Increased complexity of constructed facilities, owners’ changing needs and international competition have created strong demands for advanced construction technology. Recent developments in computer technologies provide the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry with significant potential for innovation. However, the adoption of state of-the-art computer technologies by a majority of AEC firms faces many hurdles. The objective of this research is the development of methodologies for accelerating the adoption of Expert Systems (ES) technology by the AEC industry. This is accomplished with the development of a Technology Transfer (T²) model for ES. The T² model has been based on the models of innovation developed by Rogers, Shaffer, and Tatum, as well as on case Studies of ES adoption by several organizations. The ES T² model has focused on the following issues: 1) the stages of the T² process and the managerial actions required for successful adoption of ES technology; 2) the economical, technological and organizational factors affecting the T² process; and 3) alternative strategies that managers can deploy to successfully transfer the technology to their firm. The T² model provides a useful framework that can significantly enhance managers’ ability to expedite the transfer of ES technology in the AEC industry. / Master of Science

Scheduling is one of the most important functions in a factory and it is determining when and with what resources jobs should be accomplished. An important factor that affects the scheduling of jobs is the dynamic variation of factory status. Existing computer based scheduling systems do not address the need of making effective decisions dynamically with the variations in factory status. Traditionally, Operations Research techniques have provided an effective tool in solving manufacturing planning problems. But these methods have not been able to effectively address real time control problems in the manufacturing environment. To address some of these problems, this research investigates applying an expert system approach to develop an interactive real time dynamic scheduling system. Specifically, a knowledge base structure is developed and applied to a case study representing a two stage production system. A Blackboard concept has been utilized to organize and maintain the dynamic data base. The major knowledge representation schemes used in the system include, frame structures, relational tables, and production rules. The system was tested on a case study, by conducting a sample interactive session on a set of simulated dynamic situations. The test demonstrated the viability of implementing knowledge based systems for dynamic scheduling at the operational level of a plant. / Master of Science

The use of computers in the area of design and manufacturing is commonplace in industry. Many companies are turning to custom designed in-house software to surpass the competition. A growing number are developing knowledge-based expert systems to capture the knowledge of expertise of employees before they retire. The use of traditional artificial intelligence languages can be cumbersome to engineers who are usually familiar with traditional languages such as FORTRAN and C. The use of expert systems shells can often hinder the customization of an expert system due to limitations of the shell. An alternate approach to these methods is the use of an object-oriented framework that facilitates the creation of customized expert systems. This framework, called the Expert Consultation Environment, alleviates the programming problems of expert system development and allows the engineer to concentrate on knowledge acquisition. This thesis describes the design of the rule classes needed by the framework. These are the base Rule class, the Equation Rule class, the Control Rule class, the Constraint Rule class and the Heuristic Rule Class. Also presented, is the development of a methodology used in creating an expert system with the framework. A prototype expert system developed using the framework for parametric, multi-disciplinary, conceptual design of aircraft is described. / Master of Science

Expert systems are being used more daily in chemical engineering. This work continues the development of an EXpert system for SEParation flowsheet synthesis named EXSEP. Written in Prolog, it can generate flowsheets for four multicomponent separations: distillation, absorption, stripping and liquid-liquid extraction. For these separations, we describe a large collection of heuristics (or rules) that are used for flowsheet synthesis. EXSEP uses several of these heuristics and the Kremser equation to test the thermodynamic feasibility of separation tasks. EXSEP requires only basic input data such as the expected component flow rates in each product and the component K-values. With those data, EXSEP searches for the sets of the number of theoretical stages, solvent flow rate, and component-recovery ratios that characterize a number of feasible and economical flowsheets. The use of the component assignment matrix (CAM) combined with Prolog list processing makes EXSEP very fast (several seconds) to generate solutions. We test EXSEP with several examples of industrial separation processes and compare the results with the literature. We also compare EXSEP results with rigorous simulations using commercial CAD software (e.g., DESIGN II). In most cases, EXSEP gives very similar and even better flowsheets. However, EXSEP is limited to dilute solvent-based separations and cannot solve problems where the major feed component is also the solvent (e.g. sour-water steam stripper). The development of EXSEP on IBM-PC makes it very "user friendly". In the future, EXSEP should be expanded with additional modules such as extractive and azeotropic distillation, and bulk absorption. It should also include modules for separation method and solvent selections, which are great challenges in flowsheet synthesis. / Master of Science

ENGRAVE is an expert system that performs the work of a music engraver. The system takes a digital image of a conductor's score as input and produces engraved-quality copies of the individual parts. ENGRAVE consists of a vision system and a graphics system. The vision system contains a low-level section that recognizes features and a visual expert system that understands their meanings. Under the current computer vision paradigm, low-level processing is general-purpose while domain knowledge is used only in "high-level" routines. We hypothesize that domain knowledge is necessary at the low level as well for a vision system to work reliably. The visual expert uses a frame-based approach to explain the objects round in music. In the graphics system, we make use of the concept of "spatial planning" to generate correct musical notation. We show by example that spatial planning can be applied to other domains. / Master of Science

The analysis of rotating equipment difficulties is currently accomplished by a specialist in rotating equipment examining the signs and symptoms of the equipment, applying his expert judgement, and determining the cause of the machine's difficulty. This thesis covers the development of an off-line expert system that can be used to emulate the expert's ability to interpret the signs and symptoms of the machine, including suggestions of possible further actions to take for repairing the problem or refining the proof for the proposed cause the difficulty. An editor has also been built which will allow an expert to keep the information used by the system current with the state of the art for rotating machinery diagnostics. This thesis documents the development of the PC-based Turbo Prolog expert shell and external knowledge-base editor. The use of the system editor is illustrated by loading current diagnostic table information into a knowledge base. Then the expert program's operation is illustrated by applying the editor-formed database in a typical session. The expert shell and knowledge base can operate as a stand-alone unit for field application. Resident experts in machinery diagnostics can build and update databases for distribution to users in the company to assure full uniform utilization of the current and most correct knowledge. / Master of Science

Expert system technology has produced systems that perform heuristic classification. These systems solve problems of a type determined by the knowledge engineer and the expert at system design time. A "true consultant" on the contrary, applies domain knowledge to solve a problem not previously seen. For example, a graphic design consultant must accept the statement of almost any problem from a client and turn it into a visual design. This thesis reports the successful construction of the first such true consultant for a well-understood domain: the visual design task of chart construction. The system leads a client in a dialogue to define a problem in the client's terms and then maps the problem representation into a knowledge base for constructing charts. Extensions of the technology reported in this thesis may aid the creation of a new class of expert systems. / Master of Science

Among the various natural calamities, flood is considered one of the most catastrophic natural hazards, which has a significant impact on the socio-economic lifeline of a country. The Assessment of flood risks facilitates taking appropriate measures to reduce the consequences of flooding. The flood risk assessment requires Big data which are coming from different sources, such as sensors, social media, and organizations. However, these data sources contain various types of uncertainties because of the presence of incomplete and inaccurate information. This paper presents a Belief rule-based expert system (BRBES) which is developed in Big data platform to assess flood risk in real time. The system processes extremely large dataset by integrating BRBES with Apache Spark while a web-based interface has developed allowing the visualization of flood risk in real time. Since the integrated BRBES employs knowledge driven learning mechanism, it has been compared with other data-driven learning mechanisms to determine the reliability in assessing flood risk. Integrated BRBES produces reliable results comparing from the other data-driven approaches. Data for the expert system has been collected targeting different case study areas from Bangladesh to validate the integrated system.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the part of computer science concerned with designing computer systems, that is, systems that exhibit the characteristics we associate with intelligence in human behavior--understanding language, learning, reasoning, solving problems, and so on. Many believe that insights into the nature of the mind can be gained by studying the operation of such programs. The AI concept has formed the basis for developing the computer-assisted creativity techniques called The Computer Consultant (TCC), and The Idea Machine (TIM). TIM has, so far, been applied to topics in the engineering and "hard sciences" fields. In this study these techniques are presented/reviewed in detail and the research concentrated on the expansion/development of a methodology for computer—assisted creativity. This research will help in further evolution of TIM into a richer process for idea generation and general problem solving, and in enhancing the application capabilities. This is done by: (1) expanding the conceptual and ideas data bases from which analogies can be drawn; (2) conducting comprehensive trials with TIM to establish its strengths and limitations; and (3) doing research on techniques for the screening and packaging of ideas techniques. Rural road projects are an important part of rural development programs in the Third World countries. For some years the construction of such road projects, funded in part by international donor agencies, has been a subject of some controversy. Most policy makers in the developing or underdeveloped countries support the practice of expanding the rural dirt (unpaved) roads rather than spending limited resources on maintenance. Some donor agencies are now inclined to only support maintenance-biased road projects. A similar situation arose in Pakistan where the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) proposed to fund a road resources development project in the Sind Province. This real life situation is selected as a basis for developing a road resources management model, and generating ideas using TIM. These ideas are screened and packaged to be used in revising the model for further trials. The application of TIM to this problem from the civil engineering field results in some useful outputs. This study provides a good basis for further enhancing TIM capabilities. / Ph. D.

Technical analysis as a sophisticated form of forecasting technique has a varying popularity in the academic and business world. In the past, users were sceptical about technical trading rules and their performance. This is substantiated by the acceptance of the Efficient Market Hypothesis and mixed empirical findings about technical analysis in widely cited studies. The flag pattern is seen as one of the most significant spread chart patterns amongst stock market charting analysts. The present research validates a trading rule based on the further development of flag pattern recognition. The research question concentrates on whether technical analysis applying the flag pattern can outperform international stock markets indices and prove the inefficiency of these markets. The markets observed are represented by the corresponding indices DAX (Germany), DJIA (United States) and IBEX (Spain). The design of the trading rule presents several changes with respect to previous academic works: The wide sample used when considering intraday data, together with the confiuration of some of the variables and the consideration of risk, concludes that the trading rule provides greater positive risk-adjusted returns than the buy-and-hold strategy which is used as a benchmark. The reported positive results strengthen the robustness of the conclusions reached by other researchers. / El análisis técnico es una forma sofisticada de técnica de predicción cuya popularidad ha ido variando en el mundo académico y de los negocios. En el pasado, los usuarios eran bastante escépticos respecto de las reglas técnicas de trading y su performance. Todo esto, se encuentra sustentado por la aceptación de la hipótesis del mercado eficiente y descubrimientos empíricos mixtos sobre el análisis técnico, que se mencionan en un número amplio de estudios. El patrón bandera es visto como uno de los patrones gráficos más significativo y difundido entre los analistas técnicos de mercado. El presente estudio valida una regla de trading basada en el desarrollo futuro del reconocimiento gráfico del patrón bandera. La pregunta de investigación se centra en si el análisis técnico basado en el patrón bandera puede batir los índices internacionales de mercado y probar, de esta manera, la ineficiencia de dichos mercados. Los mercados observados son representados por los correspondientes índices DAX (Alemania), DJIA (Estados Unidos) e IBEX (España). El diseño de la regla de trading presenta varios cambios y novedades con respecto a trabajos académicos previos. La amplia muestra usada al considerar los datos intradía, junto con la configuración de algunas variables y la consideración del riesgo, confirman que la regla de trading proporciona mejores, y más ajustadas al riesgo, rentabilidades positivas que la estrategia de buy-and-hold que se utiliza como referencia. Los resultados positivos corroboran la robustez de las conclusiones a las que también se llegan en otros trabajos. / L'anàlisi tècnica és una forma sofisticada de tècnica de predicció, la popularitat de la qual ha anat variant al món acadèmic i dels negocis. En el passat, els usuaris eren bastant escèptics respecte de les regles tècniques de trading i la seva performance. Tot això, es troba sustentat per l'acceptació de la hipòtesi del mercat eficient i descobriments empírics mixts sobre l'anàlisi tècnica, que s'esmenten en un nombre ampli d'estudis. El patró bandera és vist com un dels patrons gràfics més significatiu i difós entre els analistes tècnics de mercat. El present estudi valida una regla de trading basada en el desenvolupament futur del reconeixement gràfic del patró bandera. La pregunta de recerca se centra en si l'anàlisi tècnica basada en el patró bandera pot batre els índexs internacionals de mercat i provar, d'aquesta manera, la ineficiència d'aquests mercats. Els mercats observats són representats pels corresponents índexs DAX (Alemanya), *DJIA (Estats Units) i IBEX (Espanya). El disseny de la regla de trading presenta diversos canvis i novetats pel que fa a treballs acadèmics previs. L'àmplia mostra usada en considerar les dades intradia, juntament amb la configuració d'algunes variables i la consideració del risc, confirmen que la regla de trading proporciona millors, i més ajustades al risc, rendibilitats positives que l'estratègia de buy-and-hold que s'utilitza com a referència. Els resultats positius corroboren la robustesa de les conclusions a les quals també s'arriben en altres treballs. / Michniuk, K. (2017). PATTERN RECOGNITION APPLIED TO CHART ANALYSIS. EVIDENCE FROM INTRADAY INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKETS [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/78837