This book was originally published in Chinese, and the English edition is in Springer’s “Advanced Topics in Science and Technology in China” series. As stated in the preface, the authors’ motive for writing this book was to apply expert systems to the solution of agricultural processes. After looking at many artificial intelligence (AI)-applied solutions for optimizing system processes, they picked neural networks. Readers should note that a significant number of the book’s references are only available in Chinese. Therefore, in order to read some of the specific references on the practical applications of process neural networks (PNNs), the readers need to be able to read the Chinese references; however, the important references are in English.

Although there are other books on neural networks, this comprehensive volume includes background material, theories, and specific applications for PNNs.

Chapters 1 to 3 provide a very good theoretical foundation for PNNs. For readers who want to dig deeper, chapter 1 includes 37 references. Chapters 4 to 7 further explain and elaborate on PNNs. The authors present examples to illustrate the concepts. Chapter 4 addresses feed-forward control and time-variant functions for PNN input/output (I/O). Learning algorithms are discussed in chapter 5, and three-layer feedback PNNs are explained in detail in chapter 6. Chapter 7 addresses the most complex time-variant I/O functions, with a multiaggregation process. In chapter 8, the authors use six different PNN constructions and designs, and show examples of how each one can be applied to a different class of problems. Finally, chapter 9 provides more advanced applications in modeling nonlinear control and optimization, forecast and prediction, and other process control problems.

The book’s primary audience includes researchers and graduate students interested in neural networks. Unfortunately, the authors fail to mention that there are several software products that can be readily employed to solve the practical problems and avoid any extensive programming. Many of these software products provide easy tools for data I/O, preprocessing and postprocessing, various adaptive and optimization paradigms, system design and user interfaces, as well as final deployment of the neural network applications.

The book provides good references at the end of each chapter, and the index is adequate, although not quite comprehensive enough for the novice reader.