The representation of uncertainty is a central issue in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is being addressed in many different ways. Each approach has its proponents, and each has had its detractors. However, there is now an in- creasing move towards the belief that an eclectic approach is required to represent and reason under the many facets of uncertainty. We believe that the time is ripe for a wide ranging, yet accessible, survey of the main for- malisms. In this book, we offer a broad perspective on uncertainty and approach- es to managing uncertainty. Rather than provide a daunting mass...

This book identifies the central role of managing uncertainty in AI and expert systems and provides a comprehensive introduction to different aspects of uncertainty and the rationales, descriptions (through worked examples), advantages and limitations of the major approaches that have been taken. The book introduces and describes the main ways in which uncertainty can occur and the importance of managing uncertainty for the production of intelligent behaviour in AI and its associated technologies of knowledge-based systems. It also describes the rationale, advantages and limitations of the...