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Bridge structures deteriorate due to various factors, and their maintenance can be made more efficient by utilizing relevant information. This paper describes an algorithm called Self-Organizing Map-based Cluster Merging (SOMCM) using a multi-dimensional matrix composite neural network, and a surface image identification system. The algorithm is designed to investigate the relevance between the main components of bridges and their types of deterioration. 6140 records on bridge maintenance were collected for all bridges in the Taoyuan region of Taiwan in 2021. The SOMCM algorithm involves finding the winner neuron through merging processes. 61 clusters were merged into 8 clusters after a predetermined number of iterations. Clustering analysis of the final 8 clusters revealed 9 major bridge maintenance association rules. Follow-up studies can apply the algorithm to integrate more technologies including GIS coordinates, material availability, real-time traffic conditions, and weather information to be of benefit to engineering practitioners. • The study is to develop a new algorithm, SOM-based Cluster Merging (SOMCM). • The paper is to investigate the relevance for bridge main components and their deterioration types. • The initial result involves 61 clusters being merged to 8 clusters with the predetermined iterations. • The clustering analysis for the final 8 clusters shows 9 major bridge maintenance association rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors developed a self-organizing map-based optimization (SOMO) neurofuzzy classifier to deal with a practical expatriation willingness (EW) problem, which is associated with employees’ willingness to accept expatriate assignments. The proposed model also delivers more information about rule coverage and generates user-friendly outcomes. The authors adopt the SOMO algorithm to optimize the weights of neurons in the proposed hybrid neurofuzzy classifier. They evaluated the model’s feasibility using the databases from previous studies exploring employees’ EW. The results show that the proposed neurofuzzy classifier yields 11 determination rules whose accuracy rates are greater than 80 percent. The contribution to the body of knowledge lies in the significant improvement in accuracy rates and coverage for predicting EW rules, optimization for all the network parameters using a novel algorithm, and more friendly outputs for practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In this paper, a multi-layer perceptron based on 6 important features is proposed for predicting the time needed by our aircraft to approach enemy aircraft when they are in a combat situation. Then the prediction module is incorporated into a SOMO-based decision aid for solving multi-aircraft assignment problems. The problem of assigning our aircraft to meet head-on enemy aircraft in a combat situation is formulated as a constrained resource allocation problem. The objective function of the multi-aircraft assignment problem is a measure for computing the expected overall predominance value of aircraft over enemy aircraft based on four predominance factors. The SOMO algorithm which is an extension version of the SOM algorithm for optimization is executed to find an assignment such that the expected overall predominance value of aircraft can be maximized. Four hundred combat situations are simulated to test the effectiveness of the proposed SOMO-based decision aid. The simulation results demonstrate that the SOMO-based decision aid could provide appealing solutions within 0.5 s even for combat situations with a large number of aircraft. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Construction time matters for activities where rental equipment must be used. The building of a secant pile wall requires the rental of equipment and finding the optimal sequence to minimize the construction time is one way to lower construction costs. In this study we develop an effective and efficient optimization algorithm, which we call self-organizing feature map (SOM)-based optimization (SOMO), to minimize the construction time. The algorithm is applied to a case study to obtain the optimal sequences for both primary and secondary bored piles for a secant pile wall. The new SOMO algorithm is developed based on the ability of the human brain to produce topologically ordered mapping, so as to exploit better solutions via updating the weighting vectors of the neurons in a self-organizing topological way that occurs in the evolution of the feature map for optimization. Given detailed building time of the 16 activities of each bored pile, we find that 143.92 h or 27.21% of the original construction can be saved. The optimal sequences for both primary and secondary bored piles are also determined. The practicability of the SOMO algorithm is substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional self-organizing feature map (SOM) algorithm is usually interpreted as a computational model, which can capture main features of computational maps in the brain. In this paper, we present a variant of the SOM algorithm called the SOM-based optimization (SOMO) algorithm. The development of the SOMO algorithm was motivated by exploring the possibility of applying the SOM algorithm in continuous optimization problems. Through the self-organizing process, good solutions to an optimization problem can be simultaneously explored and exploited by the SOMO algorithm. In our opinion, the SOMO algorithm not only can be regarded as a biologically inspired computational model but also may be regarded as a new approach to a model of social influence and social learning. Several simulations are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]