Knowledge Engineering using CommonKADS

Course Objectives:

To provide attendees with a disciplined approach to developing knowledge based systems based on the CommonKADS methodology. This is achieved by covering the KBS development process from identifying a feasible application, through knowledge elicitation by various techniques, up to the production of a detailed design ready for implementation. Emphasis is placed on the modelling of expertise. After the course, attendees will:

• know which factors to consider when deciding whether a knowledge based solution is appropriate;
• know how to perform knowledge elicitation using various techniques;
• know how to produce a knowledge model by following the CommonKADS methodology;
• understand the basis of good implementation decisions;
• know what validation and verification of KBSs entails.

Content:

The course presents the life-cycle of a typical KBS project, outlining techniques and methods to assist with each stage. There is a significant practical element to the course -- attendees have the opportunity to try out domain, inference and task modelling using a knowledge engineering workbench, and to practise several knowledge elicitation techniques. Specific topics include:

• life-cycle models for the development of KBS, including an overview of the CommonKADS methodology;
• selecting and scoping a task for knowledge based application;
• learning and using techniques for acquiring domain and task specific knowledge;
• learning and using CommonKADS techniques for analysing and structuring knowledge;
• applying a technique based on CommonKADS for designing a KBS;
• verifying and validating a knowledge base.

This course is not linked to any specific programming tool, although it does consider how to produce a design which is appropriate to the intended tool.

Further details on the content of this course may be found in the Course Syllabus.

Duration

4 days

Target Audience

The course is intended for knowledge engineers and other technical specialists interested in methods for developing knowledge based systems.

Prerequisites

An awareness of popular knowledge representation and inferencing techniques is expected. Some knowledge of KBS development tools and a small amount of programming experience is also desirable.

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