A knowledge representation for multiple criteria assessment problems

The authors describe a knowledge representation scheme in which expertise is encoded via expert-supplied mappings, or knowledge functions. This functional representation technique was originally developed for SAIVS, a prototype system for recommending ordinary differential equation software from numerical subroutine libraries. Recently, the representation has been adapted for use in POMs, an operational system that detects opportunities for scheduling simultaneous observations by multiple instruments on the Hubble space telescope. The experience with the scheme in these two very different areas suggests that it is a generally useful method with potentially widespread applications. The technique´s advantages and limitations, as observed in SAIVS and POMS, are discussed