For most of our history the wealth of a nation was limited by the size and stamina of the work force. Today, national wealth is measured in intellectual capital. Nations possessing skillful people in such diverse areas as science, medicine, business, and engineering produce innovations that drive the nation to a higher quality of life. To better utilize these valuable resources, intelligent, knowledge-based systems technology has evolved at a rapid and significantly expanding rate. Reflecting the most fascinating AI-based research and its broad practical applications, intelligent, knowledge-based systems technology is being utilized by nations to improve their medical care, advance their engineering technology, and increase their manufacturing productivity, as well as play a significant role in a very wide variety of other areas of activity of substantive significance. Today, in the beginning of the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine the development of the modern world without extensive use of the AI information technology that is rapidly transforming the global, knowledge- based economy as well as entire societies.The breadth of the major application areas of intelligent, knowledge-based systems technology is very impressive. These include, among other areas: Agriculture, Business, Chemistry, Communications, Computer Systems, Education, Electronics, Engineering, Environment, Geology, Image Processing, Information Management, Law, Manufacturing, Mathematics, Medicine, Meteorology, Military, Mining, Power Systems, Science, Space Technology, and Transportation. The great breadth and expanding significance of this field on the international scene require a multi-volume, major reference work for an adequately substantive treatment of the subject, "Intelligent Knowledge-Based Systems: Business and Technology in The New Millennium." This work consists of the following distinctly titled and well integrated volumes. This five-volume set clearly manifests the great significance of these key technologies for the new economies of the new millennium. The Volumes: The discussions in this volumes provide a wealth of practical ideas intended to foster innovation in thought and, consequently, in the further development of technology.Together, they comprise a significant and uniquely comprehensive reference source for research workers, practitioners, computer scientists, academics, students, and others on the international scene for years to come.
