Preface

To my beloved father who lies at Jannatul Baqi (Madinah, Saudi Arab), Late *Alhaj Md. Hab‐ ibur Rahman (69)*, for his lifelong enormous inspiration to achieve excellence.

Empirical modeling has been a useful approach for the analysis of different problems across numerous areas/fields of knowledge. As it is known, this type of modeling is particularly helpful when parametric models, due to various reasons, cannot be constructed. Based on different methodologies and approaches, empirical modeling allows the analyst to obtain an initial understanding of the relationships that exist among the different variables that belong to a particular system or process. In some cases, the results from empirical models can be used in order to make decisions about those variables, with the intent of resolving a given problem.

In the first Chapter, empirical models of the total electron content are presented through comparative study. Majority of them provide an adequate accuracy and reliability. As the basic application of TEC measurements the problem of determination of maximum concen‐ tration NmF2 of the ionosphere with use of its equivalent slab thickness τ is considered. It is remarkable that existing models of τ are not global and do not provide sufficient accuracy in determining NmF2. Therefore, an approach for new global model is demonstrated in this chapter.

Chapter 2 highlights a model that can be used to improve the accuracy of seagrass mapping, to simulate the propagation of light. The researchers explored that the appropriate wave‐ bands for seagrass mapping generally lie between 500 to 630 nm and 680 to 710 nm as well. The chapter provides an improved algorithm to retrieve bottom reflectance and map the bottom types that would be meaningful for management and preservation of coastal marine resources.

Chapter 3 describes the application of empirical modeling to the estimation of shipping costs in a Mexican manufacturing firm. The findings depicts that overall transportation costs using an empirical model tend to be lower than costs calculated by a previous model. This demonstrates the practical and potential utility that results based on empirical modeling can have in a real-life setting.

Chapter 4 illustrates the extended history of GIS modeling and to converse the modern ob‐ serves in terms of integration of GIS with the hydrological modeling. Water resources man‐ agement and catchment analysis are crucial aspects of the twenty-first century in hydrological and environmental sciences. Thus, hazard assessment and risk evaluation modeling have become a strategic aim and an extremely useful tool for stakeholders, deci‐ sion makers and scientific community.

Chapter 5 introduces the actual applications of critical loss analyses in these cases, and re‐ marks on several issues brought in the course of applications. The SSNIP test is a wellknown conceptual framework of market definition for competition policies in most countries. Critical loss analysis is a practical method that implements the principle of SSNIP test in a quantitative way to determine whether the relevant market for an antitrust case should be enlarged or not.

There is an important gap in the literature on the promotion of competition in electricity markets in what pertains to the analysis of two different streams: the absence and presence of regulation. Accordingly, chapter 6 analyzes the interactions among market power in‐ dexes, marginal costs and bidding strategies in the two mentioned scenarios, for compara‐ tive purposes. Although there is some literature on this issue, the main novelty of this chapter is the discussion of the regulatory implications that could have been adopted in or‐ der to control and mitigate the market power, to encourage new investments in new tech‐ nologies and to recover sunk costs with the transition to a competitive market.

The book entitled "Empirical Modeling and Its Applications" encompasses six (6)chapters. From that point of view, the concept of the book solely depends on the contributors of the book chapters. Therefore, special thanks and gratitude must go to the book chapters' au‐ thors. However, review process is also very lengthy but significant in order to ensure uniqueness of the book chapters. The jobs of reviewers are highly appreciable. In addition, the Editor acknowledges a great debt to InTech Publisher for publishing this book on time.

On the eve of this publication, the Editor wishes to acknowledge and thank his beloved mother, *Alhaja Shirin Habib*; his spouse, *Dr. Farzana Afzal*; his two kids, *Rafiul Habib* and *Farzeen Habib*; and other family members for their tireless encouragement to complete this book.

Last but not least, I express gratitude to the Almighty for spiritual inspiration and guidance in the completion of this publication.

> **Assoc. Prof. Dr. Md. Mamun Habib** Asia Graduate School of Business (AGSB), UNITAR International University, Malaysia
