Producing consistent specifications for a shipping expert system

The paper describes an approach to producing consistent specifications for knowledge based expert systems, employing prototyping and a combination of fuzzy logic and the provision of conflict solving knowledge. The feasibility of our approach is addressed and illustrated by an example from an expert system for market analysis in shipping. The approach we have taken in developing the system is based on the refinement of specification, following a rigorous and well-defined methodology. The size and complexity of the system call for great care in making the initial specification from which the refinement process may start. We advocate the idea that prototyping should be used to provide the initial specification, which subsequently can be used as a basis for developing the expert system. Although a complete specification is difficult to write, we argue that a consistent specification is essential, because it is on this that the whole development of the system relies