# An Expert Knowledge-Based System to Evaluate the Efficiency of Dry Construction Methods
## 2 Materials and Method
They are used not only by designers and installers, but also by clients, who can use it to calculate the final amount of consumption for the chosen structure and find out the exact amount of material and its price that is needed for the designed construction project. The Construction Software CENKROS 4 and Available Knowledge Systems of Dry Construction Systems and Techniques  
The CENEKON price list databases, which are part of the construction software CENKROS 4, were used to develop a knowledge base in terms of cost parameters. The construction software CENKROS 4 is generally the most widely used tool for estimating and managing construction production in Slovakia. Export reports with cost parameters (material costs, labor costs, overheads, and profit) of all dry and traditional construction systems and techniques of finishing works were generated from the software. In addition to the cost parameters, each item in the base contains the following information: item code, unit labor intensity, and weight. Currently, manufacturers of some dry construction systems support various structural and technical solutions with their own modern information tools. Through these tools, the user has the opportunity to influence the design of the system and obtain information about the required type and quantity of products and components, and possibly also about their price. Rigips is one of the most important developers of dry construction systems and techniques. A freely available tool (available on the Rigips website and independent of an internet connection when downloaded)--the Rigips tool--and an internet application--the Rigips selector--are used to design and calculate the systems offered by this company. Designing dry construction systems and technologies through the Rigips tool is possible for different finishing works (drywall partitions, dry linings, suspended ceilings, and dry screeds) individually. It is not possible to create combinations and sets of selected finishing works. In addition to selecting a solution based on the required structural and technical properties, the online version of the information tool--Rigips selector--has the function of processing calculations for Rigips system structures and enabling the insertion of the selected structure into the project in the drawing/modeling software (library of 3D structures). The online tool by the Fermacell company, known as Fermacena, works in a similar way. The company offers mainly gypsum fiber and cement fiber products for finishing works based on dry construction systems. It allows information to be input about the buildings and deals with all structural layers of the proposed systems. After entering the input parameters (fire protection, acoustic, construction thickness, sort, and type of insulation), the knowledge system generates a structural solution for the wall, floor, or ceiling system with material and technical information about the built-in products. Based on the indicative material consumption, the cost of the solution is also determined. The Knowledge Base of Dry Construction Systems and Techniques (DCSTs) and Wet Construction Systems and Techniques (WCSTs)  
The knowledge base, incorporating data and information on both the DCSTs and WCSTs of finishing works, was designed in the composition, which is presented in Table 1. The base includes the systems and techniques as follows: (i) wet masonry partitions (WMPs), (ii) drywall partitions (DPs), (iii) ceiling plasters (CPs), (iv) suspended ceilings (SCs), (v) wall plasters (WP), (vi) dry linings (DLs), (vii) wet floors (WFs), and (viii) dry screeds (DSs). As part of the development of the knowledge base of DCSTs, a total of 620 dry construction systems and techniques were analyzed in the following breakdown: 315 drywall partition systems and techniques, 140 suspended ceiling systems and techniques, 103 dry lining systems and techniques, and 62 dry screed systems and techniques.