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KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION, REPRESENTATION, AND REASONING
Chapter 18 KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION, REPRESENTATION, AND REASONING
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Learning Objectives Understand the nature of knowledge
Understand the knowledge-engineering process Learn different approaches to knowledge acquisition Explain the pros and cons of different knowledge acquisition approaches Illustrate methods for knowledge verification and validation Understand inference strategies in rule-based intelligent systems Explain uncertainties and uncertainty processing in expert systems (ES)
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Concepts of Knowledge Engineering
The engineering discipline in which knowledge is integrated into computer systems to solve complex problems that normally require a high level of human expertise
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Concepts of Knowledge Engineering
The knowledge-engineering process Knowledge acquisition Knowledge representation Knowledge validation Inferencing Explanation and justification
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Concepts of Knowledge Engineering
Knowledge representation A formalism for representing facts and rules in a computer about a subject or specialty Knowledge validation (verification) The process of testing to determine whether the knowledge in an artificial intelligence system is correct and whether the system performs with an acceptable level of accuracy
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Concepts of Knowledge Engineering
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Concepts of Knowledge Engineering
CommonKADS The leading methodology to support structured knowledge engineering. It enables the recognition of opportunities and bottlenecks in how organizations develop, distribute, and apply their knowledge resources, and it is a tool for corporate knowledge management. CommonKADS provides the methods to perform a detailed analysis of knowledge intensive tasks and processes and supports the development of knowledge systems that support selected parts of the business process
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The Scope and Types of Knowledge
Documented knowledge For ES, stored knowledge sources not based directly on human expertise Undocumented knowledge Knowledge that comes from sources that are not documented, such as human experts
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The Scope and Types of Knowledge
Knowledge acquisition from databases Many ES are constructed from knowledge extracted in whole or in part from databases Knowledge acquisition via the Internet The acquisition, availability, and management of knowledge via the Internet are becoming critical success issues for the construction and maintenance of knowledge-based systems
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The Scope and Types of Knowledge
Levels of knowledge Shallow knowledge A representation of only surface level information that can be used to deal with very specific situations Deep knowledge A representation of information about the internal and causal structure of a system that considers the interactions among the system’s components
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The Scope and Types of Knowledge
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The Scope and Types of Knowledge
Major categories of knowledge Declarative knowledge A representation of facts and assertions Procedural knowledge Information about courses of action. Procedural knowledge contrasts with declarative knowledge Metaknowledge In an expert system, knowledge about how the system operates or reasons. More generally, knowledge about knowledge
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Roles of knowledge engineers Advise the expert on the process of interactive knowledge elicitation Set up and appropriately manage the interactive knowledge acquisition tools Edit the unencoded and coded knowledge base in collaboration with the expert Set up and appropriately manage the knowledge-encoding tools Validate application of the knowledge base in collaboration with the expert Train clients in effective use of the knowledge base in collaboration with the expert by developing operational and training procedures
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Elicitation of knowledge The act of extracting knowledge, generally automatically, from nonhuman sources; machine learning
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Knowledge modeling methods Manual method A human-intensive method for knowledge acquisition, such as interviews and observations, used to elicit knowledge from experts Semiautomatic method A knowledge acquisition method that uses computer-based tools to support knowledge engineers in order to facilitate the process
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Knowledge modeling methods Automatic method An automatic knowledge acquisition method that involves using computer software to automatically discover knowledge from a set of data
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Manual knowledge modeling methods Interviews Interview analysis An explicit, face-to-face knowledge acquisition technique that involves a direct dialog between the expert and the knowledge engineer Walk-through In knowledge engineering, a process whereby the expert walks (or talks) the knowledge engineer through the solution to a problem Unstructured (informal) interview An informal interview that acquaints a knowledge engineer with an expert’s problem-solving domain
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Manual knowledge modeling methods Structured Interviews A structured interview is a systematic, goal-oriented process It forces organized communication between the knowledge engineer and the expert
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Manual knowledge modeling methods Process tracking The process of an expert system’s tracing the reasoning process in order to reach a conclusion Protocol analysis A set of instructions governing the format and control of data in moving from one medium to another Observations
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Manual knowledge modeling methods Other manual knowledge modeling methods Case analysis Critical incident analysis Discussions with users Commentaries Conceptual graphs and models Brainstorming Prototyping Multidimensional scaling Johnson’s hierarchical clustering Performance review
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Manual knowledge modeling methods Multidimensional scaling A method that identifies various dimensions of knowledge and then arranges them in the form of a distance matrix. It uses least-squares fitting regression to analyze, interpret, and integrate the data
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Semiautomatic knowledge modeling methods Repertory Grid Analysis (RGA) Personal construct theory An approach in which each person is viewed as a “personal scientist” who seeks to predict and control events by forming theories, testing hypotheses, and analyzing results of experiments
