A primary go at multi-step prediction

We decide up the place the first publish on this collection left us: confronting the duty of multi-step time-series forecasting.

Our first try was a workaround of kinds. The mannequin had been skilled to ship a single prediction, equivalent to the very subsequent time limit. Thus, if we would have liked an extended forecast, all we might do is use that prediction and feed it again to the mannequin, transferring the enter sequence by one worth (from ([x_{t-n}, …, x_t]) to ([x_{t-n-1}, …, x_{t+1}]), say).

In distinction, the brand new mannequin can be designed – and skilled – to forecast a configurable variety of observations without delay. The structure will nonetheless be fundamental – about as fundamental as potential, given the duty – and thus, can function a baseline for later makes an attempt.

We work with the identical information as earlier than, vic_elec from tsibbledata.

In comparison with final time although, the dataset class has to alter. Whereas, beforehand, for every batch merchandise the goal (y) was a single worth, it now could be a vector, similar to the enter, x. And similar to n_timesteps was (and nonetheless is) used to specify the size of the enter sequence, there’s now a second parameter, n_forecast, to configure goal measurement.

In our instance, n_timesteps and n_forecast are set to the identical worth, however there is no such thing as a want for this to be the case. You would equally effectively practice on week-long sequences after which forecast developments over a single day, or a month.

Other than the truth that .getitem() now returns a vector for y in addition to x, there’s not a lot to be mentioned about dataset creation. Right here is the entire code to arrange the info enter pipeline:

n_timesteps <- 7 * 24 * 2
n_forecast <- 7 * 24 * 2 
batch_size <- 32

vic_elec_get_year <- operate(yr, month = NULL) {
  vic_elec %>%
    filter(yr(Date) == yr, month(Date) == if (is.null(month)) month(Date) else month) %>%
    as_tibble() %>%
    choose(Demand)
}

elec_train <- vic_elec_get_year(2012) %>% as.matrix()
elec_valid <- vic_elec_get_year(2013) %>% as.matrix()
elec_test <- vic_elec_get_year(2014, 1) %>% as.matrix()

train_mean <- imply(elec_train)
train_sd <- sd(elec_train)

elec_dataset <- dataset(
  identify = "elec_dataset",
  
  initialize = operate(x, n_timesteps, n_forecast, sample_frac = 1) {
    
    self$n_timesteps <- n_timesteps
    self$n_forecast <- n_forecast
    self$x <- torch_tensor((x - train_mean) / train_sd)
    
    n <- size(self$x) - self$n_timesteps - self$n_forecast + 1
    
    self$begins <- kind(pattern.int(
      n = n,
      measurement = n * sample_frac
    ))
    
  },
  
  .getitem = operate(i) {
    
    begin <- self$begins[i]
    finish <- begin + self$n_timesteps - 1
    pred_length <- self$n_forecast
    
    checklist(
      x = self$x[start:end],
      y = self$x[(end + 1):(end + pred_length)]$squeeze(2)
    )
    
  },
  
  .size = operate() {
    size(self$begins) 
  }
)

train_ds <- elec_dataset(elec_train, n_timesteps, n_forecast, sample_frac = 0.5)
train_dl <- train_ds %>% dataloader(batch_size = batch_size, shuffle = TRUE)

valid_ds <- elec_dataset(elec_valid, n_timesteps, n_forecast, sample_frac = 0.5)
valid_dl <- valid_ds %>% dataloader(batch_size = batch_size)

test_ds <- elec_dataset(elec_test, n_timesteps, n_forecast)
test_dl <- test_ds %>% dataloader(batch_size = 1)

The mannequin replaces the only linear layer that, within the earlier publish, had been tasked with outputting the ultimate prediction, with a small community, full with two linear layers and – elective – dropout.

