Expert Systems: Design and Development

Expert Systems: Design and Development, 1/e

Jack Durkin, University of Akron

Published March, 1998 by Prentice Hall Engineering/Science/Mathematics

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Expert Systems-Computer Science

Decision Support Systems-Computer Information Systems

Summary

This comprehensive text is both a primer on how to build expert systems and a resource on the key advanced topics in the field. It includes detailed appendices on applications and on software products and a glossary of nearly 300 terms in AI and expert systems. Separate chapters are devoted to different types of systems. Each chapter on design methodology starts with a problem and leads the student through the design of a system which solves that problem. Many examples of expert systems are included, with explicit discussion of their design features and of why those features illustrate good design practice. Exercises give students practice using the basic design techniques and progressively more advanced techniques. Beyond this thorough instruction in design, Durkin's Expert Systems outlines the steps required to introduce, implement, and manage an expert system project in the workplace—in a chapter that covers choosing a project, obtaining management approval, testing the system, and maintaining the system.

step-by-step methodology for developing specific types of expert systems: backward chaining rule-based systems; forward chaining rule-based systems; fuzzy logic expert systems; frame-based expert systems; and induction expert systems.
expert system examples included with substantive notes on design features of each example and suggestions for good design practice.
many examples employ pseudocode, allowing students to grasp the concept illustrated by an example without knowing the programming details of a particular shell; other examples use a syntax associated with the most popular and widely used shells (LEVEL5, LEVEL5 Object, Kappa PC, and CubiCalc).
extensive exercises and assignments lead students from basic design techniques to techniques they can use to build real-world applications.
practical guidelines on choosing an expert system project, writing a project proposal, obtaining support and cooperation, acquiring knowledge from an expert, documenting a project, writing a final report, and maintaining a developed expert system—prepare students to initiate and implement expert system projects in the workplace.
explanation of how to use special features of expert systems: for example, integrating hypertext; interfacing to databases; and interacting knowledge bases.
numbered, highlighted definitions within chapters, plus
apter summaries in bullet form—help students review major concepts.
a comprehensive expert systems glossary—approximately 300 terms.
a catalogue of expert system development software includes expert system shells, fuzzy logic development tools, object-oriented development software, and other product categories- with descriptions and ordering information.
a review of 200 real-world expert systems in use—in agriculture, business, information management, manufacturing, medicine, transportation, and many other application areas; each entry includes a brief summary and a reference for more detailed information on the system.

Table of Contents

Preface.
1. Introduction to Expert Systems.
2. Major Characteristics of Expert Systems.
3. Knowledge Representation.
4. Inference Techniques.
5. MYClN.
6. Rule-Based Expert Systems.
7. Backward Chaining Rule-Based Systems.
8. Designing Backward Chaining Rule-Based Systems.
9. Forward Chaining Rule-Based Systems.
10. Designing Forward Chaining Rule-Based Systems.
11. Bayesian Approach to Inexact Reasoning.
12. Certainty Theory.
13. Fuzzy Logic.
14. Frame-Based Expert Systems.
15. Designing a Frame-Based Expert System.
16. Induction Systems.
17. Knowledge Acquisition.
18. Knowledge Engineering.
Appendix A. Glossary.
Appendix B. Catalog of Expert System Development Software.
Appendix C. Catalog of Expert System Application.
Appendix D. Bibliography of Expert System Topics.
Appendix E. Sources of Additional Information.
References.