Garp3 — Workbench for qualitative modelling and simulation

Abstract

a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f oEasy to use workbenches for Qualitative Reasoning and modelling have been virtually nonexistent. This has a limiting effect on the use of this Artificial Intelligence technology and its uptake by a larger audience. We present Garp3, a user-friendly workbench that allows modellers to build, simulate, and inspect qualitative models of system behaviour. The workbench employs diagrammatic representations for users to interact with model content and simulation results, and provides seamless interoperability between the different modes of use. Domain experts can use Garp3 to create conceptual models in situations where numerical information is sparse or unavailable, or when they want to formalise their conceptual understanding of how systems behave. Garp3 can be applied to stakeholder management or dissemination activities to illustrate and explain phenomena, and facilitate discussion among participants. The workbench can also be used in formal education to have learners express concepts, or interact with existing models, and support them in developing their understanding of 'how things work'. Garp3 incorporates a range of techniques from Artificial Intelligence known as knowledge-based techniques. The main goal of this paper is to present the representation and reasoning methods of these techniques as they have been developed and fine-tuned within the Garp3 workbench. The focus hereby is on the symbolic, non-numerical calculations that are required to generate the state-graph of a system's behaviour efficiently, while taking into account that users need to be able to track and understand this reasoning, both in terms of the end result and the intermediate results it delivers.

Explanations engine for energy management systems in buildings

“…In future, this work will examine different methods to build and generate qualitative models to define causality between actions and their causal chain of impacts. This can be done by using causal physical models like bond graphs [16] and try to profit from the techniques of the causal graph to formalize the causal explanations like by using GARP3 [17] as a workbench for qualitative reasoning and modeling.…”

Graphical means for inspecting qualitative models of system behaviour

“…To fulfil the full potential of qualitative simulation models in education (Bouwer et al 2002), current work addresses combining model-building tools and functionality for inspecting simulations into one integrated workbench (Bredeweg et al 2006a). …”

“…We do this by creating and investigating interactive tools that allow learners to manipulate and inspect qualitative simulations. In our research, we use the GARP framework for qualitative simulation, because it combines a rich knowledge representation with facilities for multi-state simulation (Bredeweg et al 2006a). We take a graphical approach to facilitate the interaction, using interactive diagrams embedded in a graphical user interface.…”

DynaLearn: Architecture and Approach for Investigating Conceptual System Knowledge Acquisition

“…DynaLearn is based on Garp3 [2] and uses diagrammatic representations for learners to express their ideas. The environment is equipped with components capable of generating knowledge-based feedback, and virtual characters implementing the communicative interaction with learners (see Fig 1).…”