In ahead(), we first apply the RNN, and similar to within the earlier publish, we make use of the outputs solely; or extra particularly, the output equivalent to the ultimate time step. (See that earlier publish for a detailed dialogue of what a torch RNN returns.)

mannequin <- nn_module(
  
  initialize = operate(kind, input_size, hidden_size, linear_size, output_size,
                        num_layers = 1, dropout = 0, linear_dropout = 0) {
    
    self$kind <- kind
    self$num_layers <- num_layers
    self$linear_dropout <- linear_dropout
    
    self$rnn <- if (self$kind == "gru") {
      nn_gru(
        input_size = input_size,
        hidden_size = hidden_size,
        num_layers = num_layers,
        dropout = dropout,
        batch_first = TRUE
      )
    } else {
      nn_lstm(
        input_size = input_size,
        hidden_size = hidden_size,
        num_layers = num_layers,
        dropout = dropout,
        batch_first = TRUE
      )
    }
    
    self$mlp <- nn_sequential(
      nn_linear(hidden_size, linear_size),
      nn_relu(),
      nn_dropout(linear_dropout),
      nn_linear(linear_size, output_size)
    )
    
  },
  
  ahead = operate(x) {
    
    x <- self$rnn(x)
    x[[1]][ ,-1, ..] %>% 
      self$mlp()
    
  }
  
)

For mannequin instantiation, we now have an extra configuration parameter, associated to the quantity of dropout between the 2 linear layers.

internet <- mannequin(
  "gru", input_size = 1, hidden_size = 32, linear_size = 512, output_size = n_forecast, linear_dropout = 0
  )

# coaching RNNs on the GPU at the moment prints a warning which will muddle 
# the console
# see https://github.com/mlverse/torch/points/461
# alternatively, use 
# machine <- "cpu"
machine <- torch_device(if (cuda_is_available()) "cuda" else "cpu")

internet <- internet$to(machine = machine)

The coaching process is totally unchanged.

optimizer <- optim_adam(internet$parameters, lr = 0.001)

num_epochs <- 30

train_batch <- operate(b) {
  
  optimizer$zero_grad()
  output <- internet(b$x$to(machine = machine))
  goal <- b$y$to(machine = machine)
  
  loss <- nnf_mse_loss(output, goal)
  loss$backward()
  optimizer$step()
  
  loss$merchandise()
}

valid_batch <- operate(b) {
  
  output <- internet(b$x$to(machine = machine))
  goal <- b$y$to(machine = machine)
  
  loss <- nnf_mse_loss(output, goal)
  loss$merchandise()
  
}

for (epoch in 1:num_epochs) {
  
  internet$practice()
  train_loss <- c()
  
  coro::loop(for (b in train_dl) {
    loss <-train_batch(b)
    train_loss <- c(train_loss, loss)
  })
  
  cat(sprintf("nEpoch %d, coaching: loss: %3.5f n", epoch, imply(train_loss)))
  
  internet$eval()
  valid_loss <- c()
  
  coro::loop(for (b in valid_dl) {
    loss <- valid_batch(b)
    valid_loss <- c(valid_loss, loss)
  })
  
