Assignment No.

5
Applications of AI techniques
Q1. Write a note on artificial intelligence.
Ans:
Artificial Intelligence:
The art of creating machines that performs functions that require intelligence when performed by
people.
It is the study of how to make computers do things at which, at the moment, people are better
In short AI is:
Systems that think like humans.
Systems that think rationally.
Systems that act like humans
Systems that act rationally

AI Branches are:
Fuzzy Logic:
Fuzzy Logic was developed by Lotfi Zadeh at UC Berkley
Fuzzy logic is derived from fuzzy set theory dealing with reasoning which is approximate rather
than precisely deduced from classical predicate logic
In traditional set theory, an element either belongs to a set, or it does not. Here membership
functions classify elements in the range [0,1] with 0 and 1 being no and full inclusion the other
values being partial membership.

Artificial Neural Networks:

NN are constructed and implemented to model the human brain.
It performs various tasks such as pattern-matching, classification, optimization function,
approximation, vector quantization and data clustering. These tasks are difficult for traditional
computers.
ANN possesses a large number of processing elements called nodes/neurons which operate in
parallel. Neurons are connected with others by connection link.
Each link is associated with weights which contain information about the input signal.
Each neuron has an internal state of its own which is a function of the inputs that neuron receives
activation level.

Genetic Algorithm:
It generates a population of random chromosomes which repeat (each generation) and calculate
fitness of each chromosome. It generate offspring with crossover and mutation until a new
population has been produced
It generates a set of random solutions and repeats test for each solution in the set (to rank them).
Removes some bad solutions from set and duplicate some good solutions, makes small changes
to some of them until best solution is good enough.
Q2. Write the applications of Artificial Intelligence in Civil Engineering
Ans:

1. DAPS: Expert System for Structural Damage Assessment

Assessment of structural damage is a complex subject consists of uncertainty. This complexity
arises from the use of subjective opinion and imprecise numerical data. An analysis of the
structural integrity of a buried concrete box structure is accomplished using combined
nonnumeric and numeric information. Expert opinions on structural damage are used to develop
the nonnumeric portion of the code.
Fuzzy sets are used to quantify linguistic variables since this type of information is inherently
vague and imprecise. Because of the size and the complexity of the problem, a numerical method
in the form of a fuzzy weighted-average algorithm is used instead of rules to synthesize the
nonnumeric information. The damage assessment problem is subdivided into smaller problems,
which in turn are represented in antecedent-consequent pairs as rules. These rules and numerical
data form the knowledge base.
The processing of this information is controlled through an expert system shell, which retrieves
necessary facts from the user and the knowledge base using an appropriate search strategy.
Numeric data are manipulated in the expert system through calls to external subroutines and data
bases. This information is then interpreted through the use of production rules.

2. Analogy-Based Solution to Markup Estimation Problem

Civil engineering includes problems which frequently require simultaneous assessment of a large
number of quantitative as well as qualitative factors that influence the solution.
The traditional algorithmic and reasoning-intensive techniques are not adequate to model these
problems.
For this class of problems, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are most suited for developing
decision aids with analogy-based problem-solving capabilities.
For example a methodology was presented and used to develop a practical model for markup
estimation using knowledge acquired from contractors in Canada and the U.S. The model design,
training, and testing were described along with the generalization improvements made using the
genetic algorithms technique.

3. Neuro-modex -Neural Network System for Modular Construction Decision Making

A neural network is a fair approach for decision making about construction modularization. The
model helps make a decision whether to use a conventional "stick-built" method or to use some
degree of modularization when building an industrial process plant.
This decision is based on several decision attributes which are divided into following five
categories: plant location, environmental and organizational, labor-related, plant characteristics,
and project risks.
The neural network is trained using cases collected from several engineering and construction
firms and owner firms of industrial process plants.
The architecture, representation, and training procedure for the selected neural network
paradigms are required to be studied.
The performance of the trained neural network system is compared with the recommendations
provided by human experts. The statistical tests are also performed to validate the system.
 4. Neuroform - Neural Network System for Vertical Formwork Selection
Building Neuroform is a neural network approach which is a computer system that provides the
selection of vertical formwork systems for a given building site.
The selection of an appropriate neural network model, its architecture, representation of the
network training examples, and the network training procedure are important. The details of the
user interaction with the trained neural network system are required.
The performance of Neuroform is validated by comparing its recommendations with that of
Wallform, a rule-based expert system for vertical formwork selection.
A statistical hypothesis test, conducted on the recommendations of Neuroform when partial
inputs are given, demonstrates the system's fault-tolerant and generalization properties.

5. Artificial Neural Network Approach for Pavement Maintenance

The major objective of pavement maintenance decision support system (PMDSS) is to assist
decision makers in selecting an appropriate maintenance and repair (M&R) action for a defected
pavement. This is typically performed through collecting condition data, analyzing and reducing
condition data, and selecting appropriate M& R actions.
For artificial neural networks (ANN) used to diagnose an M&R action accurately, it must be
trained with correctly diagnosed M&R actions (training sets). Each training set consists of
pavement condition represented by deduct values for each distress present in the pavement and
the corresponding recommended M&R action. Pavement condition data is obtained from
comprehensive visual inspection data conducted on the previous road network. The associated
M&R action is obtained based on consulting human expertise and M&R actions recommended
by the PMDSS software.

6. Site-Level Facilities Layout Using Genetic Algorithms

Construction site-level facilities layout is an important activity in site planning; the objective of
this activity is to allocate appropriate locations and areas for temporary erection of facilities such
as warehouses, job offices, various workshops and batch plants. Depending on the size, location,
and nature of the project, the required temporary facilities may vary. The layout of facilities has
an important impact on the production time and cost-savings, especially for large projects.
A genetic algorithm system, which is a computational model of Darwinian evolution theory, is
employed to solve the facilities layout problem