This document describes and discusses INSPECT 
(INtelligent System for air
campaign Plans Evaluation based on expeCT). INSPECT is a
mixed-initiative planning support tool that critiques/evaluates
ACPlans (Air Campaign Plans) by checking their consistency with
respect to several dimensions. The description in this document should
not be taken as a full specification or documentation of INSPECT, but
as an overview of what it does.
INSPECT was built using the EXPECT knowledge acquisition framework and system. EXPECT provides tools to construct knowledge-base applications. It was designed to allow non-programmers to modify an application, while freeing them from the need to understand implementation details.
INSPECT was presented in the Fourth Integrated Feasibility Demonstration (IFD-4) of ARPI. The system is part of a Technology Integration Experiment (TIE) between EXPECT and the Air Campaign Planning Tool (ACPT) to provide consistency checking for strategic plans developed (or modified) using ACPT. ACPT is a system that allows editing and browsing ACPlans. It contains several tools to help in the planning process, and it allows access to several other applications that support the planning process.
INSPECT can be invoked from ACPT after a user has finished editing the air objectives and/or air tasks of an ACPlan. INSPECT's knowledge base contains knowledge about a library of commonly occurring planning problems. INSPECT examines a user's plan to see if any of the problems in the library can be found. If so, it notifies the user and explains the problem to him. Presently, this verification of consistency is done almost entirely by manual methods, since ACPT automates only a few checks (e.g., detection of redundant targets). INSPECT extends ACPT's current capabilities by automating several other types of error checking in air campaign plans.
Knowledge acquisition was a critical task in building INSPECT, and demanded much effort from the experts. Many thanks to all Checkmate members who interacted with us, and most especially to Colonel Plebanek, who allowed us to have this interaction, Major Cardenas, for coordinating the knowledge acquisition sessions, and to the Checkmate members we used as experts and worked with closely: Major Allison (``Coach''), Major Alred (``Yogi''), Major Cardenas, Major Cunico, and Major Jackson (``J.J.''). Their support to our work and their patience in answering our questions has been vital to this effort. We hope they like the results.