  cat(sprintf("nEpoch %d, validation: loss: %3.5f n", epoch, imply(valid_loss)))
}
# Epoch 1, coaching: loss: 0.65737 
# 
# Epoch 1, validation: loss: 0.54586 
# 
# Epoch 2, coaching: loss: 0.43991 
# 
# Epoch 2, validation: loss: 0.50588 
# 
# Epoch 3, coaching: loss: 0.42161 
# 
# Epoch 3, validation: loss: 0.50031 
# 
# Epoch 4, coaching: loss: 0.41718 
# 
# Epoch 4, validation: loss: 0.48703 
# 
# Epoch 5, coaching: loss: 0.39498 
# 
# Epoch 5, validation: loss: 0.49572 
# 
# Epoch 6, coaching: loss: 0.38073 
# 
# Epoch 6, validation: loss: 0.46813 
# 
# Epoch 7, coaching: loss: 0.36472 
# 
# Epoch 7, validation: loss: 0.44957 
# 
# Epoch 8, coaching: loss: 0.35058 
# 
# Epoch 8, validation: loss: 0.44440 
# 
# Epoch 9, coaching: loss: 0.33880 
# 
# Epoch 9, validation: loss: 0.41995 
# 
# Epoch 10, coaching: loss: 0.32545 
# 
# Epoch 10, validation: loss: 0.42021 
# 
# Epoch 11, coaching: loss: 0.31347 
# 
# Epoch 11, validation: loss: 0.39514 
# 
# Epoch 12, coaching: loss: 0.29622 
# 
# Epoch 12, validation: loss: 0.38146 
# 
# Epoch 13, coaching: loss: 0.28006 
# 
# Epoch 13, validation: loss: 0.37754 
# 
# Epoch 14, coaching: loss: 0.27001 
# 
# Epoch 14, validation: loss: 0.36636 
# 
# Epoch 15, coaching: loss: 0.26191 
# 
# Epoch 15, validation: loss: 0.35338 
# 
# Epoch 16, coaching: loss: 0.25533 
# 
# Epoch 16, validation: loss: 0.35453 
# 
# Epoch 17, coaching: loss: 0.25085 
# 
# Epoch 17, validation: loss: 0.34521 
# 
# Epoch 18, coaching: loss: 0.24686 
# 
# Epoch 18, validation: loss: 0.35094 
# 
# Epoch 19, coaching: loss: 0.24159 
# 
# Epoch 19, validation: loss: 0.33776 
# 
# Epoch 20, coaching: loss: 0.23680 
# 
# Epoch 20, validation: loss: 0.33974 
# 
# Epoch 21, coaching: loss: 0.23070 
# 
# Epoch 21, validation: loss: 0.34069 
# 
# Epoch 22, coaching: loss: 0.22761 
# 
# Epoch 22, validation: loss: 0.33724 
# 
# Epoch 23, coaching: loss: 0.22390 
# 
# Epoch 23, validation: loss: 0.34013 
# 
# Epoch 24, coaching: loss: 0.22155 
# 
# Epoch 24, validation: loss: 0.33460 
# 
# Epoch 25, coaching: loss: 0.21820 
# 
# Epoch 25, validation: loss: 0.33755 
# 
# Epoch 26, coaching: loss: 0.22134 
# 
# Epoch 26, validation: loss: 0.33678 
# 
# Epoch 27, coaching: loss: 0.21061 
# 
# Epoch 27, validation: loss: 0.33108 
# 
# Epoch 28, coaching: loss: 0.20496 
# 
# Epoch 28, validation: loss: 0.32769 
# 
# Epoch 29, coaching: loss: 0.20223 
# 
# Epoch 29, validation: loss: 0.32969 
# 
# Epoch 30, coaching: loss: 0.20022 
# 
# Epoch 30, validation: loss: 0.33331 

From the best way loss decreases on the coaching set, we conclude that, sure, the mannequin is studying one thing. It most likely would proceed enhancing for fairly some epochs nonetheless. We do, nevertheless, see much less of an enchancment on the validation set.

Naturally, now we’re interested in test-set predictions. (Bear in mind, for testing we’re selecting the “significantly laborious” month of January, 2014 – significantly laborious due to a heatwave that resulted in exceptionally excessive demand.)

With no loop to be coded, analysis now turns into fairly easy:

internet$eval()

test_preds <- vector(mode = "checklist", size = size(test_dl))

i <- 1

coro::loop(for (b in test_dl) {
  
  enter <- b$x
  output <- internet(enter$to(machine = machine))
  preds <- as.numeric(output)
  
  test_preds[[i]] <- preds
  i <<- i + 1
  
})

vic_elec_jan_2014 <- vic_elec %>%
  filter(yr(Date) == 2014, month(Date) == 1)

test_pred1 <- test_preds[[1]]
test_pred1 <- c(rep(NA, n_timesteps), test_pred1, rep(NA, nrow(vic_elec_jan_2014) - n_timesteps - n_forecast))

test_pred2 <- test_preds[[408]]
test_pred2 <- c(rep(NA, n_timesteps + 407), test_pred2, rep(NA, nrow(vic_elec_jan_2014) - 407 - n_timesteps - n_forecast))

test_pred3 <- test_preds[[817]]
test_pred3 <- c(rep(NA, nrow(vic_elec_jan_2014) - n_forecast), test_pred3)


preds_ts <- vic_elec_jan_2014 %>%
  choose(Demand) %>%
  add_column(
    mlp_ex_1 = test_pred1 * train_sd + train_mean,
    mlp_ex_2 = test_pred2 * train_sd + train_mean,
    mlp_ex_3 = test_pred3 * train_sd + train_mean) %>%
  pivot_longer(-Time) %>%
  update_tsibble(key = identify)


preds_ts %>%
  autoplot() +
  scale_colour_manual(values = c("#08c5d1", "#00353f", "#ffbf66", "#d46f4d")) +
  theme_minimal()

One-week-ahead predictions for January, 2014.

