Universal Function Approximation and Data Mining-Assisted Imputation Methods

Optimal functional forms (Teegavarapu in, J Hydrol 332:16–29, 2007) for linking variable data at one observation point with others make it possible to estimate missing variable data. These functions establish an optimal relationship among the observations via a mathematical relationship. Three types of mathematical functional forms (Teegavarapu et al. 2008) are possible, and they include (1) fixed mathematical form, (2) flexible mathematical form, and (3) fixed function-free forms. The following sections describe optimal functions developed using a method like item 2 described above.