**3. Data and decision sciences (DDS): Recent advances on DDS**

As discussed in the previous sections, data and decision sciences (DDS) are interrelated. Data science involves with data collection, data mining, and data analysis. While decision science involves with the process of making decisions through interpretation of the data. But the data interpretation requires data analysis that is a subset of data science. The data analysis is usually conducted by applying mathematical and simulation models and related algorithms for optimizing the risks associated with the decision-making process.

<sup>2</sup> https://chds.hsph.harvard.edu/approaches/what-is-decision-science/.

### **3.1 Recent advances in data and decision sciences**

As the Industry Revolution 4.03 evolves to 5.0, the decision-making process is being challenged by massive data sources and the digitization of the business world along with the rise of environmental uncertainty and risks. Emerging big data analytics, ML-AI, and digitization technologies have allowed for seamless integration of data and decision sciences (DDS). The decision support system (DSS) using big data analytics and ML-AI approach is one of the recent advancements in the integration of DSS (a.k.a. advanced DSS). Along with big data analytics and ML-AI technologies, advanced DSS is a computer-based system that allows for the digitization of the decision-making processes using sophisticated mathematical and simulation models, and advanced optimization techniques. The DSS is designed to allow the decisionmakers to make either optimal or satisfactory decisions in the presence of uncertainties. As an example, recently, a group of researchers at Aerospace Corporation has collaborated with North Carolina State University (NCSU), the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH Manoa), and California State University in Fullerton (CSUF) to develop an advanced DSS tool supporting the development of the optimum acquisition strategy for buying complex space systems with optimum cost and acquisition risk [27–29]. The developed DSS tool leverages multi-criteria decision analysis process, game theory, and advanced optimization techniques to determine the best space system architecture solution and corresponding optimum acquisition strategy to acquire (a.k.a. buy) the system of interest. Finally, as indicated in the table of content, this book has collected a set of chapters addressing the recent advancement of DDS in space, business, medical, and agriculture applications.