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Semiautomatic knowledge modeling methods How RGA works The expert identifies the important objects in the domain of expertise The expert identifies the important attributes considered in making decisions in the domain For each attribute, the expert is asked to establish a bipolar scale with distinguishable characteristics and their opposites The interviewer picks any three of the objects and asks, “What attributes and traits distinguish any two of these objects from the third?” The answers are recorded in a grid The grid can be used afterward to make recommendations in situations in which the importance of the attributes is known
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Semiautomatic knowledge modeling methods The use of RGA in ES Expert transfer system (ETS) A computer program that interviews experts and helps them build expert systems Card sorting data Other computer-aided tools
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Automatic knowledge modeling methods The process of using computers to extract knowledge from data is called knowledge discovery Two reasons for the use of automated knowledge acquisition: Good knowledge engineers are highly paid and difficult to find Domain experts are usually busy and sometimes uncooperative
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Methods of Acquiring Knowledge from Experts
Automatic knowledge modeling methods Typical methods for knowledge discovery Inductive learning Neural computing Genetic algorithms
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Acquiring Knowledge from Multiple Experts
Major purposes of using multiple experts: To better understand the knowledge domain To improve knowledge-base validity, consistency, completeness, accuracy, and relevancy To provide better productivity To identify incorrect results more easily To address broader domains To be able to handle more complex problems and combine the strengths of different reasoning approaches
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Acquiring Knowledge from Multiple Experts
Multiple-expert scenarios Individual experts Primary and secondary experts Small groups Panels
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Acquiring Knowledge from Multiple Experts
Methods of handling multiple experts Blend several lines of reasoning through consensus methods such as Delphi, nominal group technique (NGT), and group support systems (GSS) Use an analytic approach, such as group probability or an analytic hierarchy process Keep the lines of reasoning distinct and select a specific line of reasoning based on the situation Automate the process, using software or a blackboard approach. Decompose the knowledge acquired into specialized knowledge sources
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Automated Knowledge Acquisition from Data and Documents
The objectives of using automated knowledge acquisition: To increase the productivity of knowledge engineering (reduce the cost) To reduce the skill level required from the knowledge engineer To eliminate (or drastically reduce) the need for an expert To eliminate (or drastically reduce) the need for a knowledge engineer To increase the quality of the acquired knowledge
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Automated Knowledge Acquisition from Data and Documents
Automated rule induction Induction The process of reasoning from the specific to the general Training set A set of data for inducing a knowledge model, such as a rule base or a neural network Advantages of rule induction Using rule induction allows ES to be used in more complicated and more commercially rewarding fields The builder does not have to be a knowledge engineer
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Automated Knowledge Acquisition from Data and Documents
Automated rule induction Difficulties in implementing rule induction Some induction programs may generate rules that are not easy for a human to understand Rule induction programs do not select the attributes The search process in rule induction is based on special algorithms that generate efficient decision trees, which reduce the number of questions that must be asked before a conclusion is reached
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Automated Knowledge Acquisition from Data and Documents
Automated rule induction Difficulties in implementing rule induction Rule induction is only good for rule-based classification problems, especially of the yes/no type The number of attributes must be fairly small The number of examples necessary can be very large The set of examples must be “sanitized” Rule induction is limited to situations under certainty The builder does not know in advance whether the number of examples is sufficient and whether the algorithm is good enough
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Automated Knowledge Acquisition from Data and Documents
Interactive induction A computer-based means of knowledge acquisition that directly supports an expert in performing knowledge acquisition by guiding the expert through knowledge structuring
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Knowledge Verification and Validation
Knowledge acquired from experts needs to be evaluated for quality, including: The main objective of evaluation is to assess an ES’s overall value Validation is the part of evaluation that deals with the performance of the system Verification is building the system right or substantiating that the system is correctly implemented to its specifications
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Representation of Knowledge
Production rule A knowledge representation method in which knowledge is formalized into rules that have IF parts and THEN parts (also called conditions and actions, respectively)
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Representation of Knowledge
Inference rule (metarule) A rule that describes how other rules should be used or modified to direct an ES inference engine Procedural rule A rule that advises on how to solve a problem, given that certain facts are known
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Representation of Knowledge
Major advantages of rules Rules are easy to understand Inferences and explanations are easily derived Modifications and maintenance are relatively easy Uncertainty is easily combined with rules Each rule is often independent of all others
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Representation of Knowledge
Major limitations of rule representation: Complex knowledge requires thousands of rules, which may create difficulties in using and maintaining the system Builders like rules, so they try to force all knowledge into rules rather than look for more appropriate representations Systems with many rules may have a search limitation in the control program Some programs have difficulty evaluating rule-based systems and making inferences
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Representation of Knowledge
Semantic network A knowledge representation method that consists of a network of nodes, representing concepts or objects, connected by arcs describing the relations between the nodes
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Representation of Knowledge
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Representation of Knowledge
Frame A knowledge representation scheme that associates one or more features with an object in terms of slots and particular slot values Slot A sub-element of a frame of an object. A slot is a particular characteristic, specification, or definition used in forming a knowledge base Facet An attribute or a feature that describes the content of a slot in a frame
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Representation of Knowledge
