Control process for artificial intelligence software shell

An artificial intelligence software shell for plant operation simulation includes a blackboard module including a database having objects representing plant elements and concepts. A rule-based knowledge source module or a case-based knowledge source module, in communication with the blackboard module, operate on specific predefined blackboard objects. An input data module, in communication with the blackboard module, enables a user to input data to the shell. A control module, in communication with the knowledge source modules and the input data module, receives all input data and controls operation of the knowledge source modules in accordance with a predetermined knowledge source priority scheme. The control module including an event detector module having a message evaluator that checks messages for syntax errors before searching a hash table structure in the event detector.