Determine 1: One-week-ahead predictions for January, 2014.

Evaluate this to the forecast obtained by feeding again predictions. The demand profiles over the day look much more reasonable now. How concerning the phases of maximum demand? Evidently, these aren’t mirrored within the forecast, not any greater than within the “loop method”. Actually, the forecast permits for attention-grabbing insights into this mannequin’s persona: Apparently, it actually likes fluctuating across the imply – “prime” it with inputs that oscillate round a considerably larger degree, and it’ll rapidly shift again to its consolation zone.

Seeing how, above, we supplied an choice to make use of dropout contained in the MLP, you could be questioning if this might assist with forecasts on the take a look at set. Seems it didn’t, in my experiments. Perhaps this isn’t so unusual both: How, absent exterior cues (temperature), ought to the community know that top demand is developing?

In our evaluation, we will make an extra distinction. With the primary week of predictions, what we see is a failure to anticipate one thing that couldn’t moderately have been anticipated (two, or two-and-a-half, say, days of exceptionally excessive demand). Within the second, all of the community would have needed to do was keep on the present, elevated degree. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how that is dealt with by the architectures we talk about subsequent.

Lastly, an extra concept you could have had is – what if we used temperature as a second enter variable? As a matter of truth, coaching efficiency certainly improved, however no efficiency influence was noticed on the validation and take a look at units. Nonetheless, you could discover the code helpful – it’s simply prolonged to datasets with extra predictors. Due to this fact, we reproduce it within the appendix.

Thanks for studying!

# Knowledge enter code modified to accommodate two predictors

n_timesteps <- 7 * 24 * 2
n_forecast <- 7 * 24 * 2

vic_elec_get_year <- operate(yr, month = NULL) {
  vic_elec %>%
    filter(yr(Date) == yr, month(Date) == if (is.null(month)) month(Date) else month) %>%
    as_tibble() %>%
    choose(Demand, Temperature)
}

elec_train <- vic_elec_get_year(2012) %>% as.matrix()
elec_valid <- vic_elec_get_year(2013) %>% as.matrix()
elec_test <- vic_elec_get_year(2014, 1) %>% as.matrix()

train_mean_demand <- imply(elec_train[ , 1])
train_sd_demand <- sd(elec_train[ , 1])

train_mean_temp <- imply(elec_train[ , 2])
train_sd_temp <- sd(elec_train[ , 2])

elec_dataset <- dataset(
  identify = "elec_dataset",
  
  initialize = operate(information, n_timesteps, n_forecast, sample_frac = 1) {
    
    demand <- (information[ , 1] - train_mean_demand) / train_sd_demand
    temp <- (information[ , 2] - train_mean_temp) / train_sd_temp
    self$x <- cbind(demand, temp) %>% torch_tensor()
    
    self$n_timesteps <- n_timesteps
    self$n_forecast <- n_forecast
    
    n <- nrow(self$x) - self$n_timesteps - self$n_forecast + 1
    self$begins <- kind(pattern.int(
      n = n,
      measurement = n * sample_frac
    ))
    
  },
  
  .getitem = operate(i) {
    
    begin <- self$begins[i]
    finish <- begin + self$n_timesteps - 1
    pred_length <- self$n_forecast
    
    checklist(
      x = self$x[start:end, ],
      y = self$x[(end + 1):(end + pred_length), 1]
    )
    
  },
  
  .size = operate() {
    size(self$begins)
  }
  
)

### relaxation similar to single-predictor code above

Photograph by Monica Bourgeau on Unsplash