TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems

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OBJECTIVE: Develop, and demonstrate an innovative visualization framework to support rapid production of highly integrated, intuitive, and unified geospatial tactical control displays comprising tactical components from multiple suppliers.

DESCRIPTION: Existing tactical displays attempt to achieve integration and consistency of multiple display subsystems using a static allocation of display space to individual applications (via a combination of window tiling and control of the visibility state of application windows), with each application separately developed to the same HCI/HSI standards.

This type of approach has a number of drawbacks preventing achievement of the goal of a common tactical picture: multiple similar displays showing different aspects of the common tactical picture in physically separated windows (the "too many GEOs" problem), duplication of the same functionality in multiple applications, and inability to apply a tool provided by one application to the display of another application. Additionally the Navy has a significant investment in the tactical display tools and functionality desired however they reside in applications with various architectures and deployment models. To achieve cost savings in the development of a unified tactical GEO application from disparate implementations a framework is required.

There are a number of existing toolkit technologies and initiatives (for example C/JMTK Commercial/Joint Mapping Toolkit) that provide a rich environment for display application development. However these toolkits do not address the structure of an application framework directly that is necessary for collaboratively developed tactical applications. These toolkits can provide much of the underlying technology to build an effective tactical application framework.

The proposed new approach will overcome these drawbacks by providing a display application framework supporting the addition of separately developed components, each containing the unique aspects of a former tactical application. The framework will manage coordination of common views, tools and controls within the available display space, while the components provide additional content.

The framework will provide common application and geo-spatial services, including service registration, base map visualization, raster and vector map overlays using standard geo-spatial access protocols such as WMS and WFS, custom map overlay management, tactical symbology, event distribution and record/replay support.

The target framework will enable geo-spatial displays that reduce the time for decision-makers to view and assimilate data from diverse sources and will improve the ease with which application developers can introduce new and innovative tools to enhance the operator�s situation awareness. Use of a common and shared application infrastructure will reduce development time for additions to the common tactical picture.

PHASE I: Define an architecture for a display application framework that enables the migration of compliant software into a single geospatial picture without loss of functionality. Develop measureable metrics for usability in the areas of user effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype that demonstrates the functionality of three distinct functional applications into a single geospatial framework, and evaluate the phase I metrics for both separated and integrated scenarios.

PHASE III: Deploy requisite collaborative source infrastructure to support integration of USW-DSS client applications into a unified common display topology.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The framework functions in any context which requires visual graphics, non-visual analysis tools, and a spatial database. Target markets include local government, nautical applications, digital mapping.

REFERENCES:
1. Common Presentation Layer Guide (NAVSEA 03 Standard 03-01 September 2006)

2. OSGi Service Platform Core Specification (Release 4 Version 4.1 April 2007)

3. Open GeoSpatial Consortium (GIS Interoperability Standards and Specifications)

KEYWORDS: Command and Control; Displays; Software Architecture; Display Framework; Geospatial Objects

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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