Abstract: In order to remedy nonstandardized description of the claim knowledge and inefficient retrieval of the claim cases, a claim knowledge matrix model is established to represent claim knowledge. In the matrix, the row elements are made up of characteristic attributes, and construction working procedures are the components of the column. Furthermore, based on the fuzzy subset nearness, the similarity between new construction projects and target case in a claim for property characteristics is calculated such that the fuzzy nearness collection is obtained. Finally, an example is given to verify the effectiveness of the method, which offers a basis for knowledge management in construction project claims.

Key words: construction project claims, knowledge representation, fuzzy nearness, knowledge matching