complex systems by relying on experts’ domain knowledge, or using stakeholders’ views and perceptions, which can reduce conflicts among stakeholders by capturing the different inter-sectorial synergies and tradeoffs, helping hence to reach consensus about wicked environmental problems. Although there is a number of software products that have been used in the literature which allow drawing FCMs by non-expert users, there is a gap in the literature concerning web-based and open source tools for building, analyzing and visualizing FCMs. In this paper we present a new, intuitive and easy to use web-based software tool, called FCM Wizard, which is fully accessible by experts and lay experts to experiment with, by investigating their real decision making problems. The FCM Wizard is oriented to modeling and inference tasks, considering ways of engaging decision-makers and stakeholders in the modelling process through the different stages of the decision making cycle. The web-based tool can be applied for policy making and environmental management; some computer simulations will be presented to illustrate its feasibility.
A web-based tool for Fuzzy Cognitive Map Modeling
A Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) is an efficient and a relatively easy to understand semi-quantitative extension of cognitive maps, combining aspects of fuzzy logic and neural networks. It has found a great applicability in diverse scientific domains for modeling and providing decision making support in complex problems with high uncertainty, including environmental management. In essence, the FCM modeling approach attempts to capture the functional and causal interactions about complex systems by relying on experts’ domain knowledge, or using stakeholders’ views and perceptions, which can reduce conflicts among stakeholders by capturing the different inter-sectorial synergies and tradeoffs, helping hence to reach consensus about wicked environmental problems. Although there is a number of software products that have been used in the literature which allow drawing FCMs by non-expert users, there is a gap in the literature concerning web-based and open source tools for building, analyzing and visualizing FCMs. In this paper we present a new, intuitive and easy to use web-based software tool, called FCM Wizard, which is fully accessible by experts and lay experts to experiment with, by investigating their real decision making problems. The FCM Wizard is oriented to modeling and inference tasks, considering ways of engaging decision-makers and stakeholders in the modelling process through the different stages of the decision making cycle. The web-based tool can be applied for policy making and environmental management; some computer simulations will be presented to illustrate its feasibility.
Stream and Session
C5: Participatory Modelling 2.0: Interfaces, Tools, Methods and Approaches for Linking Stakeholders Decisions, and Environmental Modelling