Computer Expert System

Throughout the fiscal year, work continued on the Fair Housing Computer Expert System funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Thomas A. Barta, Professor in the Industrial Engineering Department, Iowa State University, is the computer consultant. He works with an eight member management team representing the 15 agencies in four states who are participants in the project.

The expert system will enable housing investigators, especially inexperienced ones, to process cases more quickly, and to provide more consistent and complete application of housing laws and regulations. The system will determine "probable cause" or"no probable cause" in individual housing discrimination cases based on the facts entered in the system. In December 1990 a hands-on training session was held in Des Moines for the project participants. An extension of time to December 31, 1991, was granted for completion of the project.