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Representation of Knowledge
Inheritance The process by which one object takes on or is assigned the characteristics of another object higher up in a hierarchy Instantiate To assign (or substitute) a specific value or name to a variable in a frame (or in a logic expression), making it a particular “instance” of that variable
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Representation of Knowledge
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Representation of Knowledge
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Representation of Knowledge
Decision table A table used to represent knowledge and prepare it for analysis
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Representation of Knowledge
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Representation of Knowledge
Propositional logic (or calculus) A formal logical system of reasoning in which conclusions are drawn from a series of statements according to a strict set of rules Predicate logic (or calculus) A logical system of reasoning used in artificial intelligence programs to indicate relationships among data items. It is the basis of the computer language PROLOG PROLOG (programming in logic) A high-level computer language based on the concepts of predicate calculus
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Representation of Knowledge
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Reasoning in Intelligent Systems
Commonsense reasoning The branch of artificial intelligence that is concerned with replicating human thinking Reasoning in rule-based systems Inference engine The part of an expert system that actually performs the reasoning function Rule interpreter The inference mechanism in a rule-based system Chunking A process of dividing and conquering, or dividing complex problems into subproblems
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Reasoning in Intelligent Systems
Backward chaining A search technique that uses IF THEN rules and is used in production systems that begin with the action clause of a rule and works backward through a chain of rules in an attempt to find a verifiable set of condition clauses
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Reasoning in Intelligent Systems
Forward chaining A data-driven search in a rule-based system
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Reasoning in Intelligent Systems
Inference tree A schematic view of the inference process that shows the order in which rules are tested
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Explanation and Metaknowledge
An attempt by an ES to clarify its reasoning, recommendations, or other actions (e.g., asking a question) Explanation facility (justifier) The component of an expert system that can explain the system’s reasoning and justify its conclusions
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Explanation and Metaknowledge
Why explanations How explanations Other explanations Who What Where When Why How
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Explanation and Metaknowledge
Static explanation In an ES, an association of fixed explanation text with a rule to explain the rule’s meaning. Dynamic explanation In ES, an explanation facility that reconstructs the reasons for its actions as it evaluates rules
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Explanation and Metaknowledge
Categorization of the explanation methods Trace, or line of reasoning Justification Strategy
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Inferencing with Uncertainty
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Inferencing with Uncertainty
The importance of uncertainty Uncertainty is a serious problem Avoiding it may not be the best strategy. Instead, we need to improve the methods for dealing with uncertainty
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Inferencing with Uncertainty
Representing uncertainty Numeric representation Graphic representation Symbolic representation
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Inferencing with Uncertainty
Probabilities and related approaches Probability ratio Bayesian approach Subjective probability A probability estimated by a manager without the benefit of a formal model Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence Belief function The representation of uncertainty without the need to specify exact probabilities
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Inferencing with Uncertainty
Theory of certainty factors Certainty theory A framework for representing and working with degrees of belief of true and false in knowledge-based systems Certainty factor (CF) A percentage supplied by an expert system that indicates the probability that the conclusion reached by the system is correct. Also, the degree of belief an expert has that a certain conclusion will occur if a certain premise is true Disbelief The degree of belief that something is not going to happen
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Inferencing with Uncertainty
Theory of certainty factors Combining certainty factors Combining several certainty factors in one rule Combining two or more rules
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Expert Systems Development
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Expert Systems Development
Phase I: Project initialization Phase II: System analysis and design Conceptual design Development strategy and methodology Sources of knowledge
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Expert Systems Development
Phase II: System analysis and design Selection of the development environment Expert system shell A computer program that facilitates relatively easy implementation of a specific expert system. Analogous to a DSS generator Fifth-generation language (5GL) An artificial intelligence computer programming language. The best known are PROLOG and LISP LISP (list processing) An artificial intelligence programming language, created by artificial intelligence pioneer John McCarthy, that is especially popular in the United States. It is based on manipulating lists of symbols
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Expert Systems Development
Phase II: System analysis and design Selection of the development environment Tool kit A collection of related software items that assist a system developer Domain-specific tool A software shell designed to be used only in the development of a specific area (e.g., a diagnostic system)
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Expert Systems Development
Phase III: Rapid prototyping and the demonstration prototype Demonstration prototype A small-scale prototype of a (usually expert) system that demonstrates some major capabilities of the final system on a rudimentary basis. It is used to gain support among users and managers Phase IV: System development
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Expert Systems Development
Phase V: Implementation Acceptance by the user Installation approaches and timing Documentation and security Integration and field testing
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Expert Systems Development
Phase VI: Postimplemenatation System operation System maintenance System expansion (upgrading) System evaluation
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Knowledge Acquisition and the Internet
The Internet as a communication medium The Internet as an open knowledge source
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