Clustering Analysis of Car Attributes Using Unsupervised Learning Techniques

Introduction

Welcome to this new blog. In this post, we’re going to explore a new project requirement: "Clustering Analysis of Car Datasets." This project aims to demonstrate the process of analyzing and manipulating car-related datasets using unsupervised learning techniques in Python. We will cover tasks such as data pre-processing, exploratory data analysis (EDA), clustering with K-Means, and dimensionality reduction using PCA.

We’ll guide you through the project requirements, including data integration, cleaning, and visualization. Then, in the solution approach section, we’ll dive into our methods, discussing the clustering results, dimensionality reduction, and the insights gained from the analysis.

Let’s get started!

Project Requirement

The unsupervised learning assignment aims to analyze and manipulate datasets using various data processing and exploratory data analysis techniques. The project is divided into two parts, each with specific tasks to be completed using Python and its libraries.

Part 1: Data Pre-processing and Exploratory Data Analysis

Reading Data 

• Load `Car name.csv` and `Car-Attributes.json` into DataFrames.

Merging Data 

• Merge the two DataFrames to form a single DataFrame.

Data Cleaning 

• Handle missing values by calculating and imputing the best possible values.

• Check and remove duplicate values.

Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)

• Perform a five-point summary of numerical features.

• Visualize data using pair plots and scatter plots.

• Identify and handle unexpected values or outliers.

Part 2: Clustering and Dimensionality Reduction

K-Means Clustering

• Apply K-Means clustering with varying numbers of clusters and identify the elbow point.

• Train a K-Means model with the optimal number of clusters and add cluster labels to the DataFrame.

• Visualize the clusters and predict cluster assignments for new data points.

• Principal Component Analysis (PCA):

• Apply PCA to reduce dimensionality and visualize the explained variance.

• Train and evaluate models using SVM with original and PCA-transformed data.  - Perform hyperparameter tuning for improved model performance.

Solution Approach

1. Data Integration and Exploration

Data Source

• Load data from `Car name.csv` and `Car-Attributes.json`.

• Data Description:

• The merged dataset will include features from both sources, providing a comprehensive view of car attributes.

Dataset 

Description for JSON File: Car-Attributes.json

The Car-Attributes.json file contains a dataset of car attributes with each entry representing a specific car model. The dataset includes the following attributes:

1. mpg (Miles per Gallon): The fuel efficiency of the car.

2. cyl (Cylinders): The number of cylinders in the car's engine.

3. disp (Displacement): The engine displacement in cubic inches.

4. hp (Horsepower): The power output of the car's engine.

5. wt (Weight): The weight of the car in pounds.

6. acc (Acceleration): The time it takes for the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, in seconds.

7. yr (Year): The model year of the car.

8. origin: The origin of the car, with numeric codes representing different regions.

Description for CSV File: car_name.csv

The csv file complements the car attributes dataset by providing the names of the cars corresponding to the entries in the JSON file. Each row in this file represents a car and includes the following information:

1. Car Name: The name or model of the car.

Data Cleaning:

• Handling Missing Values:

• Calculate the percentage of missing values for each feature and impute missing values using appropriate methods.

Handling Duplicate Values:

• Identify and remove duplicate rows to ensure data integrity.

• Outlier Detection:

• Identify and handle outliers to prevent skewed analysis.

2. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)

Data Visualization:

• Use histograms, box plots, pairplots, and scatterplots to understand feature distributions and relationships.

• Scatterplots:

• Visualize relationships between key features (`wt`, `disp`, `mpg`, etc.) with distinctions based on `cyl`.

Statistical Analysis:

• Perform a five-point summary of numerical features to summarize central tendencies and dispersion.

• Generate a correlation matrix to identify relationships between features.

3. Clustering and Dimensionality Reduction

K-Means Clustering

• Initial Clustering:

• Apply K-Means clustering for clusters ranging from 2 to 10 and plot the elbow curve to determine the optimal number of clusters.

• Final Clustering:

• Train a K-Means model with the optimal number of clusters and add cluster labels to the DataFrame.

• Visualize clusters with colored data points based on cluster assignments.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA):

• Apply PCA to the data and visualize the cumulative variance explained by the principal components.

• Train SVM models using both original and PCA-transformed data, and compare performance.Tune SVM hyperparameters to optimize model performance and report the best parameters.

4. Model Evaluation and Insights

Model Performance:

• Evaluate models using appropriate metrics and compare the results.

• Visualize model performance using tables, graphs, and other suitable plots.

Insights

• Share insights from EDA, clustering, and PCA, highlighting key findings and potential challenges.

• Discuss the implications of the results and suggest improvements or further analysis steps.

At Codersarts, we take pride in our ability to deliver customized solutions that address our clients' unique needs. With our extensive experience in data analysis, unsupervised learning techniques, and model evaluation, we were well-prepared to tackle the challenges presented by the "Unsupervised Learning Assignment with Car Datasets" project.

Our team thoroughly reviewed the project requirements to gain a deep understanding of the objectives. Utilizing our expertise in data integration, cleaning, exploratory data analysis, clustering with K-Means, and dimensionality reduction with PCA, we developed a comprehensive solution that not only meets but surpasses client expectations.

If you require any assistance with the project discussed in this blog, or if you find yourself in need of similar support for other projects, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our team can be contacted at any time via email at contact@codersarts.com.