Application of Formal Knowledge Engineering Approaches to Develop a Design Catalogue for a Japanese HLW Repository

The volunteer siting of disposal facilities for vitrified high-level radioactive waste (HLW) and TRU waste in Japan results in a particular need for flexibility to allow repositories to be tailored to specific sites. Instead of a single reference concept, a “catalogue” of designs for individual repository components is being developed, which can then be combined to form optimum solutions for particular site boundary conditions. As highlighted in a companion paper–Makino et al: Supporting Development of Practical Designs for a Japanese HLW Repository–, which puts the repository design process in the context of the Japanese HLW programme, the complexity of this work justifies use of advanced Knowledge Engineering approaches. In this paper three components are described–development of the knowledge base, assessing tacit system understanding and production of innovative solutions to resolve conflicts between requirements.