KNAMS: a knowledge acquisition tool for modeling systems

Research in automatic knowledge acquisition tools has focused on the problem-solving methods used by the expert systems they generate. The focus on specific problem-solving methods makes clear the role played by knowledge in finding the solution to a problem. In this paper, we extend this research to modeling systems that use mathematical models to solve planning problems. Current modeling systems use domain-specific knowledge to support modelers in formulating, specifying, and in analyzing models. We describe KNAMS, a knowledge acquisition tool that attempts to acquire domain-specific knowledge used by modeling systems. The knowledge acquisition process in KNAMS is guided by modeling principles and heuristics identified through an empirical analysis of the modeling process of experienced human modelers