The focus of the papers presented in these proceedings is on employing various methodologies and approaches for solving real-life problems. Although the mechanisms that the human brain employs to solve problems are not yet completely known, we do have good insight into the functional processing performed by the human mind. On the basis of the understanding of these natural processes, scientists in the field of applied intelligence have developed multiple types of artificial processes, and have employed them successfully in solving real-life problems. The types of approaches used to solve problems are dependant on both the nature of the problem and the expected outcome. While knowledge-based systems are useful for solving problems in well-understood domains with relatively stable environments, the approach may fail when the domain knowledge is either not very well understood or changing rapidly. The techniques of data discovery through data mining will help to alleviate some problems faced by knowledge-based approaches to solving problems in such domains. Research and development in the area of artificial intelligence are influenced by opportunity, needs, and the availability of resources. The rapid advancement of Internet technology and the trend of increasing bandwidths provide an opportunity and a need for intelligent information processing, thus creating an excellent opportunity for agent-based computations and learning. Over 40% of the papers appearing in the conference proceedings focus on the area of machine learning and intelligent agents - clear evidence of growing interest in this area.

AAAI proceedings describe innovative concepts, techniques, perspectives, and observations that present promising research directions in artificial intelligence. The annual AAAI National Conference provides a forum for information exchange and interaction among researchers from all disciplines of AI. Contributions include theoretical, experimental, and empirical results. Topics cover principles of cognition, perception, and action; the design, application, and evaluation of AI algorithms and systems; architectures and frameworks for classes of AI systems; and analyses of tasks and domains in which intelligent systems perform. Distributed for AAAI Press.

Wagman gives a broad, structured, and detailed account of advancing intellectual developments in both psychological and computational theories of the nature of problem- solving. Known for originating the PLATO computer-based Dilemma Counseling System, psychologist Wagman is the author of 17 books, including Scientific Discovery Processes in Humans and Computers (Praeger, 2000). In this book, Professor Emeritus Morton Wagman gives a broad, structured, and detailed account of advancing intellectual developments in both psychological and computational theories of the nature of problem solving. Known for originating the PLATO computer-based Dilemma Counseling System, psychologist Wagman is the author of 17 books, including Scientific Discovery Processes in Humans and Computers, (Praeger, 2000) Of special interest to readers will be Wagman's conclusion that artificial intelligence problem-solving systems are deepening and broadening theories of human problem solving from scientific to everyday approaches. Scholars and professionals in psychology, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science will consider this a volume a valuable addition to their collections.

The present book supports the increasing complexity and the growing need for computational power of artificial intelligence (AI) by providing comprehensive treatments of new hardware and software engineering met in AI language design and applications. The book is a collection of 16 substantial papers (chapters), the contributors being 51 well-known researchers in the AI fields. The papers are grouped into the following five sections: Section 1 represents a well documented survey on symbolic processing computers. Section 2 (Language-based AI Architectures) supports the design and implementation of AI language-oriented computers. Three (2-4) chapters are devoted to (computer architecture concerning) sequential Lisp processing: architectural features of Lisp computers, Symbolics’ Lisp computer architecture, memory management and performance evaluation of a Lisp machine system. Other three (5-7) chapters discuss multiprocessing and parallel processing of Lisp (and general functional) programs. The last two chapters of section 2 are presenting architectures supporting object-oriented programming (Smalltalk) and production systems. Section 3 (Multiprocessor AI Architecture) contains two (10-11) chapters, dealing with Connection Machine architecture and its applications, and with the design of data/knowledge base machines for AI processing. Section 4 (Connectionist Architectures and Applications) include two (12-13) chapters, illustrating the connectionist model architecture design and learning. Section 5 (Software Architectures for AI Applications) is made up of three (14-16) chapters, analysing the relationship between AI and software engineering, the development tools for AI programs, and the problem of AI hardware and software reliability. This book addresses a wide range of AI readers, from beginners to professionals. It carries forth doubtless qualities: compact and well-dimensioned chapters, comprehensively written by AI remarkable professionals, covering up-to-date AI topics and trends.

Included in this volume are papers presented at the Second International Conference on the Application of Artificial Intelligence to Civil & Structural Engineering, 3-5 September, 1991, Oxford.