A novel approach is presented for the development of expert systems for structural design problems. This approach differs from the conventional expert systems in two fundamental respects. First, mathematical optimization is introduced into the design process. Second, a computer is used to obtain parts of the knowledge necessary in the expert systems in addition to heuristics and experiential knowledge obtained from documented materials and human experts. As an example of this approach, a prototype coupled expert system, the bridge truss expert (BTExpert), is presented for optimum design of bridge trusses subjected to moving loads. BTExpert was developed by interfacing an interactive optimization program developed in Fortran 77 to an expert system shell developed in Pascal. This new generation of expert systems-embracing various advanced technologies such as AI (machine intelligence), the numeric optimization technique, and interactive computer graphics -- should find enormous practical implications.

Second, the problem domain of the used be as good as possible. Two The application task requires little task is stable. This means that the characteristics of the domain expert or no common sense. Although domain should be well established can help determine the degree of researchers are continuing to study and unlikely to undergo vast changes expertise. First, the expert is highly the representation of commonsense during the life of the expert system respected by experienced people in the knowledge, no practical systems have project. This stability does not require domain field. Because the goal of the been developed to date (Lenat, that the problem-solving process project is often to simulate the Prakash, and Shepherd 1986). A problem required to perform the task be well expert's performance, this expert requiring common sense on the understood, simply that the basics of should be viewed by others as a genuine part of the expert should be left to a the task domain be established.

Is it because they have been "mastered," or have become "trivial?" Indeed, many new problems for these applications add to the complexity of the solutions rater than trivialize them. Indeed, the work of myself and course, is no longer mathematics. The YES/L1 language is an integration of artificial intelligence is at a of procedural and rule-based techniques. Condition-action rules in plateau from which it can rise or fall YES/L1 are driven by a RETElike algorithm.

As both a computer scientist and a lawyer, Gardner understands the importance of participation by scholars from both fields in future research. Her work is directed at two groups of readers: those with technical knowledge of AI programming techniques, and those trained in law.

The PROSENET/TEXTNET approach is designed to facilitate the generation of polished prose by an expert system. The approach uses the augmented transition network (ATN) formalism to help structure prose generation at the phrase, sentence, and paragraph levels. The approach also uses expressive frames to help give the expert system builder considerable freedom to organize material flexibly at the paragraph level. The PROSENET /TEXTNET approach has been used in a number of prototype expert systems in medical domains, and has proved to be a convenient and powerful tool.

Within the academic and professional auditing communities, there has been growing concern about how to accurately assess the various risks associated with performing an audit. These risks are difficult to conceptualize in terms of numeric estimates. This article discusses the development of a prototype computational model (computer program) that assesses one of the major audit risks -- inherent risk. This program bases most of its inferencing activities on a qualitative model of a typical business enterprise.

In this article, I discuss the emerging field of artificial intelligence and legal reasoning and review the new book by Anne v.d.L. Gardner, An Artificial Intelligence Approach to Legal Reasoning, published by Bradford/MIT Press (1987, 225 pp., $22.50) as the first book in its new series on the subject.

Letters to the Editor

The capabilities for representing and reasoning about three-dimensional (3-D) objects are essential for knowledge-based, 3-D photointerpretation systems that combine domain knowledge with image processing, as demonstrated by 3- D Mosaic and ACRONYM. A practical framework for geometric representation and reasoning must incorporate projections between a two-dimensional (2-D) image and a 3-D scene, shape and surface properties of objects, and geometric and topological relationships between objects. In addition, it should allow easy modification and extension of the system's domain knowledge and be flexible enough to organize its reasoning efficiently to take advantage of the current available knowledge. This system uses frames to represent objects such as buildings and walls, geometric features such as lines and planes, and geometric relationships such as parallel lines.