A Prototype Meta-Language and Automated Translator for Decision Analysis Problem Formulation

Abstract

This thesis research effort develops a prototype meta-language for decision analysis problem description and automated software to translate the meta-language into a format useable by decision analysis software solvers. MELDA, the metalanguage developed, makes use of special symbols to provide a succinct language for the automation environment yet provides the means for user comprehension. Complete syntax and implementation rules are included. The MELADA translator software developed, DAT, stores the data given by MELADA in a file using prototype standard format, DASF, designed to hold all required data to solve a problem. DAT provides error checking and a message output file. TREESOLVER, an add on program to solve decision trees stored in DASF format was designed. The program uses the external DASF file directly to bypass size limitations of internal memory. All software is written in Turbo Pascal 5.5, is compatible with any MS-DOS computer system and is free to government users in source code format, including a user's manual. Finally, several example problems are solved using MELADA, DAT, DASF, and TREESOLVER to validate their viability.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA238875

Entities

People

  • Jerry R. Puyear

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Coding
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Drilling
  • Employment
  • Environment
  • Language
  • Operations Research
  • Probability
  • Standards
  • Systems Engineering
  • Terminals
  • Translators
  • Word Processors

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computational Linguistics
  • Computer Science.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.