Skip to Content
BayesiaLabBayesiaLab User GuideMenusToolsDynamic Bayesian NetworksTime Variable

Time Variable

Context

The Time Variable is a parameter that represents time and can be used in formulas that describe probability distributions. This variable is activated from the Graph Panel background’s contextual menu. Its value is always observed; it is a positive integer that corresponds to the current time step of the Dynamic Bayesian Network (as shown in the time meter in Validation Mode).

This is not a standard Bayesian network variable. When it is activated, it can be used in the formula of any node. The corresponding probability tables do not reference it explicitly; only the probability values depend directly on its value. The Status Bar icon indicates that this variable is available:

Time Variable icon in the Status Bar

During temporal inference, after each time increment, the probability distributions described by equations that use this parameter are updated. In Modeling Mode, its value is set to zero; the resulting probability tables are computed by replacing t with 0.

Using this parameter transforms the network into a dynamic Bayesian network.

Network TemporalizationGIS Mapping