A Knowledge-Based Expert System for Innovative Transportation Financing Techniques

Abstract: This paper discusses the development of a medium-sized knowledge-based expert system for selection of appropriate innovative financing technique(s) for transportation projects by several state and local governments. The steps involved in the development of the expert system, namely, problem identification, conceptualization, knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation, implementation, and testing and evaluation, are discussed. The process of organizing the available knowledge of innovative financing techniques, as well as the process leading to the selection of one or more of them for a particular project, is encoded in the knowledge base of the expert system developed for the purpose. The working system was tested and validated by comparing the output of the system against the recommendations made by transportation professionals in counties and cities in various states. The tests indicate favorable results for the system. The operational system can be used as a decision support system as well as a teaching tool for transportation engineers, planners, private developers, and government officials.