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Prototype expert system trouble‐shooter for the ANEX structural engineering teaching laboratory
Author(s) -
Behr Richard A.,
Benjamin Colin O.,
Mirza Azam A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
computer applications in engineering education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.478
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1099-0542
pISSN - 1061-3773
DOI - 10.1002/cae.6180010503
Subject(s) - session (web analytics) , test (biology) , computer science , expert system , simulation , software engineering , artificial intelligence , paleontology , world wide web , biology
This article describes the design and evaluation of a knowledge‐based expert system, called “TROUBLE‐SHOOTER,” developed for use in the newly developed “ANEX” undergraduate structural engineering teaching laboratory at the University of Missouri‐Rolla. ANEX is a portable, computer‐assisted mini‐laboratory that students use interactively to investigate correlations between computerized structural analyses and physical experiments performed on small‐scale model structures. TROUBLE‐SHOOTER was developed using LEVEL5 OBJECT® for Microsoft® Windows™ expert system shell. It is intended to act as a trouble‐shooter for various analytical and/or experimental problems that students could encounter during typical ANEX sessions. An extensive three‐phase evaluation of the prototype expert system was performed, including an in‐house technical evaluation using 36 ANEX session test cases, a subjective evaluation by 16 civil engineering undergraduate students, and a controlled empirical evaluation to compare the prototype's speed and accuracy of advice with those provided by three experienced ANEX laboratory teaching assistants. Results of the evaluations indicated that the prototype expert system was well received by students; it was a competent trouble‐shooter and it provided advice quickly. Statistical results of the empirical evaluation revealed that the prototype expert system was significantly more accurate than were experienced teaching assistants in trouble‐shooting typical ANEX sessions. The prototype expert system was especially adept at handling ANEX test cases that were burdened with multiple analytical and/or experimental errors.