Enhanced SPARQL-based design rationale retrieval

Design rationale (DR) is an important category within design knowledge, and effective reuse of it depends on its successful retrieval. In this paper, an ontology-based DR retrieval approach is presented, which allows users to search by entering normal queries such as questions in natural language. First, an ontology-based semantic model of DR is developed based on the extended issue-based information system-based DR representation in order to effectively utilize the semantics embedded in DR, and a database of ontology-based DR is constructed, which supports SPARQL queries. Second, two SPARQL query generation methods are proposed. The first method generates initial SPARQL queries from natural language queries automatically using template matching, and the other generates initial SPARQL queries automatically from DR record-based queries. In addition, keyword extension and optimization is conducted to enhance the SPARQL-based retrieval. Third, a design rationale retrieval prototype system is implemented. The experimental results show the advantages of the proposed approach.

Managing Information to Support the Decision Making Process

Decision-making is a crucial activity during the planning, design and operation of artefacts. To make a decision several alternatives must be evaluated and compared, which are tasks that require information, knowledge and expertise. A system that organises and manages the knowledge associated with every alternative and links ideas, arguments and issues can greatly improve and facilitate the decision making process. This paper presents how an Issue Based Information System (IBIS) implemented in Compendium (http://compendium.open.ac.uk) has been extended with new functionalities such as access to a toolkit of Multi-Criteria Decision Methods (MCDM), the ability to propagate values throughout the decision records and to perform sensitivity analysis of the recommended decisions with respect to a parameter. These additional functionalities enable the applicability of the system in the support of decisions that require not only argumentation, but also numerical evaluation of the properties of the alternatives such as those proposed during the design, planning and operation of engineering artefacts.

Knowledge Management Framework for Design Verification Process With Computer-Aided Engineering Analysis

Computer-based engineering analysis has become an essential means for verifying an engineering design. Its effects depend on not only available computational methods and computer performance but also what models and conditions are given to the computation. Their explicit representation and management must become a forefront and serious task of computer-aided design activities for their better documentation, more appropriate quality assurance, wider utilization, etc. This paper proposes a framework for representing and managing the knowledge involved in engineering analysis modeling for design verification. The computation-based design consists of the two phases, engineering analysis for understanding physical phenomena and design verification based on its results. The management format of the engineering analysis modeling process, which is named EAMM (Engineering Analysis Modeling Matrix), is introduced for the first phase. The process structure of design verification and classification of designer’s decision making are discussed for the second phase by referring the framework of EAMM. gIBIS (graphical Issue-Based Information System) model, which is a format for describing argumentation, is adopted for representing the process structure and the designer’s decision makings. A design process of a micro mixing mechanism demonstrates the potential and the promise of a proposed framework.