CCE Theses and Dissertations
An expert system for the prediction of environmental impacts of a logging operation in southeast Alaska
Date of Award
1992
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Computer Education
Department
Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences
Advisor
John Kingsbury
Committee Member
P. Adams
Committee Member
Molly O. Cublyra
Abstract
A computerized expert system was constructed for the prediction of environmental impacts resulting from a single clear-cut logging operation in Southeast Alaska. The knowledge base for the system was derived from the pertinent literature and from practicing professionals in the fields of forestry, wildlife, hydrology, soils, and biology. The system contains 62 if –then rules and operates on MS-DOS personal computers with at least 640 K of random access memory and a high-density disk drive. The system gathers input information about the proposed clear-cut operation by asking 22 yes or no questions to which it responds with qualitative predictions of the environmental impacts in the areas of soils, streams, fisheries, biodiversity, and wildlife.
The system was validated by additional experts and prospective users to be accurate and easy to use, specific predictions are limited so however, the depth of the system may be inappropriate for intensive environmental impact assessment. The system was determined by the reviewers to be very appropriate for educational uses and broad-based initial management decision-making.
NSUWorks Citation
James H. DiGennaro. 1992. An expert system for the prediction of environmental impacts of a logging operation in southeast Alaska. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences. (966)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/966.