Expert system for claim management in construction projects

Construction owners and contractors involved in contract claims and disputes have been exploring and actively using alternate dispute resolution methods in the last ten to fifteen years. They have been experimenting with methods that are faster, more economical, impartial, convenient and private. The development of arbitration, followed later by mediation and the most recent yet untested method of ‘turbo-mediation’ is a clear indication of this desire. As a response to this need, this paper explores the possibility of developing a knowledge-based expert system for claim management. It proposes to use forensic scheduling concepts in developing an expert system that can prevent and resolve time-related construction disputes. A theoretical framework for the development of such an expert system is presented. Developments in artificial intelligence and computer hardware are considered to be significant enough to make the development of such an expert system a feasible alternative to existing methods.