用时空学习预测暴力冲突,提前36个月给出概率和规模预判。
Next-Generation Conflict Forecasting: Unleashing Predictive Patterns through Spatiotemporal Learning
- 基于蒙特卡洛丢弃LSTM U-Net,自动捕捉时空模式,无需人工特征工程。
- 在子国家级别上,对三类暴力事件预测准确率达当前最优,支持概率与幅度双重输出。
- 可扩展集成多源数据,适合预警系统、人道救援与和平建设场景。
在高时空分辨率下预测暴力冲突仍是研究者与政策制定者的核心挑战。本文提出一种新型神经网络架构,可在子国家(priogrid-month)层面,提前最多36个月预测三类暴力事件——政府间、非国家主体及单边暴力。模型同时执行分类与回归任务,输出未来事件的概率估计与预期规模,并生成近似预测后验分布以量化不确定性。该架构基于蒙特卡洛丢弃长短期记忆(LSTM)U-Net,结合卷积层捕捉空间依赖性,递归结构建模时间动态。区别于多数现有方法,其完全依赖历史冲突数据,无需人工特征工程,能自主学习复杂时空演化模式。不仅达到各项任务的最先进性能,且具备高度可扩展性,可轻松融合额外数据源并联合预测辅助变量,为早期预警系统、人道响应规划与证据驱动型和平建设提供有力工具。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Forecasting violent conflict at high spatial and temporal resolution remains a central challenge for both researchers and policymakers. This study presents a novel neural network architecture for forecasting three distinct types of violence -- state-based, non-state, and one-sided -- at the subnational (priogrid-month) level, up to 36 months in advance. The model jointly performs classification and regression tasks, producing both probabilistic estimates and expected magnitudes of future events. It achieves state-of-the-art performance across all tasks and generates approximate predictive posterior distributions to quantify forecast uncertainty. The architecture is built on a Monte Carlo Dropout Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) U-Net, integrating convolutional layers to capture spatial dependencies with recurrent structures to model temporal dynamics. Unlike many existing approaches, it requires no manual feature engineering and relies solely on historical conflict data. This design enables the model to autonomously learn complex spatiotemporal patterns underlying violent conflict. Beyond achieving state-of-the-art predictive performance, the model is also highly extensible: it can readily integrate additional data sources and jointly forecast auxiliary variables. These capabilities make it a promising tool for early warning systems, humanitarian response planning, and evidence-based peacebuilding initiatives.
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