Interval belief structure rule-based system using extended fuzzy Dempster-Shafer inference

This paper proposes a new belief structure fuzzy inference system (FIS) that can model vagueness, ambiguity and interval uncertainties in the knowledge base. The interval belief structure is introduced to define the rules of an FIS and build uncertain knowledge. Fuzzy implication followed by extended fuzzy Dempster-Shafer combination is presented for inference in the proposed rule-based system. The application of the interval belief structure FIS is investigated through the implementation of a rule-based system for microbial water quality risk assessment. Finally, the proposed FIS is tested through historical datasets that were available for a water distribution network.