This paper describes the architecture and technical capabilities of an integrated engineering information search and retrieval system. The system is designed with a flexible architecture that allows it to be incorporated in other software systems and also to itself incorporate a variety of different software components. It provides uniform access to multiple heterogeneous information collections and an integrated access mechanism allowing both keyword searching and browsing of classification schemes interchangeably in a single information access session. Browsing using the system is based on a faceted classification approach in which continual feedback is given to the user on how the results of a search task may be refined, by updating browsable classifications to reflect previous user selections. The classification scheme is populated using an automatic constraint-based classifier. The article describes the rationale behind the choice of the system architecture and the incorporated technologies, and also describes three examples developed using the system.
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December 2004
Technical Papers
Waypoint: An Integrated Search and Retrieval System for Engineering Documents
Chris McMahon,
Chris McMahon
University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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Alistair Lowe ,,
Alistair Lowe ,
University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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Steve Culley,
Steve Culley
University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
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Mark Corderoy,
Mark Corderoy
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
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Rose Crossland,
Rose Crossland
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
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Tulan Shah,
Tulan Shah
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
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Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
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Chris McMahon
University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Alistair Lowe ,
University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Steve Culley
University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
Mark Corderoy
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
Rose Crossland
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
Tulan Shah
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
Dave Stewart
Adiuri Systems Ltd, Hammerdown, Old Sodbury, BS37 6RR, UK
Contributed by THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS in the JOURNAL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING. Manuscript received March 31, 2004; revised August 27, 2004. Edited by S. Urban.
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. Dec 2004, 4(4): 329-338 (10 pages)
Published Online: January 4, 2005
Article history
Received:
March 31, 2004
Revised:
August 27, 2004
Online:
January 4, 2005
Citation
McMahon, C., Lowe , , A., Culley, S., Corderoy , M., Crossland , R., Shah , T., and Stewart, D. (January 4, 2005). "Waypoint: An Integrated Search and Retrieval System for Engineering Documents ." ASME. J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. December 2004; 4(4): 329–338. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1812557
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