KROL - A KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION OBJECT LANGUAGE ON TOP OF PROLOG

This paper presents a knowledge representation object language (KROL) on top of Prolog. KROL is aimed at providing the ability to develop se cond-generation expert systems. The main aspects of KROL include multi -paradigm knowledge representation (first-order predicate logic, objec ts, rules), inference mechanisms at different levels of granularity, e xplanation facility, object-oriented database management module, and u ser-friendly interface. KROL has sufficient expressive power to be use d in applying demanding knowledge based modeling methodologies, such a s KADS and Generic Task, which are the major landmarks of the second-g eneration expert systems technology. Four successful agricultural expe rt systems have been developed in the last 6 years using KROL. To demo nstrate the language capabilities, we present an example of disorder d iagnosis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.