The designers' information environment: some tools for design knowledge manipulation

Integrated 3D Modeling adaptation on infrastructure has been slow due to technical challenges, such as the lack of interoperability between software. In an effort to partially fill this gap, a versatile model with 3D Modeling capabilities was developed to assist in designing sustainable bridges at the conceptual design stage. The model incorporates a rule-based expert system and four modules, namely: 3D CAD modeling, Bridge Sustainability Rating System (BrSRS), Bridge Environmental Performance Strategy Mapping (BrEPSM), and conceptual cost estimating. The 3D CAD module was developed using the Graphics.DrawLine method. The BrSRS and BrEPSM modules were developed by the amalgamation of identified pertinent sustainable and footprint indicators. The model aims to provide bridge type recommendations, allow customization of a sustainable bridge, illustrate forecasted footprint levels, present the conceptual design in AutoCAD’s 3-dimensional (3D) mode, facilitate a recalculation process when the bridge’s dimensions are altered, and generate a conceptual cost estimate.

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Development of a hybrid expert system: a case study

Sakr¹,

Hosain²

1992

Can. J. Civ. Eng.

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This paper considers the possible enhancement of the capabilities of an expert system tool. Most of the commercial tools currently available are not particularly suitable for developing expert systems that involve routine design calculations. To overcome this drawback for engineering applications, numerical computations may be carried out by conventional computer programs which can be linked to an expert system tool through its external program interface. This type of expert systems is called a "hybrid" or "coupled" expert system. Practicing engineers will, sooner or later, face the need to use hybrid expert systems. This paper presents a case study which shows how the capabilities of a commercial expert system tool can be enhanced by integrating it with a conventional computer program. The hybrid expert system developed by the authors for illustration purpose can be used for the analysis of plane steel trusses and the evaluation of member design forces. It utilizes an in-house program called “Manager” to integrate two commercial software packages: an expert system tool called KES and a structural analysis package named PFRAME. The capabilities of the hybrid system appear to exceed those of the individual software packages. Key words: knowledge based expert systems, expert system building tools, hybrid expert systems, structural analysis, structural design.

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The designers' information environment: some tools for design knowledge manipulation

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Design as an Interesting Phenomenon: George Mallen and the Royal College of Art

Design as an Interesting Phenomenon: George Mallen and the Royal College of Art

Integrating 3D modeling, sustainability and cost estimating at the conceptual design stage of bridges

Development of a hybrid expert system: a case study

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