Search results
1 – 10 of over 48000The mobile communication industry in China is vulnerable to competition, industry regulation, macroeconomy and so on, which leads to service income's volatility and…
Abstract
Purpose
The mobile communication industry in China is vulnerable to competition, industry regulation, macroeconomy and so on, which leads to service income's volatility and non-stationarity. Traditional income prediction models fail to take account of these factors, thus resulting in a low precision. The purpose of this paper is to to set up a new mobile communication service income prediction model based on grey system theory to overcome the inconformity between traditional models and qualitative analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
At first, mobile telecommunication service income is divided into number of users (NU) and average revenue per user (ARPU) prediction, respectively. Then, grey buffer operators are introduced to preprocess the time series according to their features and tendencies to eliminate the effect of shock disturbance. As a result, two grey models based on GM(1, 1) are constructed to forecast NU and ARPU, and thus the service income is obtained. At last, a case on Zhujiang mobile communication company is studied. The result proves that the proposed method is not only more accurate, but also could discover the turning point of income.
Findings
The results are convincing: it is more effective and accurate to employ grey buffer operator theory to predict the mobile communication service income compared with other methods. Besides, this method is applicable to cases with less data samples and faster development.
Practical implications
It's common to come across a system with less data and poor information. At this case, the grey prediction method exposed in the paper can be used to forecast the future trend which will give the predictors advice to achieve fine outcomes. Buffer operators can reduce the effect of shock disturbance and the GM(1, 1) model has the advantages of exploiting information using only a couple of data.
Originality/value
Considering the fast development of China's mobile communication in recent years, only limited data can be acquired to predict the future, which will definitely reduce the prediction precision using traditional models. The paper succeeds in introducing GM(1, 1) model based on grey buffer operators into the income prediction and the outcome proves that it has higher prediction precision and extensive application.
Details
Keywords
Zhang Lixia, Tang Hong and He Miao
The purpose of this paper is to predict hospital respiratory system infection rate by using the gray GM(1,1) model, and to provide theoretical basis for the prospective study on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to predict hospital respiratory system infection rate by using the gray GM(1,1) model, and to provide theoretical basis for the prospective study on hospital respiratory system infection management.
Design/methodology/approach
The annual respiratory system infection rate of a comprehensive third-class hospital in Yan’an is collected from 2011 to 2017. The GM(1,1) model is used for prediction, and mean absolute percentage error is used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the model.
Findings
GM(1,1) statistical prediction model is established with good fitting degree and high reliability of extrapolation prediction.
Originality/value
The GM(1,1) model can well predict the respiratory system infection rate of the hospital.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to establish a random simulation method to compare the forecasting performance between grey prediction models, and between grey model and other kinds…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish a random simulation method to compare the forecasting performance between grey prediction models, and between grey model and other kinds of prediction models. Then, the different performance of three grey models and linear regression prediction model is studied, based on the proposed method.
Design/methodology/approach
A random simulation method was proposed to test the modelling accuracy of grey prediction model. This method was enlightened by Monte Carlo simulation method. It regarded a class of sequences as population, and selected a large sample from population though random sampling. Then, sample sequences were modeled by grey prediction model. Through modeling error calculation, the average error of grey model for the sample was obtained. Finally, the grey model accuracy for this kind of problem was acquired by statistical inference testing model. Through the statistical significant test method, the modeling accuracy of grey models for the same problem can be compared. Also, accuracy difference between grey prediction model and regression analysis, support vector machine, neural network, and other forecasting methods can be also compared.
Findings
Though random simulation experiments, the following conclusion was obtained. First, grey model can be applied to the long sequence whose growth rate was less than 20 per cent, and the short sequence whose growth rate was less than 50 per cent. Second, GM(1,1) cannot be applied to a long sequence with high growth. Third, growth rate was a more important factor than growth length on modeling accuracy of GM(1,1). Fourth, when the sequence length was short, accuracy of GM(1,1) model was higher than linear regression. While the length of the sequence was more than 15, and the growth rate in [0‐10 per cent], two kinds of modeling error was not significantly different.
Practical implications
The method proposed in the paper can be used to compare the performance of different prediction models, and to select appropriate model for a prediction problem.
Originality/value
The paper succeeded in establishing an accuracy test method for grey models and other prediction models. It will standardize the grey modelling and contribute to application of grey models.
Details
Keywords
Siyu Su, Youchao Sun, Chong Peng and Yuanyuan Guo
The purpose of this paper is to identify the key influencing factors of aviation accidents and to predict the aviation accidents caused by the factors.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the key influencing factors of aviation accidents and to predict the aviation accidents caused by the factors.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes an improved gray correlation analysis (IGCA) theory to make the relational analysis of aviation accidents and influencing factors and find out the critical causes of aviation accidents. The optimal varying weight combination model (OVW-CM) is constructed based on gradient boosted regression tree (GBRT), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and support vector regression (SVR) to predict aviation accidents due to critical factors.
