Using Expert Systems To Select Traffic Analysis Software

An experimental expert system was developed by the Texas Transportation Institute to assist users in selecting computerized software packages currently being supported by the FHWA. This system was designed to Investigate potential expert systems applications In transportation engineering. This study was performed to serve three basic purposes: to test the feasiblllty of developing a small-scale traffic engineer knowledge-based expert system using a simple knowledge engineering tool, to develop an alternative method of recommending computer programs for user-specified applications, and to investigate a possible approac'h for Implementing advisory expert systems to be operated In the IBM PC/XT/AT microcomputer environment. The development of a prototype expert system using a commercially available knowledge engineering tool developed by Level I~ive Research Incorporated is described. INSIGHT 2+ was used to experiment with expert system programming in the Inexpensive microcomputer environment. This system reviews and analyzes user-Input information, evaluates It with various reasoning paths, and offers a conclusion. With the proper combination of knowledge programming tools and preidentified decision-making processes, Individual users can develop their applications faster than if they had to learn complex artlficlaJ Intelligence programming languages. It is recommended that the expert advisory system design concept of this prototype model be extended to assist practicing traffic engineers in selecting software packages to optimize traffic control strategies. With proper improvements, this type of expert system design can assist the user as a standalone expert advice system.