With the development of Big Data platforms for managing massive amount of data and wide availability of tools for processing these data, the biggest limitation is the lack of trained experts who are qualified to process and interpret the results. This textbook is intended for graduate students and experts using methods of cluster analysis and applications in various fields. Suitable for an introductory course on cluster analysis or data mining, with an in-depth mathematical treatment that includes discussions on different measures, primitives (points, lines, etc.) and optimization-based clustering methods, Cluster Analysis and Applications also includes coverage of deep learning based clustering methods. With clear explanations of ideas and precise definitions of concepts, accompanied by numerous examples and exercises together with Mathematica programs and modules, Cluster Analysis and Applications may be used by students and researchers in various disciplines, working in data analysis or data science.

Cluster Analysis for Applications deals with methods and various applications of cluster analysis. Topics covered range from variables and scales to measures of association among variables and among data units. Conceptual problems in cluster analysis are discussed, along with hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering methods. The necessary elements of data analysis, statistics, cluster analysis, and computer implementation are integrated vertically to cover the complete path from raw data to a finished analysis. Comprised of 10 chapters, this book begins with an introduction to the subject of cluster analysis and its uses as well as category sorting problems and the need for cluster analysis algorithms. The next three chapters give a detailed account of variables and association measures, with emphasis on strategies for dealing with problems containing variables of mixed types. Subsequent chapters focus on the central techniques of cluster analysis with particular reference to computational considerations; interpretation of clustering results; and techniques and strategies for making the most effective use of cluster analysis. The final chapter suggests an approach for the evaluation of alternative clustering methods. The presentation is capped with a complete set of implementing computer programs listed in the Appendices to make the use of cluster analysis as painless and free of mechanical error as is possible. This monograph is intended for students and workers who have encountered the notion of cluster analysis.

Cluster analysis is used in data mining and is a common technique for statistical data analysis used in many fields of study, such as the medical & life sciences, behavioral & social sciences, engineering, and in computer science. Designed for training industry professionals or for a course on clustering and classification, it can also be used as a companion text for applied statistics. No previous experience in clustering or data mining is assumed. Informal algorithms for clustering data and interpreting results are emphasized. In order to evaluate the results of clustering and to explore data, graphical methods and data structures are used for representing data. Throughout the text, examples and references are provided, in order to enable the material to be comprehensible for a diverse audience. A companion disc includes numerous appendices with programs, data, charts, solutions, etc. eBook Customers: Companion files are available for downloading with order number/proof of purchase by writing to the publisher at [email protected]. FEATURES *Places emphasis on illustrating the underlying logic in making decisions during the cluster analysis *Discusses the related applications of statistic, e.g., Ward’s method (ANOVA), JAN (regression analysis & correlational analysis), cluster validation (hypothesis testing, goodness-of-fit, Monte Carlo simulation, etc.) *Contains separate chapters on JAN and the clustering of categorical data *Includes a companion disc with solutions to exercises, programs, data sets, charts, etc.

Cluster analysis comprises a range of methods for classifying multivariate data into subgroups. By organizing multivariate data into such subgroups, clustering can help reveal the characteristics of any structure or patterns present. These techniques have proven useful in a wide range of areas such as medicine, psychology, market research and bioinformatics. This fifth edition of the highly successful Cluster Analysis includes coverage of the latest developments in the field and a new chapter dealing with finite mixture models for structured data. Real life examples are used throughout to demonstrate the application of the theory, and figures are used extensively to illustrate graphical techniques. The book is comprehensive yet relatively non-mathematical, focusing on the practical aspects of cluster analysis. Key Features: Presents a comprehensive guide to clustering techniques, with focus on the practical aspects of cluster analysis Provides a thorough revision of the fourth edition, including new developments in clustering longitudinal data and examples from bioinformatics and gene studies./li> Updates the chapter on mixture models to include recent developments and presents a new chapter on mixture modeling for structured data Practitioners and researchers working in cluster analysis and data analysis will benefit from this book.

This book provides the reader with a basic understanding of the formal concepts of the cluster, clustering, partition, cluster analysis etc. The book explains feature-based, graph-based and spectral clustering methods and discusses their formal similarities and differences. Understanding the related formal concepts is particularly vital in the epoch of Big Data; due to the volume and characteristics of the data, it is no longer feasible to predominantly rely on merely viewing the data when facing a clustering problem. Usually clustering involves choosing similar objects and grouping them together. To facilitate the choice of similarity measures for complex and big data, various measures of object similarity, based on quantitative (like numerical measurement results) and qualitative features (like text), as well as combinations of the two, are described, as well as graph-based similarity measures for (hyper) linked objects and measures for multilayered graphs. Numerous variants demonstrating how such similarity measures can be exploited when defining clustering cost functions are also presented. In addition, the book provides an overview of approaches to handling large collections of objects in a reasonable time. In particular, it addresses grid-based methods, sampling methods, parallelization via Map-Reduce, usage of tree-structures, random projections and various heuristic approaches, especially those used for community detection.

Handbook of Cluster Analysis provides a comprehensive and unified account of the main research developments in cluster analysis. Written by active, distinguished researchers in this area, the book helps readers make informed choices of the most suitable clustering approach for their problem and make better use of existing cluster analysis tools.The

Partitioning around medoids (Program PAM). Clustering large applications (Program CLARA). Fuzzy analysis (Program FANNY). Agglomerative Nesting (Program AGNES). Divisive analysis (Program DIANA). Monothetic analysis (Program MONA). Appendix.