Findings
The global aviation accident data from 1919 to 2020 is selected as the experimental data. The airplane, takeoff/landing and unexpected results are the leading causes of the aviation accidents based on IGCA. Then GBRT, XGBoost, SVR, equal-weight combination model (EQ-CM), variance-covariance combination model (VCW-CM) and OVW-CM are used to predict aviation accidents caused by airplane, takeoff/landing and unexpected results, respectively. The experimental results show that OVW-CM has a better prediction effect, and the prediction accuracy and stability are higher than other models.
Originality/value
Unlike the traditional gray correlation analysis (GCA), IGCA weights the sample by distance analysis to more objectively reflect the degree of influence of different factors on aviation accidents. OVW-CM is built by minimizing the combined prediction error at sample points and assigns different weights to different individual models at different moments, which can make full use of the advantages of each model and has higher prediction accuracy. And the model parameters of GBRT, XGBoost and SVR are optimized by the particle swarm algorithm. The study can guide the analysis and prediction of aviation accidents and provide a scientific basis for aviation safety management.
Details
Keywords
Xiaojie Xu and Yun Zhang
For policymakers and participants of financial markets, predictions of trading volumes of financial indices are important issues. This study aims to address such a prediction…
Abstract
Purpose
For policymakers and participants of financial markets, predictions of trading volumes of financial indices are important issues. This study aims to address such a prediction problem based on the CSI300 nearby futures by using high-frequency data recorded each minute from the launch date of the futures to roughly two years after constituent stocks of the futures all becoming shortable, a time period witnessing significantly increased trading activities.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to answer questions as follows, this study adopts the neural network for modeling the irregular trading volume series of the CSI300 nearby futures: are the research able to utilize the lags of the trading volume series to make predictions; if this is the case, how far can the predictions go and how accurate can the predictions be; can this research use predictive information from trading volumes of the CSI300 spot and first distant futures for improving prediction accuracy and what is the corresponding magnitude; how sophisticated is the model; and how robust are its predictions?
Findings
The results of this study show that a simple neural network model could be constructed with 10 hidden neurons to robustly predict the trading volume of the CSI300 nearby futures using 1–20 min ahead trading volume data. The model leads to the root mean square error of about 955 contracts. Utilizing additional predictive information from trading volumes of the CSI300 spot and first distant futures could further benefit prediction accuracy and the magnitude of improvements is about 1–2%. This benefit is particularly significant when the trading volume of the CSI300 nearby futures is close to be zero. Another benefit, at the cost of the model becoming slightly more sophisticated with more hidden neurons, is that predictions could be generated through 1–30 min ahead trading volume data.
Originality/value
The results of this study could be used for multiple purposes, including designing financial index trading systems and platforms, monitoring systematic financial risks and building financial index price forecasting.
Details
Keywords
Marko Kureljusic and Jonas Metz
The accurate prediction of incoming cash flows enables more effective cash management and allows firms to shape firms' planning based on forward-looking information. Although most…
Abstract
Purpose
The accurate prediction of incoming cash flows enables more effective cash management and allows firms to shape firms' planning based on forward-looking information. Although most firms are aware of the benefits of these forecasts, many still have difficulties identifying and implementing an appropriate prediction model. With the rise of machine learning algorithms, numerous new forecasting techniques have emerged. These new forecasting techniques are theoretically applicable for predicting customer payment behavior but have not yet been adequately investigated. This study aims to close this research gap by examining which machine learning algorithm is the most appropriate for predicting customer payment dates.
Design/methodology/approach
By using various machine learning algorithms, the authors evaluate whether customer payment behavior patterns can be identified and predicted. The study is based on real-world transaction data from a DAX-40 firm with over 1,000,000 invoices in the dataset, with the data covering the period 2017–2019.
Findings
The authors' results show that neural networks in particular are suitable for predicting customers' payment dates. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that contextual and logical prediction models can provide more accurate forecasts than conventional baseline models, such as linear and multivariate regression.
Research limitations/implications
Future cash flow forecasting studies should incorporate naïve prediction models, as the authors demonstrate that these models can compete with conventional baseline models used in existing machine learning research. However, the authors expect that with more in-depth information about the customer (creditworthiness, accounting structure) the results can be even further improved.
Practical implications
The knowledge of customers' future payment dates enables firms to change their perspective and move from reactive to proactive cash management. This shift leads to a more targeted dunning process.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has yet been conducted that interprets the prediction of incoming payments as a daily rolling forecast by comparing naïve forecasts with forecasts based on machine learning and deep learning models.
Details
Keywords
Rolling element bearings (REBs) are commonly used in rotating machinery such as pumps, motors, fans and other machineries. The REBs deteriorate over life cycle time. To know the…
Abstract
Purpose
Rolling element bearings (REBs) are commonly used in rotating machinery such as pumps, motors, fans and other machineries. The REBs deteriorate over life cycle time. To know the amount of deteriorate at any time, this paper aims to present a prognostics approach based on integrating optimize health indicator (OHI) and machine learning algorithm.
