The examples given in this paper demonstrate how a dataset representing an expert's conceptual structure for a problem domain can be elicited in a knowledge acquisition tool and converted automatically to a knowledge base that performs as expert system solving the problem in an expert system shell. In particular, examples have been given to show the significance of effective software engineering in transforming the elicited knowledge into data structures for the shell.
In large scale system development knowledge structures for different sub-domains have to be developed to support a complete system. Many of them will have the decision-making form analyzed in detail in this paper. The acquisition tool can be used to develop and validate knowledge structures for each of these sub-domains. The modular and well-structured knowledge bases produced can then be combined through appropriate control structures.
There is no royal road to expert system development. Understanding and communicating expertise are not easy tasks. Knowledge acquisition tools are designed to support and guide the expert and knowledge engineer in that understanding and communication. Any real system development involves exploration, false starts, inadequate datasets, and so on. The expert has to learn the skills of expertise transfer through trial and error. A good tool provides an interesting, friendly and supportive environment for that learning experience. Once that learning has converged upon a solution, the tool can also provide formally correct and well-structured mechanisms for transferring the solution to a knowledge base driving an expert system shell.
Financial assistance for this work has been made available by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. We are grateful to many colleagues at the knowledge acquisition workshops for discussions which have highlighted many of the issues raised in this paper. We are particularly grateful to John Boose, Jeff Bradshaw and Brian Woodward for many fruitful discussions of knowledge acquisition systems, and to Alain Rappaport for such discussions and collaboration in the development of the knowledge base transfer facilities.
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gaines@cpsc.ucalgary.ca 19-Sep-95