Model-based subspace clustering

Abstract

We discuss a model-based approach to identifying clusters of objects based on subsets of attributes, so that the attributes that distinguish a cluster from the rest of the population may depend on the cluster being considered. The method is based on a Pólya urn cluster model for multivariate means and variances, resulting in a multivariate Dirichlet process mixture model. This particular model-based approach accommodates outliers and allows for the incorporation of application-specific data features into the clustering scheme. For example, in an analysis of genetic CGH array data we are able to design a clustering method that accounts for spatial dependence of chromosomal abnormalities.