Using Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Significant Wave Height Compared with Parametric Methods

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Prediction of Sea Wave parameters is an important issue as it is the main design factor for maritime structures. Previously, researchers have used many parametric and numerical approaches, which may be complex in application, take a long time in preparation and sometimes require a bathymetric survey. Recently, soft computing techniques such as Fuzzy Inference Systems, Genetic Algorithm, Machine Learning, etc. have been used to predict sea wave parameters in many marine areas around the world. The ease of application, high accuracy and low computational time of these techniques make them a very good choice in many engineering applications. This study focuses on prediction of significant wave height (Hs) by applying one of the most advanced Machine Learning techniques known as Support Vector Machine (SVM). SVM models are built on the basis of different Kernel functions (Linear, Sigmoid, Radial Basis Function, and Polynomial) which transform the input data into an n-dimensional space where a hyperplane can be generated to partition the data. The results of SVM models are analyzed, evaluated and then compared with the results of commonly used parametric models (P-M, SPM, and CEM). This study shows that the P-M model has reliable and satisfactory results among all parametric models, as its statistical errors are close to those of SVM models (RBF and Polynomial), while all of them are identical in their correlation factors (0.999). Moreover, the parametric models (SPM and CEM) are more accurate in their results than the SVM models (Linear and Sigmoid). Also, this study confirms that the SVM models (RBF and polynomial) are the most accurate models overall, as they have the best generalization error among all models. Finally, it can be concluded that SVM models (RBF and Polynomial) are a promising technique in the sea wave height prediction and can be used as an economic and accurate alternative solution to other prediction models.