Canadian Forest Service Publications
Prototyping an expert system for diagnosis of forest seedling nursery problems. 1992. Thomson, A.J.; Sutherland, J.R.; Blache, M.; Dennis, J.J. AI Applications 6(1): 21-31.
Year: 1992
Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 3262
Language: English
Availability: Not available through the CFS (click for more information).
Abstract
A prototype expert system for diagnosis of forest nursery problems was developed, using the expert system shell EXSYS, to clarify the requirements for an operational system. Knowledge acquisition was facilitated by the organization of relevant domain knowledge in existing manuals. Success of system development lay in the ability to differentiate fungal causal agents from abiotic causes or insect feeding damage. The importance of choice of viewpoint (host species, part of plant, disease, clinician or nursery manager) in setting weightings in the system was illustrated. Rules developed in the prototype were able to successfully differentiate two abiotic factors, 22 fungal diseases, and feeding damage of 22 insects and mites.