Automatic Intelligent Data Analysis

This chapter introduces a new way of using soft constraints for selecting data analysis methods that match certain user requirements. It presents a software platform for automatic data analysis that uses a fuzzy knowledge base for automatically selecting and executing data analysis methods. In order to support business users in running data analysis projects the analytical process must be automated as much as possible. The authors argue that previous approaches based on the formalisation of analytical processes were less successful because selecting and running analytical methods is very much an experience-led heuristic process. The authors show that a system based on a fuzzy knowledge base that stores heuristic expert knowledge about data analysis can successfully lead to automatic intelligent data analysis.