Thesis (M.S. in Systems Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): John Osmundson. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-84). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Computer Science, 2009. / "May, 2009." Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed 11/18/2009) Advisor, Chien-Chung Chan; Committee members, Kathy J. Liszka, Zhong-Hui Duan; Department Chair, Wolfgang Pelz; Dean of the College, Chand Midha; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

Recent advances in geographic information systems (GIS) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been summarised, concentrating on the theoretical aspects of their construction and use. Existing projects combining AI and GIS have also been discussed, with attention paid to the interfacing methods used and problems uncovered by the approaches. AI and GIS have been combined in this research to create an intelligent GIS for design. This has been applied to off-shore pipeline route design. The system was tested using data from a real pipeline design project.

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The ability of an expert system to explain its reasoning is fundamental to the system's credibility. Explanations become even more vital in systems which use methods of uncertainty propagation. The research documented here describes the development of an explanation sub-system which interfaces with the P.R.O. Expert System Toolkit. This toolkit has been used in the development of three small ecological expert systems. This project has involved adapting the results of research in the field of explanation-generation, to the requirements of the ecologist users. The subsystem contains two major components. The first lists the rules that fired during a consultation. The second component comprises routines responsible for quantifying the effects on the system conclusions of the answers given to questions. These latter routines can be used to perform sensitivity analyses on the answers given. The incorporation of such routines in small expert systems is quite unique

WATREX is an expert system used to aid in potable water treatment plant design and was developed several years ago by the Water Research Commission. More recently, this system was tested and a number of deficiencies identified. Amongst these deficiencies were the list of possible chemicals that should be additionally included in the system, as well as the prediction of turbidity removal. The objectives of this project were to investigate and improve these deficiencies. This was achieved in two ways. The chemical addition deficiency was improved through the introduction of new chemicals as separate processes and via improved formulation to model the effects of these chemicals using a spreadsheet with automated calculation abilities. Turbidity removal prediction was improved by the mathematical modelling using data obtained from existing water treatment plants throughout South Africa. The results obtained from the chemical addition improvements were compared to those obtained from other models and found to be correct. The modelling of the turbidity removal data resulted in a series of equations that predict turbidity removal based on plant performance and incoming turbidity values, a first of its kind. Though complete, these models have yet to be incorporated into the existing WATREX system. / Prof. J. Haarhoff

M.Sc. / Surgical patients admitted to an intensive care unit, are susceptible to infection by a large number of micro-organisms. Host defence mechanisms are breached by severe injuries or operations, or the use of life-support systems such as ventilators, catheters and endotracheal tubes. These organisms, some of which are resistant to antibiotics, can therefore invade sterile tissue. Although tissue samples from infected sites are sent to a laboratory to be analyzed, treatment of the patient has to commence before the results are known. Intelligent computer systems, of which expert systems are one of the most popular applications, can be utilized to support diagnostic and therapeutical decisions. This thesis describes the development of an expert system that supports clinical decision-making in the diagnosis and treatment of hospital-aquired pneumonia in an intensive care unit. Input data required by the expert system module are extracted from a data base with patient records. The data base and expert system module communicates by means of a program written in a conventional programming language. The system, which is only a prototype, can be extended to include additional expert system modules addressing other infections. Aquiring knowledge to be encoded in the expert system's knowledge base, remains a problem. In this case an existing scoring system that assigns weights to measurements and the outcomes of certain investigations, is used to obtain a score according to which pneumonia can be diagnosed. The infection is subsequently classified as one of several categories, according to existing guidelines. Appropriate therapy is recommended. The system can also consult a file containing sensitivities of bacteria for antibiotics for the unit, in order to facilitate the choice of drugs. The system has been implemented and tested with a few cases.

This thesis explores whether computer-based expert systems can be used in planning and, if so, under what circumstances. Expert systems are computer-based programs that solve problems in a way that mimics the human reasoning process. Expert system reasoning relies upon logic and rules-of-thumb rather than the numerical and mathematical algorithms of most other computer programs. Planning has been interpreted in the professional context of urban and regional planning, rather than the cross-disciplinary fiscal or project management planning often implied in computer literature. To determine expert systems could be useful to planners, the reasons for incompatibility between the nature of planning and conventional computers models of the past are explored. Advantages and disadvantages of expert systems are considered. Expert systems represent substantial improvement in areas where conventional programs are inadequate. Chapters 2 to 5 form the theoretical base of the thesis. Chapter 2 explains the fundamentals of expert system reasoning and how it differs from other computer software. Chapter 3 outlines reasons why this technology might appeal to planners. Chapter 4 introduces some of the disadvantages of expert systems, including technical limitations, ethical and legal issues. Chapter 5 introduces general guidelines to help the reader understand what type of planning tasks might benefit from the use of this new tool. Chapters 6 to 8 consider issues raised in the preceding chapters. Three Canadian systems now at the forefront of expert systems applications to planning are reviewed in chapters 6, 7 and 8 Respectively. The first application, HERMES, is an emergency planning application. It advises emergency response personnel during crises involving hazardous materials. SCREENER is an environmental planning application. It assists environmental officers at Transport Canada to assess simple capital projects for environmental impact statements and screen out more complicated ones for further review. The third application used for illustrative purposes, PLANCHECKER, is a municipal planning example. The system assists plan checkers at City Hall in assessing building plans. The three case-studies satisfy the task suitability guidelines quite well and appear to be successful applications of expert systems to planning. It is still too early to draw definite conclusions, but it is likely the technology will prove useful to planners. Planners should be prepared understand both the potential and limitations of expert systems so they can use the technology wisely. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Expert systems are being developed despite the widely acknowledged problem of acquiring knowledge from experts. This study attempts to understand how knowledge acquisition is conducted in practice by investigating three expert system development projects. The variables examined include the expert, knowledge engineer, problem domain, organizational setting, the knowledge acquisition process, the expert system construction process, and the expert system itself. A case research methodology is adopted and data is collected through observation and taped protocol of knowledge acquisition sessions, post facto interviews with the participants involved, journalistic accounts kept by the subjects, and deliverables produced. Three cases on expert systems built in the domains of law of negligence, telephone line fault diagnostic, and wastewater treatment have been investigated. By juxtaposing the observations drawn from these cases with the findings reported in the literature, this inquiry contributes to the current understanding of the knowledge acquisition process. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate