Systems Theory for the civil engineer Experience with knowledge acquisition for an engineering expert system

Issues involved in the knowledge acquisition process for engineering applications of expert systems are discussed, with reference to a project underway in the reservoir management domain. Since there are no well established guidelines for the crucial task of acquiring human problem solving expertise, the individual responsible forthis task must rely on his own judgement and suggestions found in the literature. Based on the experience from this project, success in the area of knowledge acquisition appears to require the incremental development of very problem specific engineering expert systems, which facilitates the knowledge acquisition process. Other important factors described include the domain knowledge of the knowledge engineer (the person responsible for knowledge acquisition), the interaction between the expert and the knowledge engineer, and the expectations for the expert systems.     

The place of expert systems in civil engineering

Engineering is concerned with much more than calculation and numeric analysis. It is concerned with ideas, concepts, judgement and deploying experience which cannot be represented numerically. All of these appear to be outside the realm of traditional engineering computing. Engineers make use of knowledge about objects, events and processes and make declarative statements about them which are often written down symbolically. These limitations of traditional computing in civil engineering can be overcome by expert systems. In this paper we present a number of expert systems dealing with analysis, design and knowledge acquisition in the field of civil engineering.     

A prolog-based expert system for encoding seismic design provisions

Provisions from the tentative seismic design code prepared by the Applied Technology Council (ATC3-06) have been selected here for demonstrating how a code of practice can be documented as a PROLOG-based expert system. The significant feature of this expert system is that it has been encoded in a logic programming language, PROLOG (a fifth generation computer programming language). The expert system described in this paper can be considered as a guide to the use of the ATC3-06 provisions and does not cover all the details of the tentative code. The expert system helps the user to establish the design parameters necessary for seismic design in accordance with these provisions. It then uses this interactively-gained information to make recommendations about the appropriate seismic design method to the user. In future, this expert system is to be interfaced with a seismic design package in order to integrate seismic analysis with design decision-making.     

民用建筑暖通空调设计体会

介绍了民用建筑暖通空调设计中需要了解的问题,公共建筑的分区和常用的空调方式,民用建筑空调系统选用时的注重点及设备间布置的基本要求;分析了制冷空调设备机房、风道、管井与建筑的关系。     

Developing an integrated bidding management expert system for the precast concrete industry

The knowledge-based systems in this paper, composed of intelligent rules which are taken from previous contract records and experienced managers in charge of bidding. The aim is to advise managers on two major issues; Bid/No bid and estimation of optimal tender price.     

An expert system for upgrading small water supplies

This paper describes an expert system developed by Thames Polytechnic in collaboration with the Water Research Centre (WRC) to assist in the selection of process units suitable for upgrading small water supplies. The objective of the development was to produce a system which could be evaluated more for its practical utility than for sophistication of its artificial intelligence (Al) concepts. This overall objective guided each phase of the development, from initial selection of the expert task through logical and physical design of the system to final implementation and review.     

Development and performance of an expert system for pavement overlay design

This paper describes recent experience with the development and performance of OVERDRIVE 1.2. a central component of PARADIGM (the Pavement Rehabilitation Analysis and Design Mentor). PARADIGM is a microcomputer-based tool to integrate a set of knowledge-based expert systems (KBES) and algorithmic models for pavement rehabilitation decision-making, particularly at the local level. Because the analysis and design of pavement rehabilitation strategies relies so heavily on experts, and many of the tasks involved are both complex and ill-defined, conventional computer tools are of limited use in this domain. A basic premise of this research is that KBES can play a significant role in addressing these problems. OVERDRIVE is the Overlay Design Heuristic Adviser, and is a research prototype KBES to assist local engineers evaluate the structural adequacy of existing flexible pavement and design the structural thickness of an asphalt concrete overlay. In this paper the general domain, the domain tasks addressed by the current version of OVERDRIVE, knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation and inference, and hardware and software are described. A case-study application is presented using actual data. This application permits an initial assessment to be made of the comparative performance of OVERDRIVE versus alternative overlay design methods.     

