Application Of Expert System Technology Research Articles

A fuzzy expert system for optimizing parameters and predicting performance measures in hard-milling process

The main focus of research in hard-milling domain has been the enhancement of tool life and the improvement in workpiece surface quality. This paper deals with the application of expert system technology in order to use the experimental data for optimization of milling parameters so as to achieve targets of enhancing tool life and improving workpiece surface finish. Hard-milling experiments were conducted to study the effects of workpiece material hardness, cutter's helix angle, milling orientation and coolant upon tool life, workpiece surface roughness, and cutting forces. The experimental data were converted to useful information using ANOVA and numeric optimization, and this information was used to develop the knowledge-base in form of IF-THEN rules. Expert system utilized fuzzy logic for its reasoning mechanism, while, fuzzy data sets and crisp sets were freely mixed in antecedents and consequents of the rules. Effectiveness of the expert system was based upon two modules, namely optimization module and prediction module, with each of them operating upon different set of rules. Optimization module provides the optimal selection and combination of aforementioned milling parameters according to the desired objective, while the prediction module provides the prediction of performance measures for the combination of parameters finalized by the optimization module.

Development of a risk identification expert system for the international space station project

The monitoring and reporting of program performance variables provide critical input to the function of project risk identification. Conventionally, a series of simple metrics have been used to track cost and schedule status. Personal judgement, intuition, and experience are then applied by project managers and analysts in order to interpret the metrics. Larger and more complicated projects generate massive volumes of reports, in order to track the detailed tasks. An automated means of analysis is necessary to contend with this surfeit of data. Risks may then be identified as early as possible so that appropriate abatement plans may be instituted. This paper describes the application of expert system technology to identify project risks for the International Space Station programme.

An expert system for planning landfill restoration

The application of expert systems technology in the domain of environmental management is particularly appropriate in order to preserve and disseminate efficiently valuable and scarce expertise at reasonable costs. The Landfill Restoration Plan Advisor (LRPA) is an expert system designed for use in the planning of sanitary landfill restoration. This paper describes the LRPA and the methodology and techniques that were employed for its development. A unique feature of this experience was that knowledge was acquired from multiple expertise sources in various forms. Expertise acquired from text analysis of textbooks and manuals was used in developing the core knowledge base for the expert system; while those acquired from text analysis of research publications and interviews with selected domain experts was used in the subsequent refinement and expansion of the basic prototype. The building process for the LRPA prototype adopted a modular approach using the incremental rapid prototyping methodology.

A knowledge base for wastewater treatment plants: the case of an activated-sludge facility

Due to the inexpensiveness of their operations in places where there is scarcity of land, activated-sludge systems are a common treatment method for wastewater; however like other methods for wastewater, its knowledge is more heuristic than analytical, and a good performance depends more on the expertise of both the designers and the operators. This is an ideal place for the application of expert system technology. The paper discusses knowledge acquisition methods applied in the study of an activated-sludge treatment plant that went through some refinements before it performed adequately. With the experience gained from it, the authors regard the knowledge base acquired as a fruitful result to be used in the control and improvement of operation conditions of other plants, as well for the training of new operators.

DISXPERT: A rule-based vocational rehabilitation risk assessment system

This paper reports on the development and implementation of DISXPERT, a rule-based expert system tool for referral of social security disability recipients to vocational rehabilitation services. The growing use of paraprofessionals as caseworkers responsible for assessment in the social services area provides fertile domain areas for the application of expert systems technology. The main function of DISXPERT is to provide support to paraprofessional caseworkers in reaching unbiased and consistent assessment decisions regarding referral of clients to vocational rehabilitation services. DISXPERT was tested by vocational rehabilitation domain experts using actual social security disability case data. A controlled experiment demonstrated that paraprofessionals using DISXPERT made assessments in less time and with a level of accuracy comparable to the vocational rehabilitation domain professionals using manual methods. This paper discusses the background, design, implementation and validation of DISXPERT, and presents ideas for future work.

