A Graph Grammar Methodology for Generative Systems

This paper puts forth a view of graph transformation systems as a useful way to organize the construction activities involved in design – be it the design of engineering artifacts or of any creative endeavor. While the concept of graph grammars has existed for nearly 40 years in an esoteric corner of artificial intelligence research [1], researchers in design automation have realized their worth in encapsulating knowledge and heuristics of a particular problem domain. In this paper, the fundamental challenges for graph transformations are studied especially in the context of design. In particular, the activities of recognizing, choosing, and applying rules are studied and two engineering examples are provided to illustrate the power of this approach in design automation.