1 - Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the book which deals with data mining (also known as knowledge discovery from data, or KDD). Data mining is the process of discovering interesting patterns from massive amounts of data. As a knowledge discovery process, it typically involves data cleaning, data integration, data selection, data transformation, pattern discovery, pattern evaluation, and knowledge presentation. The major dimensions of data mining are data, knowledge, technologies, and applications. The book focuses on fundamental data mining concepts and techniques for discovering interesting patterns from data in various applications. Prominent techniques for developing effective, efficient, and scalable data mining tools are focused on. This chapter discusses why data mining is in high demand and how it is part of the natural evolution of information technology. It defines data mining with respect to the knowledge discovery process. Next, data mining from many aspects, such as the kinds of data that can be mined, the kinds of knowledge to be mined, the kinds of technologies to be used and targeted applications are discussed which helps gain a multidimensional view of data mining. Data mining can be conducted on any kind of data as long as the data are meaningful for a target application, such as database data, data warehouse data, transactional data, and advanced data types. Finally major data mining research and development issues are outlined.