A comparison of neural network, evidential reasoning and multiple regression analysis in modelling bridge risks

Artificial neural network (ANN), the evidential reasoning (ER) approach and multiple regression analysis (MRA) can all be utilized to model bridge risks, but their modelling mechanisms and performances are quite different and therefore need comparison. This study compares the modelling mechanisms of the three alternative approaches and their performances in modelling a set of bridge risk data. It is found that ANN outperforms the ER approach and MRA for the considered case study. The reason for this is analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of the three alternative approaches are also compared.