Using hybrid knowledge bases for missile siting problems

Hybrid knowledge bases (HKBs) are a formalism for integrating multiple representations of knowledge and data. HKBs provide a uniform framework for integrating uncertain information (as is often the case in terrain reasoning), temporal information (needed for weather effects, etc.), and numeric constraint solving capabilities (for situation assessment). We show how the HKB formalism may be applied to solve the problem of placing Patriot and Hawk missile batteries in a specified terrain, subject to the requirement that various existing assets be afforded maximal protection. We formalize this problem in a clear, mathematical framework, using the HKB paradigm, and show how the problem is solved. This provides a mathematically sound, as well as a practically viable, scalable solution to the important problem of missile siting