Fuzzy set theory -- and its applications. (Q2761567)

[For reviews of earlier editions see Zbl 0719.04002 and Zbl 0845.04006.]NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThis is the fourth edition of the classic and highly acclaimed book on fuzzy sets and their applications. In comparison to the previous editions, the material has been augmented at the applied side of the studies on fuzzy sets. The material is structured into two parts. The first part serves as a thorough yet quite condensed and focused introduction to the fundamentals of fuzzy sets and covers the key topics of basic definitions, generalizations of fuzzy sets, fuzzy measures and measures of fuzziness, fuzzy graphs and relations, possibility measure and fuzzy analysis (e.g., extension principle, fuzzy functions and fuzzy numbers). The second part is a carefully organized overview of the main areas of applications. This material is of particular value to those interested in the applied side of fuzzy sets. Undoubtedly, the book points at the evident diversity of the application areas while at the same time emphasizing the omnipresent visibility of fuzzy sets as the conceptually rich information technology that cuts across these different disciplines. The list is long: approximate reasoning, expert systems, fuzzy control, fuzzy databases, decision making, scheduling, mathematical programming, logistics, fault detection, to name the most representative items. In comparison to the previous editions, the book identifies new trends such as fuzzy data analysis (that becomes more profound in light of the recent developments occurring in data mining), emphasizes the empirical facet of research in fuzzy sets and includes an interesting and thought provoking section on future perspectives of the technology of fuzzy sets.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEOverall, this lucidly written, comprehensive, and carefully balanced book is a must for everybody pursuing research in fuzzy sets and interested in their applications.