A KNOWLEDGE-BASED EXPERT-SYSTEM FOR TOURIST INFORMATION-BASED ON FUZZY-LOGIC

The prototype expert system helps inquiring persons with the elaboration of a yourney or a route and furnishes relevant information on the result. It is different from conventional programs of the tourism branch: the inference mechanism, its consulative function, and the diversity of processed information make it a special programm. Fuzzy logic is used to deal with the uncertainty of the input data given by the user. A short analysis of existing approaches for the handling of the uncertainty preceeds the explanation of the main principles of fuzzy logic. The inference mechanism aims at finding a good solution quickly by using an heuristic adjacency-algorithm and gates. User interface, knowledge acquisition component and inference mechanism are elaborated carefully and implemented according to the current standards, which does not apply to the explanation component. The good performance of the prototype is evidence in favor of the implemented algorithm and the uncertianty modelling. Weak points are the insufficient consideration of time and cost aspects. Suggestions for the improvement of these aspects and for the further development of the system are made within the evaluation of the prototype.