liveBook · Manning

Data augmentation

Data augmentation is the process of adding or deriving examples, variables, or associated information from existing data to increase its variety or support subsequent analysis or computation.

How 9 Manning books explain it

Deep Learning with R, Third Edition

Data augmentation is a technique that generates additional training examples by applying label-preserving transformations to existing data.

How it is used
Mitigates overfitting in small-data image classification by varying training images before fitting a convnet.
How deep it goes
Details random image transformations, Dataset mapping, placement trade-offs, and testing, without isolating augmentation’s effect from added dropout.
Examples
Uses transformed cat pictures, a cat–dog convnet, R/Keras pipeline code, and before-and-after test results.
What you can do after
Apply it via Keras augmentation layers and dataset_map() to vary training batches while preserving their labels.

Read how Deep Learning with R, Third Edition explains data augmentation →

Deep Learning with PyTorch, Second Edition

A training technique that creates modified versions of examples to increase effective dataset diversity while preserving task-relevant meaning.

How it is used
Expands effective training diversity to discourage memorization and improve generalization, especially with limited data.
How deep it goes
Works through five CT augmentation types, affine resampling, caching order, and comparative training runs; leaves transformation strength open to experimentation.
Examples
Uses mirrored face images, translated airplanes, transformed CT nodule candidates, and TensorBoard comparisons of augmentation runs.
What you can do after
Build it from scratch for CT candidates with PyTorch transforms, then evaluate individual and combined changes against validation metrics.

Read how Deep Learning with PyTorch, Second Edition explains data augmentation →

Deep Learning with Python, Third Edition

A regularization approach that creates additional training examples by applying label-preserving random transformations to existing samples.

How it is used
Mitigates overfitting when training image classifiers on a small dataset.
How deep it goes
Works through random transformations, pipeline placement, and training code; cautions that transformed samples remain correlated.
Examples
Shows flipped, rotated, and zoomed image variations, then trains a ConvNet on augmented batches.
What you can do after
Apply it via Keras augmentation layers and a mapped training Dataset while checking the resulting images.

Read how Deep Learning with Python, Third Edition explains data augmentation →

Delivering Machine Learning Projects: From design to deployment

Data augmentation is the creation of additional training examples by applying transformations or alterations to existing data.

How it is used
Uses transformations and alterations to expand narrow training sets and support more robust models.
How deep it goes
Explains the rationale and lists image and text transformations, while leaving implementation details of each manipulation unspecified.
Examples
Uses rotated, mirrored, noisy, scaled, repositioned, and otherwise altered cat images, plus spelling, synonym, and translation changes for text.
What you can do after
Build additional training data that can help models become more robust when original examples are narrow.

Read how Delivering Machine Learning Projects: From design to deployment explains data augmentation →

Machine Learning for Tabular Data: XGBoost, Deep Learning, and AI

A technique that expands or diversifies training data by applying label-preserving transformations or generating additional examples.

How it is used
Mitigates deep learning’s difficulty with small training datasets.
How deep it goes
Defines augmentation’s purpose but stops short of describing transformations, implementation steps, or evaluation procedures.
Examples
Uses the Tokyo and New York City Airbnb datasets to illustrate contrasting data volumes and deep-learning challenges.
What you can do after
Evaluate when augmentation may help a deep-learning model facing limited training data.

Read how Machine Learning for Tabular Data: XGBoost, Deep Learning, and AI explains data augmentation →

Deep Learning with JAX

The practice of creating modified training examples to increase diversity and improve model robustness.

How it is used
Uses randomized image transformations to increase training diversity, improve robustness, and reduce overfitting.
How deep it goes
Explains augmentation through two image transformations and connects it to implicit regularization and random-number handling.
Examples
Demonstrates image classification with random noise and random rotations applied to training images.
What you can do after
Apply data augmentation with JAX's functional random-number model to diversify image-classification training data.

Read how Deep Learning with JAX explains data augmentation →

Inside Deep Learning: Math, Algorithms, Models

The practice of creating additional training examples by applying label-preserving transformations to existing data.

How it is used
Improves CNN training by increasing the diversity of spatial image inputs.
How deep it goes
Explains randomized transforms, probabilities, label preservation, and PyTorch pipelines, but stops short of transformation theory.
Examples
Uses MNIST affine transforms, sample transformation visualizations, and accuracy curves comparing augmented and unaugmented CNNs.
What you can do after
Apply it via torchvision.transforms by composing training augmentations and evaluating the resulting CNN.

Read how Inside Deep Learning: Math, Algorithms, Models explains data augmentation →

Generative AI in Action

Data augmentation is the creation or transformation of training examples to increase dataset variety while preserving task-relevant information.

How it is used
Uses synthetic visual data to cover edge cases and insufficient diversity in training datasets.
How deep it goes
Explains GAN-based synthetic-data augmentation and names mode collapse, instability, output control, and bias risks without implementation steps.
Examples
Uses education training simulations, rare edge cases, and datasets lacking sufficient diversity as augmentation scenarios.
What you can do after
Apply it via GANs to create synthetic training data for edge cases or scarce, insufficiently diverse datasets.

Read how Generative AI in Action explains data augmentation →

Sutskever's List

Data augmentation is the creation of varied training examples by applying label-preserving transformations to existing data.

How it is used
Expands the effective training set and supports generalization by exposing models to realistic variation.
How deep it goes
Distinguishes geometric transforms from PCA-based color jitter and their purposes, without specifying implementation parameters.
Examples
Uses random crops, horizontal reflections, and PCA-based color jitter on ImageNet training images.
What you can do after
Understand: Explain how geometric and color variations can support generalization in image classification.

Read how Sutskever's List explains data augmentation →

Related concepts

These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.