STEM: a methodology for the development of multiagent design tools using a general knowledge model of configurational design

Developing a greenhouse design tool, we realized the convenience of developing a general configurational design model; we called STE (from its composition by specification, translation and evaluation tasks). We present first this general design model, summarizing how it was described using improved versions of some of knowledge modeling tools of the commonKADS methodology. Later, we present STEM, a methodology that let us to develop design tools using the STE model. Finally, we point out how both, the STE design model and its associated methodology (STEM) were used to build a greenhouse design tool and actually a tool to design aeronautical utensils.