# Semantic Networks for Engineering Design: A Survey

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07060 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.07060/

## Key facts

- Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 13 Dec 2020.

## Built on by (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Data-Driven Design-by-Analogy: State of the Art and Future Directions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.01592/) (2021)
- [Engineering Knowledge Graph from Patent Database](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.06739/) (2021)
- [Opportunities for Large Language Models and Discourse in Engineering Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.09169/) (2023)
- [Classifying Component Function in Product Assemblies with Graph Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.07042/) (2021)
- [Towards One-Shot Learning for Text Classification using Inductive Logic Programming](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.15885/) (2023)
- [Dynamic semantic networks for exploration of creative thinking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.11090/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

There have been growing uses of semantic networks in the past decade, such as leveraging large-scale pre-trained graph knowledge databases for various natural language processing (NLP) tasks in engineering design research. Therefore, the paper provides a survey of the research that has employed semantic networks in the engineering design research community. The survey reveals that engineering design researchers have primarily relied on WordNet, ConceptNet, and other common-sense semantic network databases trained on non-engineering data sources to develop methods or tools for engineering design. Meanwhile, there are emerging efforts to mine large scale technical publication and patent databases to construct engineering-contextualized semantic network databases, e.g., B-Link and TechNet, to support NLP in engineering design. On this basis, we recommend future research directions for the construction and applications of engineering-related semantic networks in engineering design research and practice.