A generalized maximum entropy principle for decision analysis
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Authors
Thomas, Marlin Uluess
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Date of Issue
1977-04
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
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Abstract
A generalized maximum entropy principle is described for dealing with decision problems involving uncertainty but with some prior knowledge about the probability space corresponding to nature. This knowledge about the probabilistic structure is expressed through known bounds on event probabilities and moments, which is incorporated into a nonlinear programming problem. The solution provides a maximum entropy distribution which is then used in treating the decision problem as one involving risk. An example application is described that involves the selection of oil spill recovery systems for inland harbor regions. Other areas of application are identified and tables of some maximum entropy distributions resulting from a variety of moment constraints are provided
Type
Technical Report
Description
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NPS Report Number
NPS55-77-20
Sponsors
Supported in part by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Research and Development Program in Environmental Protection, and the Office of Naval Research Foundation at the Naval Postgraduate School.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.