Modeling Complex Processes Through Nature-Analogous Methods

This book is an introduction to nature-analogous techniques and related formal methods. For each technique, application examples are provided. It covers cellular automata and Boolean networks, evolutionary algorithms, as well as simulated annealing, fuzzy methods, neural networks, and finally hybrid systems, i.e., combinations of various techniques. Based on the theory of complex dynamic systems, theoretical foundations are also presented, and the similarities of these seemingly very heterogeneous techniques are pointed out. The edition has been revised and expanded with current trends such as ChatGPT.