Using repertory grids for knowledge acquisition for spatial expert systems

The traditional approach to knowledge acquisition from domain experts has been via interview. However deeper knowledge can be elicited using repertory grid techniques which get domain experts to rank objects against concepts. The technique based on Kelly´s (1955) Personal Construct Theory has been well proven by Boose et. al. (1987) but has not to date been applied to a spatial domain. The current study grew out of the development of a repertory grid program, developed for the KAGES toolkit, which will consist of several knowledge acquisition tools for use in the development of spatial expert systems. The paper describes both the theoretical foundations of a system which elicits spatial knowledge using repertory grids and a practical approach for its implementation. This involves a discussion of the development of production programs for KAGES (Knowledge Acquisition for Geographic Expert Systems) and describes output for a generic knowledge base for use with the SPARTEX system. The domain is represented by a series of satellite images. These are of the Antarctic coastline where sea ice is being identified and classified