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.EN
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\s+3\fBESP Intelligent Front End Project\fR\s0
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\s+3\fBGrant GR/E/18018\fR\s0
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.PP
At the present time several powerful simulation models
exist for the assessment of building energy performance
at the design stage. The ESP system developed at ABACUS,
with grants from the SERC, is one such system.
.PP
ESP employs a numerical method to accurately represent the
complex flux exchanges and dynamic interactions ocurring in buildings.
The system is highly graphical, is operated via interactive menuing
and is available on a range of low cost
$Unix sup TM$ workstations. In use ESP
is technically rigorous and is well adapted to the
range of performance issues that arise throughout the
design process.
.PP
Against the prospect of increasing professional use, design
tools - and particularly those based on simulation - still
suffer from several fundamental limitations. Typically they
address only the performance appraisal aspect of the problem,
failing to tackle the problematic issues surrounding
data preparation in the face of uncertainty. Invariably models 
are functionally orientated, containing little knowledge
of the application domain. This means that they cannot direct a users' line
on enquiry, allowing `Why do you ask' type responses for example.
Instead, the user must be expert enough to devise an
appropriate performance assessment methodology
and to coordinate model operation against this.
These are the problems which the intelligent front end (\fIife\fR) project
are designed to overcome. The project is a collaborative one between
ABACUS and the Informatics Group at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
.PP
The objective is the design of an \fIife\fR which can act as an
expert consultant, recognising the user's plan, commissioning
simulations and reporting back on overall performance.
What is envisaged is the system architecture shown in
the following figure.
.sp 22
.IP \(bu
A \fIblackboard\fR (or communications center) exists to manage information.
Each module of the system can examine this blackboard for relevant information,
posting back results where appropriate. The knowledge representation
language being used is based on conceptual graphs.
.IP \(bu
The \fIknowledge base\fR and \fIknowledge handler\fR, implemented in Prolog,
address long term knowledge concerning energy in buildings, the
data knowledge concerning appropriate defaults, modelling knowledge
defining simulation strategy and user knowledge concerning user stereotypes.
.IP \(bu
The \fIdialogue handler\fR is the user communication mechanism. It controls
the consultation session, allowing a user to volunteer information, to
redirect the systems line of inquiry, or to make 'Why do you want to know' 
type responses to the system's prompts.
.IP \(bu
The \fIife\fR will possess more than one \fIuser model\fR. For
several user types - architect, engineer,
energy modeller, student, etc. - at least two
categories, naive and proficient, are envisaged.
.IP \(bu
The \fIBuilding model\fR assembles the data structure required by ESP
from the available data. These data can come directly from a user
or from the knowledge base in the form of dynamic defaults which may depend
on the user dialogue.
.IP \(bu
The \fIife\fR will possess a degree of \fIplan recognition\fR
to interpret the user's analysis objectives. The \fIplanner\fR is the
complementary function: the generation of a list of
performance assessments which will meet these objectives.
.IP \(bu
The \fIpackage handler\fR is the mechanism by which ESP operation
is controlled against the required analysis scheme.
This is conceived as a number of Unix Shell Scripts, each one
containing the rules and relations of a particular performance
assessment.
.PP
The \fIife\fR project has only just commenced. An 18 person month
resource is in place at Rutherford with 2 person years at ABACUS.
Rutherford are developing the dialogue handler, the user model and
the blackboard modules, ABACUS the remainder.
It is our intention to create a working prototype by Spring 1988.
