METAKNOWLEDGE REASONING IN CIVIL ENGINEERING EXPERT SYSTEMS

The ability of a Civil Engineering Expert System to utilize in an intelligent manner the knowledge it possesses is a feature still sadly lacking in most present-day working systems. A system designed for a civil engineering application tends to attract an extensive knowledge base; the size of the base therefore demands selective use of its contents for efficient decision making. This paper presents a simple, yet potentially powerful, method of enabling metaknowledge reasoning within a logic/procedural programming environment for civil engineering expert system applications, with minimum repair work to existing data structures. Examples of the use of the approach are presented using some preliminary design knowledge. Limitations and possible future extensions to this approach are also discussed.