AN EXPERT ASSISTANT FOR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS USERS

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) ARE POWERFUL COMPUTER-BASED TOOLS FOR STORING, MANAGING, AND MANIPULATING INFORMATION ABOUT SPATIALLY-DISTRIBUTED PHENOMENA. GIS HAS PROVED EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO MUNICIPALITIES, GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE BUSINESS; IN ASSISTING IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING A SOFTWARE-BASED GIS EXPERT ASSISTANT TO ENHANCE THE TRAINING PROCESS, ASSIST THE OCCASIONAL USER, AND IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND COMSISTENCY OF GIS ANALYSIS RESULTS. THE GIS EXPERT ASSISTANT IS BEING BUILT USING THE KNOWLEDGE ENGINERING TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED BY THE ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE COMMUNITY, AND INCORPORATES KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNIQUES RECOGNIZED BY EXPERTS IN THE GIS FIELD. THE GIS EXPERT ASSISTANT FUNCTIONS AS A READILY-AVAILABLE CONSULTANT OR AID, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE WHILE A USER IS INTERACTING WITH THE GIS. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE OR OVERRULE THE EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONER OR INSTRUCTOR, BUT ENABLES MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THESE SCARCE HUMAN RESOURCES.