基于专家系统的桥梁在线智能监测系统设计

从桥梁监测系统的设计原则、总体设计思路、网络架构、功能设计等方面进行了论述,通过合理设计系统实现了对桥梁健康运营状态监测及危险状态预警,能有效预防悲剧的发生。     

TBM故障诊断专家系统的设计与开发

基于专家系统工具，开发了TBM状态监测和故障诊断专家系统，阐述了系统的结构原理、推理规则、目标实现过程。系统集监测、数据库管理、故障诊断推理、检修方案等功能于一体，能预报TB880E型掘进机渐进形故障，对突发形的故障能迅速诊断故障部位，可缩短故障诊断时问，提高设备的完好率及利用率。     

ASKBUDJr: A precursor of an expert system for the evaluation of fire hazard

The Center for Fire Research (CFR) has a long-term project to develop expert systems as a technology transfer mechanism. The goal of this project is to develop a computer program which will make an expert estimate of the firesafety of a building based on CFR's deterministic physical models, technical data, and the expert judgment of its staff. The first significant computer program to be developed by this project will be based on the expertise of Harold E. (Bud) Nelson. Thus, it will be called ASKBUD. In this article, the first exploratory steps taken to develop this program are described. Also, the progress made to date, as well as some of the major problems that must be solved, will be discussed. Since the system described in this article is in its infancy, we call it ASKBUDJr. Reference: Richard L. Smith, ASKBUDJr: A Precursor of an Expert System for the Evaluation of Fire Hazard,Fire Technology, Vol. 23, No. 1, February 1987, p. 5. Note: This paper is a contribution of the National Bureau of Standards and is not subject to copyright.     

EXPOSURE: An expert system fire code

This report addresses the issue of developing an expert or knowledge-based system that deals with the problem of preventing the spread of fire between buildings. EXPOSURE, a knowledge-based program, has been developed that facilitates using the most appropriate technology and providing cost-effective solutions. EXPOSURE can solve the problem of the spread of fire between buildings for the case when an exposed building has combustible walls. The use of the expert system EXPOSURE and NFPA 80A produce significantly different recommended minimum separation between buildings. In some cases EXPOSURE calls for significantly greater separation and in others significantly less. In one case the separation required by NFPA 80A was more than five times greater than what EXPOSURE recommended. This program demonstrates that significant cost savings in achieving the desired level of firesafety and in assuring the levels of safety can be obtained by use of expert system fire codes.     

The development of an expert system for the preliminary design of bridges

The approach is outlined for the development of an expert system for the -preliminary -design-of-bridges-(-RCAB£). using.lhe exp.ert system "shell, EXSYS, running under MS-DOS on an IBM-PC. After some consideration of the preliminary design process and the relevant design rules, the strategy for the development of the expert system is discussed. This was based on a series of knowledge sources integrated through a master knowledge source, with an exchange of data through a common data base. This approach, which fully uses the features of EXSYS, was found to be most satisfactory since each knowledge source could be tested and developed independently.     

Efficacy of expert system technology for the diagnosis of building defects — A case study

Development of so-called expert systems shells has made it possible for professionals uninitiated in the use of logic programming to develop expert systems using these shells. The authors confirm that this technology must be used with care in building diagnostic work.     

可持续发展在当前民用建筑设计中的应用

结合当前我国能源现状,对民用建筑可持续发展设计理念的重要意义进行了分析,从节能、生态、经济的角度提出了可持续发展在当前民用建筑设计中的应用措施,指出在民用建筑中坚持可持续发展的设计理念,对促进低碳建筑的普及和发展具有重要意义。     

Potential for expert systems in the assessment and repair of fire damaged buildings in India

Assessment of structural damage due to fire in buildings can be a complex process plagued by uncertainty. This complexity, argue the authors, arises from subjective opinion and imprecise numerical data. Expert system technology offers significant potential for a systematic assessment and repair of fire damaged buildings through the use of expert knowledge.     

空调设计冷负荷计算专家系统的开发

空调设计冷负荷计算具有“不确定性”和“预测性”的特点，为了解决目前空调工程设计中冷负荷设计值普遍偏大的弊病，将专家系统技术与空调冷负荷指标估算法结合起来，利用人工神经网络技术建立了一个空调设计冷负荷计算专家系统，该系统计算结果准确，特别适于经验不足的设计人员使用。     

基于实践环节的土木专业建筑设计教学探讨

建筑设计是土木专业需要涉及的一个实践教学环节,如何在建筑设计环节中既能丰富学科知识背景、又能按照社会行业分工体现专业主要方向,一直备受关注。本文从目前土木专业的建筑设计现状出发剖析其不受重视的原因并探讨改进的措施。     

人民防空二等人员掩蔽所的供暖通风系统设计

以《人民防空地下室设计规范》和《防空地下室通风设计》为基础,结合实际设计中遇到的问题,系统阐述了人防二等人员掩蔽所供暖通风的设计步骤,以及设计中需注意的细节问题。