José Mauro Volkmer de Castilho

Hybrid information systems: integrating data and knowledge management

The class of information systems includes all software systems that, receiving an input like a query or update command from some user, generate an output, or an answer, using some kind of man-machine communication means (sound, images, text). The answer upgrades the user knowledge about some subject and improves the resulting quality of some problem solving task.

Evaluating Case-Based Reasoning in a Geological Domain

This paper presents a system for geological interpretation that uses previous cases as well as knowledge elicited from an expert as the main sources of knowledge used to solve new problems. The paper describes the knowledge acquisition methodology applied in the construction of the knowledge base, as well as its final structure. A case-based reasoning method for geological interpretation that relies on the use of a case-based matching algorithm combined with knowledge elicited from an expert is presented and evaluated. When faced with a new problem, the system searches a case library for the most similar previous case. The solution adopted in the previous case is adapted to fit the new case using knowledge graphs elicited from the expert. Conclusions, final results and future directions on this research are presented.

A State-Space Approach for Database Redesign

Data conversion from an old version to a new version of a database is a critical task, whose results may have heavy impact on the existing set of application programs that manipulate the database. The ideal situation is one in which only exactly the stored data structures involved in a modification of data requirements should be adapted or recreated, and in which all still meaningful data is moved to the new stored data structures, with small computational effort (that is, in short time and with small additional storage space). This paper introduces an approach to the partial solution of this problem, using the State-Space Problem Solving approach from Artificial Intelligence.

TOWARDS THE AUTOMATED DESIGN OF DATABASE SYSTEMS: APPLICATION TO PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

The paper presents a method and a set of tools for the automated design of databases for nonconventional applications, based on a conceptual modelling approach, which follows the E-(for Entity) model. The E-model is a semantic data model which accepts a graphical representation, making its use and understanding quite comfortable for practicians of the application. One of the first applications, which also provided many of its functional requirements, is a production management system.