SMART II: knowledge requirements for expert systems

The Switching Maintenance Analysis and Repair Tool (SMART) is a concept prototype expert system for discovering requirements for automation to assist in maintenance of the 1 AESS switch. Field testing of the initial version, which was consultation-based, resulted in a proposal to redesign SMART as an online monitor system. The author´s experience in transforming the working knowledge base for a real-time monitor is outlined. It is presented as a case study in applying a three-step design method for identification of problem-domain knowledge requirements within an existing expert system. These steps are: knowledge-level representation, symbol-level representation, symbol-level representation, and knowledge acquisition. The case study emphasizes the need for precise documentation of knowledge requirements at the appropriate phases of expert system development