Design/methodology/approach
Proposed optimum prediction model would be used to evaluate the remaining useful life (RUL) of REBs. Initially, signal raw data are preprocessing through mother wavelet transform; after that, the primary fault features are extracted. Further, these features process to elevate the clarity of features using the random forest algorithm. Based on variable importance of features, the best representation of fault features is selected. Optimize the selected feature by adjusting weight vector using optimization techniques such as genetic algorithm (GA), sequential quadratic optimization (SQO) and multiobjective optimization (MOO). New OHIs are determined and apply to train the network. Finally, optimum predictive models are developed by integrating OHI and artificial neural network (ANN), K-mean clustering (KMC) (i.e. OHI–GA–ANN, OHI–SQO–ANN, OHI–MOO–ANN, OHI–GA–KMC, OHI–SQO–KMC and OHI–MOO–KMC).
Findings
Optimum prediction models performance are recorded and compared with the actual value. Finally, based on error term values best optimum prediction model is proposed for evaluation of RUL of REBs.
Originality/value
Proposed OHI–GA–KMC model is compared in terms of error values with previously published work. RUL predicted by OHI–GA–KMC model is smaller, giving the advantage of this method.
Details
Keywords
Ian Lenaers, Kris Boudt and Lieven De Moor
The purpose is twofold. First, this study aims to establish that black box tree-based machine learning (ML) models have better predictive performance than a standard linear…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is twofold. First, this study aims to establish that black box tree-based machine learning (ML) models have better predictive performance than a standard linear regression (LR) hedonic model for rent prediction. Second, it shows the added value of analyzing tree-based ML models with interpretable machine learning (IML) techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on Belgian residential rental properties were collected. Tree-based ML models, random forest regression and eXtreme gradient boosting regression were applied to derive rent prediction models to compare predictive performance with a LR model. Interpretations of the tree-based models regarding important factors in predicting rent were made using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) feature importance (FI) plots and SHAP summary plots.
Findings
Results indicate that tree-based models perform better than a LR model for Belgian residential rent prediction. The SHAP FI plots agree that asking price, cadastral income, surface livable, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms and variables measuring the proximity to points of interest are dominant predictors. The direction of relationships between rent and its factors is determined with SHAP summary plots. In addition to linear relationships, it emerges that nonlinear relationships exist.
Originality/value
Rent prediction using ML is relatively less studied than house price prediction. In addition, studying prediction models using IML techniques is relatively new in real estate economics. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to derive insights of driving determinants of predicted rents from SHAP FI and SHAP summary plots.
Details
Keywords
Metropolitan areas suffer from frequent road traffic congestion not only during peak hours but also during off-peak periods. Different machine learning methods have been used in…
Abstract
Purpose
Metropolitan areas suffer from frequent road traffic congestion not only during peak hours but also during off-peak periods. Different machine learning methods have been used in travel time prediction, however, such machine learning methods practically face the problem of overfitting. Tree-based ensembles have been applied in various prediction fields, and such approaches usually produce high prediction accuracy by aggregating and averaging individual decision trees. The inherent advantages of these approaches not only get better prediction results but also have a good bias-variance trade-off which can help to avoid overfitting. However, the reality is that the application of tree-based integration algorithms in traffic prediction is still limited. This study aims to improve the accuracy and interpretability of the models by using random forest (RF) to analyze and model the travel time on freeways.
Design/methodology/approach
As the traffic conditions often greatly change, the prediction results are often unsatisfactory. To improve the accuracy of short-term travel time prediction in the freeway network, a practically feasible and computationally efficient RF prediction method for real-world freeways by using probe traffic data was generated. In addition, the variables’ relative importance was ranked, which provides an investigation platform to gain a better understanding of how different contributing factors might affect travel time on freeways.
Findings
The parameters of the RF model were estimated by using the training sample set. After the parameter tuning process was completed, the proposed RF model was developed. The features’ relative importance showed that the variables (travel time 15 min before) and time of day (TOD) contribute the most to the predicted travel time result. The model performance was also evaluated and compared against the extreme gradient boosting method and the results indicated that the RF always produces more accurate travel time predictions.
Originality/value
This research developed an RF method to predict the freeway travel time by using the probe vehicle-based traffic data and weather data. Detailed information about the input variables and data pre-processing were presented. To measure the effectiveness of proposed travel time prediction algorithms, the mean absolute percentage errors were computed for different observation segments combined with different prediction horizons ranging from 15 to 60 min.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Purpose
In order to more accurately predict the dynamics of the e-commerce market and increase the comprehensive value of the circular e-commerce industry, proposes to use Grey system theory to analyze the circular economy of the e-commerce market.
Design/methodology/approach
Construct a Grey system theory model, analyze the big data of e-commerce and circular economy of the e-commerce market and predict the development potential of China's e-commerce market.
Findings
The results show that the Grey system theory model can play an important role in the data analysis of circular economy of the e-commerce market.
Originality/value
Use Grey model to analyze e-commerce data, discover e-commerce market rules and problems and then optimize e-commerce market.
Details