Design Knowledge Capture Using Cmaps

This research project deals with the integration of knowledge management and case-based reasoning (CBR) in the capture of knowledge in the design process. The project uses, as a prototype, design problems from courses to implement a database of solved design problems for capturing design knowledge and allowing to use these solutions in solving future problems. Concept Maps (CMaps) software is used to capture the design problems and their solution. CMaps provide a framework for capturing experts ’ knowledge and making it explicit in a visual form that can be easily examined and shared. The set of problems archived in the database is used to solve other problems and to share and save the experts ’ knowledge in the field. The method can be extended to solve real and complex design problems in computer sciences and engineering such as robots, expert systems, programming, logic circuits, and many other applications. 1