Numerous expert systems (ES) applications have been developed in the field, yet at this time no systematic, computerized tool for ES development planning exists. In this article, we present an ES development planner that adopts the constraint and rule satisfaction problems framework. We represent knowledge concerning ES development planning with objects, constraints, and rules under multiple objectives. We also present a unified reasoning process to obtain a consistent ES development plan, which has the following features: (1) supporting user interaction to reflect user intention about the problem situation and to resolve conflicts between objectives; (2) concurrent reasoning with multiple starting points to enhance the search efficiency; and (3) integrated reasoning encompassing the backward chaining popularly used in the rule-based systems and constraint propagation methods developed for constraint satisfaction problems. A prototype system ES ∗ is developed using the tool UNIK and LISP language on a SUN 4 SPARC workstation, and an application on tax advisory expert system development planning is illustrated.

ES∗: An expert systems development planner using a constraint and rule-based approach

Abstract Numerous expert systems (ES) applications have been developed in the field, yet at this time no systematic, computerized tool for ES development planning exists. In this article, we present an ES development planner that adopts the constraint and rule satisfaction problems framework. We represent knowledge concerning ES development planning with objects, constraints, and rules under multiple objectives. We also present a unified reasoning process to obtain a consistent ES development plan, which has the following features: (1) supporting user interaction to reflect user intention about the problem situation and to resolve conflicts between objectives; (2) concurrent reasoning with multiple starting points to enhance the search efficiency; and (3) integrated reasoning encompassing the backward chaining popularly used in the rule-based systems and constraint propagation methods developed for constraint satisfaction problems. A prototype system ES ∗ is developed using the tool UNIK and LISP language on a SUN 4 SPARC workstation, and an application on tax advisory expert system development planning is illustrated.

ES* : An Expert Systems Development Planner Using A Constraint and Rule-Based Approach

Scheduling Tasks for Human Operators in Monitoring and Surveillance Applications

EXDAFS is a rule-based system designed to facilitate the allocation of facilities to trains arriving and/or departing from a railway station. EXDAFS develops a static allocation for all trains, referred to as the master berthing chart, based on the train schedules and their berthing requirements. However, the trains get delayed due to unavoidable circumstances causing deviations from the normal schedule, thereby necessitating a dynamic reassignment of the facilities. A technique based on transformational synthesis to control the computational complexity of the reassignment process has been devised and implemented. This requires the problem to be decomposed into subtasks, which can be solved independently and then synthesized into a final solution. The system takes decisions globally in a real-time environment. EXDAFS has an explanation capability which provides a better understanding of its reasoning directions. This, along with a visual capability and interaction through a user-friendly interface, results in increased user acceptance of the system. >

EXDAFS-an Expert System for Dynamic Allocation of Facilities at Stations

This article reports on the findings of an interpretive study that explored the nature of implicit knowledge of five secondary school principals. It was conceptualized as being declarative at one time, acquired through an implicit process, or truly implicit. Vignettes were compiled to show how the five used implicit knowledge in their decision-maling. Information collected illustrated that the administrators' implicit knowledge experiences were idiosyncratic, dynamic and pragmatic. It is concluded that implicit knowledge plays a major role in the actions of administrators and that, as such, it merits a higher profile in current theory and practice in educational administration.

The Nature of Implicit Knowledge of Senior School Administrators Five Vignettes

The authors focus on methodological issues that establish knowledge engineering as an alternative to structured analysis and design, concentrating on the acquisition of strategic knowledge as an implementation structure determinant. They analyze benefits derived from applying expert systems in cellular telecommunications systems, discuss related artificial intelligence work, define structural characteristics of knowledge-based systems, examine a verbal problem-solving protocol from an expert, describe a prototypical knowledge-based program, and review methods and results. They discuss the role of deep knowledge in maintenance tasks, present the resulting system design, and examine the relevant development methodology. >

E. J. M. Kendall

Papers

A case study: acquiring strategic knowledge for expert system development

A case study: acquiring strategic knowledge for expert system development