Challenges for the JAEA KMS: Fostering Inventive Design and Problem Solving

The Knowledge Management System by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA KMS) is being developed to be flexible and able to respond to potential changes of boundary conditions. On a shorter timescale, the KMS must encourage flexibility in the methodology used for carrying out and presenting performance assessments. This is closely linked to development of advanced repository concepts; considering the requirements for a safe and practical repository tailored to specific site conditions, which reflects evolving technology. These coupled development tasks were, in the past, carried out by expert teams in a rather informal manner. As the technical challenges increase — and the need for transparency is accepted — a more formal method of developing innovative design solutions is needed. A knowledge engineering approach that is used in other financial and industrial applications has thus been tested for its usefulness for such tasks.