A production system and relational database model for processing knowledge of earthquake-resistant design

In order to maximize the utility of the valuable knowledge learned from destructive earthquakes, a new approach is proposed for presenting the performance evaluation and behaviour of buildings stressed or damaged during earthquakes, based on the integration of the production system model and relational databases. The proposed approach has been implemented in a prototype knowledge-based system, called WQUAKE, for processing the earthquake engineering knowledge learned in recent Californian earthquakes. For effective interaction with the user, WQUAKE provides four types of user interface: menu-driven interface, query interface, graphics interface, and natural language processor. Developed in Turbo C, the graphics interface can display the elements and damage mechanisms of structures. The integration of production rules, relational databases, and interactive computer graphics provides an effective means of processing the knowledge of earthquake-resistant design which is documented in numerous reconnaissance reports, papers, and books, mostly in the form of descriptive texts and figures.