Multiple neural networks for a long term time series forecast

The artificial neural network (ANN) methodology has been used in various time series prediction applications. However, the accuracy of a neural network model may be seriously compromised when it is used recursively for making long-term multi-step predictions. This study presents a method using multiple ANNs to make a long term time series prediction. A multiple neural network (MNN) model is a group of neural networks that work together to solve a problem. In the proposed MNN approach, each component neural network makes forecasts at a different length of time ahead. The MNN method was applied to the problem of forecasting an hourly customer demand for gas at a compression station in Saskatchewan, Canada. The results showed that a MNN model performed better than a single ANN model for long term prediction.