title: A similarity-based robust clustering method.
abstract: This paper presents an alternating optimization clustering procedure called a similarity-based clustering method (SCM). It is an effective and robust approach to clustering on the basis of a total similarity objective function related to the approximate density shape estimation. We show that the data points in SCM can self-organize local optimal cluster number and volumes without using cluster validity functions or a variance-covariance matrix. The proposed clustering method is also robust to noise and outliers based on the influence function and gross error sensitivity analysis. Therefore, SCM exhibits three robust clustering characteristics: 1) robust to the initialization (cluster number and initial guesses), 2) robust to cluster volumes (ability to detect different volumes of clusters), and 3) robust to noise and outliers. Several numerical data sets and actual data are used in the SCM to show these good aspects. The computational complexity of SCM is also analyzed. Some experimental results of comparing the proposed SCM with the existing methods show the superiority of the SCM method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Mathematics, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Taiwan 32023, ROC. msyang@math.cycu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Miin-Shen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kuo-Lung
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013382:Subtraction Technique