An example of expert system on numerical modelling system in coastal processes

With the advent of artificial intelligence technology as well as the widespread popularity of desktop microcomputers in recent years, integration of this new technology with the traditional numerical modelling system becomes a current trend in order to solve various engineering problems. It renders a more intelligent and user-friendly system on the problem domain. In this paper, a knowledge-based expert system on numerical modelling system for coastal water processes is delineated. Expert system application, as a key branch of artificial intelligence technology, is integrated with traditional numerical modelling for simulating flow and water quality phenomenon in coastal waters. The knowledge bases are classified into five major types, namely, a variety of models, relations between various model parameters and real physical conditions, feasible options of model parameters, question base as a user-interface directing the user to depict the actual physical conditions, and the rules of inference deducing the feasible choice of model and its parameters. A hybrid expert system shell, Visual Rule Studio, is employed as an ActiveX Designer under Microsoft Visual Basic environment because it combines the advantages of both production rules and object-oriented programming technology. Both forward chaining and backward chaining are used collectively during the inference process, which is mainly driven by premises and conditions with the highest factors of confidence. The inference engine will drive the decision tree to explore the most probable option of numerical model and parameters matching the real problem specifications. It is shown that the application and integration of the knowledge-based expert system technology into numerical modelling for coastal processes can provide substantial assistance to novice users for selection of numerical model as well as parameters. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.