Considering usability-based design and evaluation, many general guidelines and heuristics have been proposed in the past. Yet there is still a lack of tailored criteria for the specific case of knowledge-based systems. In this paper we propose the Usability Stack for knowledge-based systems as a new model that summarizes and classifies usability criteria for that particular context. The model a...

Today’s building industry not only demands more and more reduced construction time on building site, but also an advanced and mostly construction attendant design phase. Even though there is software available to support design processes in distributed environments, most applications only support simple document based exchange of information. In this paper a knowledge based system is presented ...

A specific tool for evaluating and tutoring students has been developed. The application results help the students to review those subjects on which their knowlegde level is not adequate and assist tutors to direct their courses to the corresponding level of a student or a group of students. The tool implementation is made possible by the development of a questions data base in the specific sub...

At the University of Kansas, we are collecting cases and advice and making it available by computer. The software, Fabrication error Indexed eXamples and Solutions (FIXS), is a knowledge-based system to provide quick, possible solutions to fabrication errors suitable for use by multiple DOTs. The sharable database can lead to standardized solution procedures that would expedite bridge fabricati...

We introduce the “baby designer enterprise” with the objective of learning grounded symbols and rules based on experience, in order to construct the knowledge underlying design systems. In this approach, conceptual categories emerge as abstractions on patterns arising from functional constraints. Eventually, through interaction with language users, these concepts get names, and become true symb...

Many researchers believe that tacitness of knowledge contributes to incomplete knowledge flow. In this article, the authors focus on obtaining the required mechanical and electrical tacit knowledge for architectural conceptual design purpose by observing activities of a design team involved in a green building project. The authors used the case study research methodology to demonstrate how the ...

In this paper we present the following view on problem-solving methods for knowledge-based systems: Problem-solving methods describe an efficient reasoning strategy for achieving a goal by introducing assumptions about the available domain knowledge and the required functionality. Assumptions, dynamic reasoning behavior, and functionality are the three elements necessary to characterize a probl...

This paper describes the QUality and Experience Metric (QUEM), a method for estimating the skill level of a knowledgebased system based on the quality of the solutions it produces. It allows one to assess how many years of experience the system would be judged to have if it were a human by providing a quantitative measure of the system’s overall competence. QUEM can be viewed as a type of achie...

Project management is a complex process regulated by project management methodologies, standards and other requirements. Project management information systems are used to support project management activities. To ensure effective use of the project management information system, it is necessary that the system could be configured according requirements of the chosen methodology. The configurat...