Case Adaptation Using an Incomplete Causal
Model*

John D. Hastings1, L. Karl Branting1, and Jeffrey A. Lockwood2

1 Department of Computer Science
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3682
{hastings, karl}@eolus.uwyo.edu
2 Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
lockwood@uwyo.edu



Abstract. This paper describes a technique for integrating case-based
reasoning with model-based reasoning to predict the behavior of biological 
systems characterized both by incomplete models and insufficient
empirical data for accurate induction. This technique is implemented in
GARMA, a system for rangeland pest management advising. CARMAs
ability to predict the forage consumption judgments of 15 expert entomologists 
was empirically compared to that of CARMAs case-based and
model-based components in isolation. This evaluation confirmed the hypothesis 
that integrating model-based and case-based reasoning through
model-based adaptation can lead to more accurate predictions than the
use of either technique individually.
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