URBAN DRAINAGE MODELING INTELLIGENT ASSISTANT

The work reported here focuses on research being conducted within the Artificial Intelligence Group at the University of Surrey and the Labo ratory of Hydrology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel under the COMETT pro gramme. The paper describes the ''Urban Drainage Modelling Intelligent Assistant,'' a computer-based tool kit which provides guidance, instr uction and support for training on aspects of network modelling in urb an drainage design and simulation models commonly used in Europe. The tool kit comprises four interrelated, interactive components: an exper t system, a data preparation and model execution tool, a document brow sing facility, and a term bank. The results of the work are illustrate d with the aid of snapshots of the system in use. The specific emphasi s here is on the role played by each component in a) the transfer of k nowledge within both an inter-disciplinary field such as urban drainag e modelling (hydrology, hydraulics, mathematics, computing), and a mul tilingual community (of particular importance in Europe at present) an d b) the training of novices in urban drainage, enabling them to grasp the domain primitives, their interrelationships and meanings.