Abstract: An intelligent business rules module and method for processing an action to be performed on a design. The action includes adding a feature, changing a value of an attribute of a feature, removing a feature, and moving a feature from an old work location in the design to a new work location in the design. The intelligent business rules module includes instructions for determining a type of the action, determining the feature type of the feature that is the subject of the action, and determining whether a business rule exists for performing the action type on the feature type. If a business rule exists, the business rules module determines whether performing the action on the feature will satisfy the business rule. If performing the action will satisfy the business rule, the intelligent business rules module approves the action to be performed on the design.

Abstract: A virtual plug-in interface for an expert designer system for use with one or more database system types is disclosed. The expert designer system includes a core for performing functions. The virtual plug-in interface interacts with the database system such that the expert designer system core functions independently of the database system type. The database system categories with which the virtual plug-in interface operates include a geographic information system (GIS) and a work management system (WMS). The virtual plug-in interface includes a virtual GIS plug-in interface for a GIS and a virtual WMS plug-in interface for a WMS. The virtual GIS plug-in interface interacts with the GIS such that the expert designer system core functions independently of the GIS database system type. The virtual WMS plug-in interface interacts with the WMS such that the expert designer system core functions independently of the WMS database system type.