An Overview of Bayesian Network Applications in Uncertain Domains

 Abstract—Uncertainty is a major barrier in knowledge discovery from complex problem domains. Knowledge discovery in such domains requires qualitative rather than quantitative analysis. Therefore, the quantitative measures can be used to represent uncertainty with the integration of various models. The Bayesian Network (BN) is a widely applied technique for characterization and analysis of uncertainty in real world domains. Thus, the real application of BN can be observed in a broad range of domains such as image processing, decision making, system reliability estimation and PPDM (Privacy Preserving in Data Mining) in association rule mining and medical domain analysis. BN techniques can be used in these domains for prediction and decision support. In this article, a discussion on general BN representation, draw inferences, learning and prediction is followed by applications of BN in some specific domains. Domain specific BN representation, inferences and learning process are also presented. Building upon the knowledge presented, some future research directions are also highlighted.