1. A method for monitoring and controlling parameters of a combustion process comprising the acts of: (a) directing a scanning device at the combustion process; (b) activating the scanning device to scan the combustion process and generate a scanning output signal that varies in accordance with variations in the combustion process; (c) operating additional sensors to monitor other parameters of the combustion process and to generate sensor outputs that vary in accordance with variations in the combustion process; (d) inputting the scanning output signal to a computer processor having at least a part thereof configured as a neural network; (e) operating the neural network to process the scanning output signal and to generate a combustion classification signal defining a parameter of the combustion process; (f) inputting the combustion classification signal and the sensor outputs to a decision analysis computer having at least a part thereof configured as a fuzzy logic controller with associated fuzzy inference rules defining combustion control actions depending on various combinations of sensor outputs and flame grade classification; (g) operating the decision analysis computer to: (i) analyze the combustion classification signal and sensor outputs in accordance with the fuzzy inference rules to determine appropriate combustion control actions to optimize the combustion process depending on various combinations of the sensor outputs and combustion classification signals; and (ii) generate combustion control signals defining adjustments to at least one combustion parameter; and (i) applying the combustion control signals to adjust at least one combustion parameter.