AN ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE BASE SYSTEM

THE OVERALL PHASE I OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT KNOWLEDGE BASE SYSTEM. THIS PROOF OF FEASIBILITY WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING, PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT, AND A PHASE II SOFTWARE DESIGN. BECAUSE THE REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE IS BOTH EXTENSIVE AND DIVERSE, IT CANNOT BE COMPLETELY ELICITED IN A PHASE I EFFORT. WE WILL EMPHASIZE BREADTH OVER DEPTH IN INITIAL KNOWLEDGE ENGINEERING AND PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT. THEREFORE WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A VERY DIVERSE TEAM OF DOMAIN EXPERTS AND PLAN TO ELICIT AND USE KNOWLEDGE WHICH SPANS THE GAMUT OF THE LIFE-CYCLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS. THIS EFFORT IS DIRECTED TOWARD AN ENVIRONMENTAL, KNOWLEDGE-BASED MODEL FOR FACILITIES DESIGN, OPERATION, AND CONSTRUCTION. TO ACHIEVE ACCEPTANCE IT WILL BE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE END-USERS-FACILITIES MANAGERS, DESIGNERS, AND GENERAL CONTRACTORS. IT MUST INCLUDE THE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF BUILDING MATERIALS, SYSTEMS, AND PROCESSES ACROSS THE ENTIRE LIFE-CYCLE OF THE BUILDING. IT MUST PRESENT ITS INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT FACILITIES DESIGNERS, MANAGERS, AND CONTRACTORS CAN ACCEPT AND USE.