Intelligent Advisor to Assist Extruder Operators: A Case Study

Helping extruder operators to independently and quickly solve problems in producing good quality plastic sheet has been the goal of a custom plastic sheet producer. Application of expert system technology has proved to be an effective way to implement a solution to the problems and challenges involved. The resulting product of the project, an intelligent advisor, offers asneeded, collaborative problem-solving assistance to operators. The knowledge acquisition phase of building the expert system has proved to be an effective method of preserving the intellectual capital of key personnel. An added benefit has been the education and training aspect of the computer system.

Expert Systems and Analytical Chemistry: Recent Progress in the ACexpert Project

In this paper we discuss the application of expert system technology in the analytical chemistry domain and summarizes the progress made in the implementation of the ACexpert project. We start with a brief description of the software tools that are commonly used in construction of expert system applications as well as the inference mechanisms employed to search the knowledge base. A brief review of the achievements made world wide during the past five years in the development of expert systems for use in the chemistry domain follows. This paper particularly addresses the difficulties found in the knowledge acquisition process. An effective knowledge encoding scheme, named the knowledge domain matrix process (KDM), that has been developed in our laboratory as an knowledge encoding alternative, is described. In the final section, we describe the development of several stand-alone expert system modules based on implementation of the KDM scheme within the framework of the ACexpert project. The importance of t...

An application of expert system to choice, simulation and development of gases purification processes

An application of expert system technology to development of chemical-engineering both processes and schemes models are considered. The using of knowledge based tools are discussed on example of gases purifying processes. The intellectual simulation system - SSP EXPERT for sewages and effluent gases purification have been developed. It is built on the basis of standard shell and includes “in-built” expert system. Intellectual system for chemical engineering processes simulation combines traditional modeling methods, based on using of physico-chemical laws and experimental data processing with artificial intelligence technique.Application of the artificial intelligence techniques to mathematical models elaboration allows both to save time and to improve their quality.

Logistics information system auditing using expert system technology

This paper brings together two methodological strands of thinking. These are the managerial problem solving methodology of Logistics Information System auditing and the structured development of expert system technology. The investment being made in logistics in organizations is enormous and, although much effort has been devoted to creating structured methods to aid the development of information systems to support these organizations' logistics, the area of Logistics Information System auditing remains less developed. The major aim of this paper is to provide a systemic approach of the application of expert system technology to Logistics Information System auditing. Taking a strategic view of Management Information System (MIS) in logistics, this paper describes the application of INFAUDITOR, an audit expert system, to logistics information systems auditing. INFAUDITOR has two fundamental features. First, it covers all domains of information systems, managerial (like logistics) as well as technical aspects. Secondly, it helps to determine, in a given audit situation, the respective importance that should be given to the different audit domains and tests of control. INFAUDITOR can be viewed as consisting of several expert systems as in blackboard systems. Its fact bases include the characteristics of the enterprise, its logistics information system and the audit objectives. Its rule bases encompass the audit criteria represented as a hierarchical tree. INFAUDITOR is used to assess the ability of a Logistics Information System (LIS) to provide decision makers with relevant, timely information for designing, planning and maintaining an efficient production system, for securing materials necessary for production, and for facilitating achievement of low operating and maintenance costs. We present and discuss results obtained by using INFAUDITOR in auditing the logistics Management Information System of a large European company.

