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Introduction to expert systems
BOOKNOTES
563
Thus, this book should serve as a useful text in courses dealing with decision making as well as a valuable reference for those involved in the application of decision analysis techniques.
JAMES P. IIGNIZIO: Introduction
to Expert Systems. McGraw-Hill,
Hightstown.
This text presents an introduction to expert systems quite unlike that normally encountered. This is because the book is intended for the audience outside of the computer science sector. Specifically, the presentation assumes no previous exposure to either computers or computer programming and, instead, addresses the heart and soul of expert systems development; the process of the modeling of the knowledge base. Those in OR/MS, and particularly those with an interest in real world application, should find the book particularly valuable as it presents a pragmatic and effective approach to “messy”, real world problems that simply cannot be handled by conventional, analytical approaches. The book addresses all facets of expert systems development, from that of determining the appropriateness of a given problem to the maintenance of the implemented system. Exercises are included at the end of each chapter and a solutions manual is available from the publishers. Also included with the text is a floppy disk containing an educational version of EXSYS, a popular expert systems shell.
D. J. WHITE: Markov Decision Processes.
Wiley, New York.
This text contains eight chapters. It is intended for mathematically able postgraduate systems engineers, management scientists, industrial engineers and operations researchers. Chapter 1 gives an introduction to Markov systems with rewards, using z-transform analysis. Chapter 2 develops a general framework for Markov decision processes, developing the central optimality equations for discounted reward, average expected reward, and absorbing state problems. Chapter 3 covers value iteration and policy space algorithms, inclusive of the mathematical properties, and action elimination procedures. Chapter 4 covers primal and dual linear programming formulations. Chapter 5 comprises semi-Markov decision processes, as a natural extension of Markov decision processes; with the intervals between successive decision epochs being random variables. Chapter 6 includes partially observable and adaptive Markov decision processes, where states and/or states of nature are known only in terms of probability distributions. Chapter 7 covers a range of special topics in Markov decision processes. Chapter 8 comprises a number of special problem formulations. Exercises and solutions are provided.
REUVEN R. LEVARY: Engineering
North-Holland,
Design:
Better
Results
Through
Operations
Research
Methods.
New York.
The need for operations research techniques is often felt in engineering design. Both engineering design and operations research methods have developed considerably over the years, but little attention has been given to the interaction of the two disciplines. This book aims to inform operations researchers of several distinct engineering design problems and to inform design engineers of the value of using operations research techniques in engineering design. It aims to stimulate additional interest in the application of operations research methods to engineering design. It is hoped that design engineers and operations researchers will become more closely allied as they come to recognize the interrelatedness of their fields. This book can be used as a reference by a wide variety of professionals. It may be used as a text for courses in advanced engineering design or for a course in special topics in operations research. It is hoped that original student design projects that apply operations research methods to engineering design projects will be an outgrowth of this work. Thirty-six recognized authorities in a variety of distinct fields have contributed to this work. While it is not expected that all readers will agree with the views expressed by all authors, it is hoped that the book will be stimulating and informative to all who read it.
563
Thus, this book should serve as a useful text in courses dealing with decision making as well as a valuable reference for those involved in the application of decision analysis techniques.
JAMES P. IIGNIZIO: Introduction
to Expert Systems. McGraw-Hill,
Hightstown.
This text presents an introduction to expert systems quite unlike that normally encountered. This is because the book is intended for the audience outside of the computer science sector. Specifically, the presentation assumes no previous exposure to either computers or computer programming and, instead, addresses the heart and soul of expert systems development; the process of the modeling of the knowledge base. Those in OR/MS, and particularly those with an interest in real world application, should find the book particularly valuable as it presents a pragmatic and effective approach to “messy”, real world problems that simply cannot be handled by conventional, analytical approaches. The book addresses all facets of expert systems development, from that of determining the appropriateness of a given problem to the maintenance of the implemented system. Exercises are included at the end of each chapter and a solutions manual is available from the publishers. Also included with the text is a floppy disk containing an educational version of EXSYS, a popular expert systems shell.
D. J. WHITE: Markov Decision Processes.
Wiley, New York.
This text contains eight chapters. It is intended for mathematically able postgraduate systems engineers, management scientists, industrial engineers and operations researchers. Chapter 1 gives an introduction to Markov systems with rewards, using z-transform analysis. Chapter 2 develops a general framework for Markov decision processes, developing the central optimality equations for discounted reward, average expected reward, and absorbing state problems. Chapter 3 covers value iteration and policy space algorithms, inclusive of the mathematical properties, and action elimination procedures. Chapter 4 covers primal and dual linear programming formulations. Chapter 5 comprises semi-Markov decision processes, as a natural extension of Markov decision processes; with the intervals between successive decision epochs being random variables. Chapter 6 includes partially observable and adaptive Markov decision processes, where states and/or states of nature are known only in terms of probability distributions. Chapter 7 covers a range of special topics in Markov decision processes. Chapter 8 comprises a number of special problem formulations. Exercises and solutions are provided.
REUVEN R. LEVARY: Engineering
North-Holland,
Design:
Better
Results
Through
Operations
Research
Methods.
New York.
The need for operations research techniques is often felt in engineering design. Both engineering design and operations research methods have developed considerably over the years, but little attention has been given to the interaction of the two disciplines. This book aims to inform operations researchers of several distinct engineering design problems and to inform design engineers of the value of using operations research techniques in engineering design. It aims to stimulate additional interest in the application of operations research methods to engineering design. It is hoped that design engineers and operations researchers will become more closely allied as they come to recognize the interrelatedness of their fields. This book can be used as a reference by a wide variety of professionals. It may be used as a text for courses in advanced engineering design or for a course in special topics in operations research. It is hoped that original student design projects that apply operations research methods to engineering design projects will be an outgrowth of this work. Thirty-six recognized authorities in a variety of distinct fields have contributed to this work. While it is not expected that all readers will agree with the views expressed by all authors, it is hoped that the book will be stimulating and informative to all who read it.