N101-100 TITLE: Multi-Source Imagery and Geopositional Exploitation (MSIGE)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Distributed Common Ground System - Navy (DCGS-N) ACAT I

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research in improving multi-source imagery and geopositional exploitation has shown that there are inaccuracies in providing a timely fused battlespace picture in a military environment. The objective of this topic is to provide additional research in improving Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) support for Time Sensitive Targeting (TST) by correlating geopositional data with video imagery in real time, within seconds vice minutes or hours. Correlation of the imagery and geopositional data and algorithms will accelerate F2T2EA (Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess) operations by providing integrated multi-source data and visualization to pinpoint, verify, and monitor military targets for engagement and assessment.

DESCRIPTION: Irregular battlespace environment threats have few tactically relevant signatures for remote sensing and prosecution. Precision emitter geolocation, validated with audio identification, has become an important tool for finding and fixing military threats. Geopositional intercepts may be too infrequent for tracking, and must be confirmed with realtime imagery for targeting. This topic will research the combining of the imagery and geopositional find, fix, track and target elements to improve real time support for the battlespace commander. Current research in imagery and geolocation correlation falls short because it could take hours or days in providing a realtime fused battlespace picture.

The Navy seeks an innovative and creative approach in providing a multi-source imagery and geopositional solution that can rapidly transition to operational platforms and Programs of Record (POR) within seconds vice hours or days. Transition of the proposed approach requires software to be based on a loosely-coupled Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) compatible with modern real time web applications. The proposed solution must be able to function effectively in all forms of tactical data communication environments where sensor platforms are connected to each other and to disadvantaged data communications networks (low throughput, dropouts, and security constraints).

PHASE I: Develop algorithms, design software services, and/or design multi-source imagery and geopositional sensor payload architectures to accomplish the following:
� Collect and/or ingest geopositional data.
� Collect and/or ingest Full Motion Video (FMV) imagery.
� Combine geopositional and FMV data.
� Allow the operator to select points in the image data and compute the position of those points.
� Describe how the software design supports integration with emerging modern Service Oriented Architectures (SOA).
� Describe how the solution�s concept of operations (CONOP) supports military battlespace and tactical environment operations.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate algorithm prototype software services and/or sensors based on the design work performed in Phase I. Demonstrate these services in a laboratory or field test environment. Show how imagery and geopositional correlated targeting can improve realtime operator productivity in a simulated battlespace environment.

PHASE III: Use the technologies developed in Phase II to refine and transition the software services and/or sensor into a Navy ISR/IO Program of Record (POR). Demonstrate the capabilities at a Sea Trial event to support Military Utility Assessment (MUA) for Navy operations.

Private Sector Commercial Potential/Dual Use Applications: Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US Coast Guard, law enforcement, and other civilian agencies that use sensor networks for tracking mobile targets in dynamic threat environments would immediately benefit from imagery geopositional targeting.

REFERENCES:
1. Website reference - Data Schemas for Net-Centric Situational Awareness, Dino Konstantopoulos, The MITRE Corporation: www.dodccrp.org/events/2006_CCRTS/html/papers/073.pdf.

2. Website reference - Georegistration of Remotely Sensed Imagery, Stuart Ness, Dept of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota: www-users.cs.umn.edu/~cbraxmei/hw/E3_G07_SN.pdf

3. Website reference - Geotagging, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotagging

KEYWORDS: battlespace environment, video, imagery, geoposition, networks, software service oriented architecture

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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