RE: [UAI] Visualization of Bayesian Networks? You may also find it helpful of visualizing the probability distributions (e.g., bar chart, probabilty wheel), navigating the conditional probability tables (e.g., shrinkable tables), and supporting diagnosis specifically. We have studied the graphical user interface tools a few years ago and implemented some useful tools in GeNIe based on human compuer interaction principles. GeNIe is a free software of graphical environment for model development, reasoning and learning of Bayesian networks and influence diagrams.  Here are some useful links:

A UAI paper describing the graphical tools for probability elicitation and CPT navigation: http://www.pitt.edu/~druzdzel/psfiles/uai00c.pdf
GeNIe home: http://www.sis.pitt.edu/~genie

-Haiqin Wang
Advanced Computing Technologist
Boeing Phantom Works
P.O. Box 3707, MC 7L-44
Seattle, WA 98124
Tel: 425-865-5643
Email: feeudo.kijo@boeing.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Francisco Javier Diez [mailto:bgvpki@dia.uned.es] 
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 3:38 AM
To: Imme Ebert-Uphoff
Cc: faq@eecs.oregonstate.edu
Subject: Re: [UAI] Visualization of Bayesian Networks?

Imme Ebert-Uphoff wrote:

 > I have several questions related to the visualization of Bayesian  > Networks.
 >
 > It seems that visualizing information beyond just the structure could be  > very helpful for BN interpretation.  Zapata-Rivera et al., for example,  > visualize "the strength of connection" of any edge, as well as other  > information:
 >
 > Zapata-Rivera, J.D., Neufeld, E., & Greer, J. (1999). Visualization of  > Bayesian Belief Networks. IEEE Visualization 1999 Late Breaking Hot  > Topics Proceedings. 85-88.
 > Available at: http://www.cs.usask.ca/grads/rjz896/papers/zapata.pdf

Carmen Lacave, in her doctoral thesis, proposed some visual explanation methods and implemented them in Elvira, a free software tool; see http://www.ia.uned.es/~elvira http://www.ia.uned.es/~elvira/Elvira-user-manual.pdf

She wrote a paper describing that work, which was submitted to a journal more than a year ago (we are still waiting for the reviews):
http://www.ia.uned.es/~fjdiez/temp/GUI-Elvira.pdf
(If this paper is accepted, the final version will certainly cite the work by Zapata-Rivera et al.)

 > MY QUESTIONS:
 >
 > 1) Why is the visualization of BNs barely discussed in recent  > literature?  Is it a done deal or is there little interest in  > visualizing anything but the structure?

You can find some references in the paper "A review of explanation methods for Bayesian networks", available at http://www.inf-cr.uclm.es/www/clacave/public/Publicaciones.htm.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,
   Javier DÃ­ez

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Francisco Javier Diez              Phone: (+34) 91.398.71.61
Dpto. Inteligencia Artificial      Fax:   (+34) 91.398.88.95
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