From new drug discovery to bioprocess operations

There is a wide variety of areas in in biotechnology where engineering skills need to be applied. The goal of biotechnology based companies is to develop both a new product and its manufacturing process as fast as possible. It is in the area of enhancing the rate of new product development where engineering skills are critical. The author outlines a few examples and then focuses in detail on the application of expert system technology to bioprocess operations. Due to the use of color slides which are not easily reproduced, this document does not cover the entire talk that was presented at the 13th Annual International Conference IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Automating Knowledge Acquisition and Refinement for Decision Support: A Connectionist Inductive Inference Model*

ABSTRACTAn important application of expert systems technology is to provide support for nonstructured decision making. Usually, nonstructured decision making is characterized by heavy reliance on heuristic knowledge, which is very difficult to articulate or document, and therefore traditional knowledge acquisition approaches are not very successful. The quality and effectiveness of an expert system supporting unstructured decision making is affected when traditional knowledge acquisition approaches are used. To alleviate this problem a model is proposed that combines inductive inference and neural network computing, and an example is presented that illustrates the potential of this model in unstructured decision support.

Expert systems for seismic engineering: the state-of-the-art

This paper begins with a brief introduction to the application of expert system technology to civil engineering, and goes on to review a subset of prototype expert system applications in seismic engineering. The prototypes reviewed cover a wide range of seismic applications. A prototype expert system called SDA (seismic design assistant) developed by the authors is also briefly described. The paper concludes with a comparative study of some of the selected expert systems and closes with an assessment of the roles that expert system technology can play in seismic engineering, especially in the design of buildings.

Environmental assessment and the application of an expert systems approach

Recent legislation from the European Communities has sought to formalise assessment procedures within member states. The need to implement this legislation has led to shortages of trained experts in environmental assessment (EA). The application of expert system technology could be used to meet this shortfall in expertise. Expert systems is a branch of artificial intelligence which has attempted to simulate the means by which an expert tackles real world problems using a set of rules and inferences programmed into a computer system. This article reports on an evaluation of the efficacy of an expert systems approach to EA. A prototype system, GA1A, is developed based on the screening of development projects using the recent Environmental Assessment Regulations. The future potential for expert systems in EA is explored, and in particular the scope for expanding GAIA to cover further aspects of the EA process. Recent concern over environmental issues and the problems associated with them has focused public attention on the need to consider the effects of man's actions on the biosphere. This has resulted in much greater awareness of and pressure for techniques and methods which can assess such effects. One such method is environmental assessment (EA). EA has been introduced in Britain under the terms of the European Communities (EC) Directive on The assessment of the effects of

The use of expert systems in the healthcare industry

The large, enormously complex expert systems (ES) such as MYCIN, ONCOCIN, and INTERNIST raised the expectations of many that artificial intelligence (AI) technology would have a significant impact on the everyday practice of medicine. A rather eclectic literature search reveals that while hundreds of applied expert systems have been prototyped, these have not led to a groundswell of interest among either practicing physicians or healthcare administrators. To account for this apparent failure of expert systems to deliver on their promised capabilities, three key factors are explored: physician disinterest' the low priority assigned to Al among healthcare information systems executives; and the relatively new competitive market pressures affecting health services delivery. A domain of the healthcare industry where ES and knowledge-based technology has taken hold, i.e. the managed care/utilization review arena, is described. This new application of ES technology has the potential to influence standards of medical practice through “medical necessity criteria” embedded in the knowledge base, and to disseminate key findings from research on medical treatment outcomes. Ethical and legal issues sorrounding the appropriate use of this technology remain as yet untested and unresolved, however.

Expert Systems Application to Power Systems - State-of-the-Art and Future Trends

Application of expert system technology for solving problems in power industry is an area of growing interest. As a consequence, numerous papers are known in the literature. They are reviewed regarding the application areas considered, the methodological background, and the software and hardware used. The results obtained form the basis for the derivation of some esssential trends in this field of interest.

