Claims Analysis and Computer Reasoning

Contract dispute resolution is an area in which design and construction professionals often require legal advice. Even though construction disputes are frequent and their resolution difficult, many times legal advice is not sought because it is not available or because it is expensive. This paper presents the first attempt at developing a construction contract legal analysis computer system. The system called the Differing Site Conditions Analysis System (DSCAS) is based on the techniques of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is patterned after the Federal Government Standard Form General Conditions (23‐A, GP‐4). The DSCAS system is described, results of initial tests are presented and recommendations for future work are detailed. The initial testing of DSCAS quite adequately demonstrates that much potential exists for further application of AI to claims and contract management.