Bayesian Networks, 2nd Edition

2

The Continuous Case: Gaussian Bayesian Networks

In this chapter we will continue our exploration of BNs, focusing on modelling continuous data under a multivariate Normal (Gaussian) assumption.

2.1 Introductory Example: Crop Analysis

Suppose that we are interested in the analysis of a particular plant, which we will model in a very simplistic way by considering:

• the potential of the plant and of the environment;

• the production of vegetative mass;

• and the harvested grain mass, which is called the crop.

To be more precise, we define two synthetic variables to describe the initial status of the plant: its genetic potential, which we will denote as G, and the environmental potential of the location and the season it is grown in, which ...