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Robust Parameter Estimation in Dynamical Systems by Stochastic Differential Equations

Published: May 1, 2025 | arXiv ID: 2505.00491v2

By: Qingchuan Sun, Susanne Ditlevsen

Potential Business Impact:

Makes science models better with unpredictable events.

Business Areas:
Simulation Software

Ordinary and stochastic differential equations (ODEs and SDEs) are widely used to model continuous-time processes across various scientific fields. While ODEs offer interpretability and simplicity, SDEs incorporate randomness, providing robustness to noise and model misspecifications. Recent research highlights the statistical advantages of SDEs, such as improved parameter identifiability and stability under perturbations. This paper investigates the robustness of parameter estimation in SDEs versus ODEs under three types of model misspecifications: unrecognized noise sources, external perturbations, and simplified models. Furthermore, the effect of missing data is explored. Through simulations and an analysis of Danish COVID-19 data, we demonstrate that SDEs yield more stable and reliable parameter estimates, making them a strong alternative to traditional ODE modeling in the presence of uncertainty.

Country of Origin
🇩🇪 🇩🇰 Denmark, Germany

Page Count
33 pages

Category
Statistics:
Methodology