Disaster mitigation in the Caribbean using expert systems

The emergence of expert systems technology has created much excitement in most fields of engineering around the world and one of the more promising application areas for this emerging technology is in the area of disaster mitigation. In this paper, therefore several prototype Knowledge-Based Expert Systems (KBES) utilizing a commercially available expert system tool INSIGHT 2+ are described which demonstrate how this technology could be used by practising engineers in the area of natural disaster mitigation in the Caribbean. Since building codes already represent knowledge in a codified but usually ill-structured form, they lend themselves readily for the application of expert systems technology. Accordingly the recently published Caribbean Uniform Building Code (CUBiC) has been utilized to develop the knowledge bases for two of the prototypical systems in respect of hurricane and earthquake loads. The paper concludes with a discussion of the anticipated benefits from such an approach which include a computer assisted “expert” consultation for the assessment and evaluation of existing essential building facilities such as hospitals which should remain functional after a major natural disaster such as an earthquake or hurricane.

The application of an expert system shell to an unstructured domain of expertise: using expert system technology to teach SSM

Action research is orchestrated by the interaction between theory and practice as exemplified by soft systems methodology (SSM). The use of computers has traditionally been developed out of what has been referred to as the ‘rationalistic’ tradition which represents the search for solutions for pre-determined, logical goals (Winograd & Flores, 1986). Action research anticipates the need to explore and learn about each intervention into human activity, using models thought to be relevant to thinking about the world to help structure the learning process. In comparison, the ‘rationalistic’ tradition seeks universal laws for behaviour and uses validated models of the reality represented by these laws to solve problems. It would seem, therefore, that to translate SSM into a computer-based format would be dialectically opposed to the intellectual framework in which the methodology is seated. However, the authors suggest that there is one area in which a computer-based version of SSM may be useful. This paper describes an exploratory study of the application of expert system technology as an aid to teaching SSM.

Application of expert systems technology in the design of durable concrete

This Paper describes work undertaken to explore the possible application of expert system technology to the domain of concrete durability design. The potential usefulness of expert systems in general and in this area is discussed. The information for the domain was obtained from BRE digests and concrete experts. Following BRE digests, the domain was divided into separate modules covering sulphate attack, alkali-aggregate reaction, steel corrosion and mix design. A prototype (DEX) was developed, incorporating modules covering each of the sub-domains. The modules were linked into an overall system capable of producing concrete mix designs incorporating the advice held in the BRE documents. Many potential implementation problems are solved within DEX by the use of a hypertext system to provide user support. The use of hypertext techniques is proposed both as a useful expert system development aid and as a supplementary form of publishing BRE digests and similar standards documents.

Meeting the requirements of knowledge management

Abstract Isolated applications of expert system technology have often failed to meet the demands for integrated knowledge management experienced in many organizations. In the knowledge-linker project an approach is taken, which for a given generic application domain provides support for flexible development of families of related knowledge systems, offering problem solving, advice giving, tutoring, or other kinds of knowledge communication. This paper reports on the basic architecture of the knowledge-linker development environment, in particular the meta-level support for generating customized tools for direct use by domain experts, and summarizes experiences from development of a number of knowledge systems in a reference domain dealing with biochemical laboratory work. Specific topics addressed include the use of partial plans and explicitly represented negative knowledge for experiment planning as well as for intelligent tutoring based on a coaching approach. The longterm goal of the project is to contribute to the development of computerized environments for effective knowledge management.

Text animation or knowledge engineering?: Two approaches to expert system design in urban planning

Applications of expert system technology in the urban planning domain range in complexity from the relatively simple task of representing existing manually held knowledge bases within a single shell, to complex exercises in knowledge elicitation and modelling within a multi-system environment. We suggest that the complexity of expert system construction relates to the nature of the knowledge to be contained within the system. In particular, it depends on the degree to which knowledge is preprocessed and on the mix of knowledge types. After reviewing the concepts of knowledge, the knowledge base and knowledge capture with respect to urban planning subject matter, two contrasting systems are examined which illustrate this range of approaches. The first can be thought of as a text animation system since its expertise lies essentially in the ability to navigate a complex document in a way that the professional planner might. The second represents the more protracted exercise of capturing and modelling human expertise and involves the merging of GIS and expert system technologies.