A framework for integrating databases with knowledge bases for structural engineering

The focus of this paper is on the problem of how can we easily combine the advantages of database and knowledge-based systems. Solving this problem has the potential to radically extend the usefulness of existing database systems. Conversely, the solution would also make large-scale knowledge-based systems less costly to construct. In order to solve this problem, we present a framework for exploring the various alternatives in the integration of the two kinds of systems. We also use this framework to motivate our proposed solution: knowledge-embedded database systems. Our proposal entails the use of simple but powerful extensions of a database system to increase its ability to represent and manipulate knowledge. We describe Kbase, an environment for developing knowledge-embedded database systems. We further illustrate our proposed solution with IPDOS, a Kbase application for the preliminary design of offshore structures.