Empirical Studies for Evaluation and Investigation of a New Knowledge Representation Structure in Design Automation

Abstract

The introduction of a new knowledge representation structure, the design exemplar, in design automation systems dictates the need for developing a set of evaluative and investigative measures. Current research trends have focused on offering implemented systems as validations of new structures or using algorithmic and runtime complexity measures as evaluations. A set of objective and quantitative measures are introduced for evaluating the design exemplar. Based upon these measures, a series of empirical studies are executed that preliminarily demonstrate the breadth and depth of the potential for using the design exemplar as a knowledge representation structure. These measures may also be used as the basis for conducting other studies to evaluate independently multiple representation structures in design automation.