MARS Community: Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering

Rapid Synthesis of Multi-Model Simulations for Computational Experiments in C2

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:25:03 GMT

Title: Rapid Synthesis of Multi-Model Simulations for Computational Experiments in C2

Authors: Neema, Himanshu; Nine, H.; Hemingway, G.; Sztipanovits, J.; Karsai, G.

Abstract: Abstract-Virtual evaluation of complex command and controlconcepts demands the use of heterogeneous simulation environments.Development challenges include how to integrate multiple simulationplatforms with varying semantics and how to integrate simulation modelsand the complex interactions between them. While existing simulationframeworks may provide many of the required services needed tocoordinate among multiple simulation platforms, they lack an overarchingintegration approach that connects and relates the semantics ofheterogeneous domain models and their interactions. This paper outlinessome of the challenges encountered in developing a command and controlsimulation environment and discusses our use of the GME meta-modelingtool-suite to create a model-based integration approach that allows forrapid synthesis of complex HLA-based simulation environments.

Description: The research was conducted by Institute for Software IntegratedSystems at Vanderbilt University, in collaboration with George MasonUniversity, University of California at Berkeley, and University ofArizona.

BML Enabled Information Exchange Framework in SES Ontology for C2

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:52:43 GMT

Title: BML Enabled Information Exchange Framework in SES Ontology for C2

Authors: Lee, Hojun; Zeigler, Bernard

Abstract: This paper explores the Information Exchange Framework (IEF)concept of distributed data fusion sensor networks in Network-centricenvironment. It is used to build up integrative battlefield picturesthrough the Battle Management Language (BML) and System EntityStructure (SES) ontology for C2 systems. The C2 process requiresmulti-level information to assess the current situation in a soundmanner. Superiority of information is critical factor to win battles.The SES is an ontology framework that can facilitate informationexchange in a network environment. From the perspective of the SESframework, BML serves to express pragmatic frames, since it canspecify the information desired by a consumer in an unambiguous way.We explain the idea of information exchange in the SES ontology viaBML and demonstrate pruning and transformation processes of SES withproof-of-concept examples.

Representing Geospatially Enabled Command and Control Information within the JC3IEDM

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:30:47 GMT

Title: Representing Geospatially Enabled Command and Control Information within the JC3IEDM

Authors: Roberts, John

Abstract: The transition to Commander-centric network-enabled Command and Control(C2) is well underway within the US Army and Department of Defense (DOD).The foundation of this approach is an information superiority-enabledconcept of operations that describes the way U.S. forces organize and fightin the information age. The idea is to translate this informationsuperiority into combat power by effectively linking friendly forces withinthe Battlespace, providing a much richer shared awareness of the situation,and enabling more rapid and effective decision making. In order to achievethis type of capability, reliable connectivity must be established among thevarious types of digitized C2 systems, sensor systems, communicationssystems, and communications networks. This, however, will only provide halfof the required solution. Just as important as connectivity is to thisconcept is the ability of these systems to discover, consume, understand,and act upon this mission-relevant shared information. This requires thatinteroperability specifications and standards be established to facilitateshared information understanding among the services, their warfighterdomains, and the plethora of disparate digitized systems and networks thatconstitute the current battlefield.One such area of applicable research involves the integration of geospatialanalysis with Army planning and decision making. The purpose of this paperis describe work focused on bringing tailored, actionable geospatialinformation into the hands of the warfighter using the Joint Consultation,Command and Control Information Exchange Data Model (JC3IEDM). The U.S. ArmyTopographic Engineering Center (TEC) is sponsoring an ongoing effort todevelop products and a framework for transforming the volumes of dataproduced by terrain teams and sensors into information products and tacticaldecision aids to provide a deeper understanding of the battlefield andincluding terrain and weather effects. As part of this work a commonunderlying data representation has been developed and demonstrated as ameans of harnessing the analytical power of Geographic Information Systems(GIS) and presenting this information to the Warfighter in terms that he canmore easily apply to the battle command process. The paper will provide adescription of this underlying geospatially enabled C2 representation.

Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems

Authors: Thomas, Alan; Turner, Thomas; Soderlund, Scott

Abstract: The Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS) is a software technology that makes legacy system data and services available in near real-time to the Global Information Grid (GIG). The intent of NCALS is to lower the cost and risk, and to decrease the time required for legacy systems to comply with DoD net-centric technical standards. Many different systems could use a common, configurable NCALS software component to comply with these standards. The benefit to the warfighter is improved interoperability with joint and coalition forces.NCALS enables legacy systems to move to a Service- Oriented Architecture (SOA) compatible with the GIG without requiring a costly and risky re-architecture of their legacy software. In addition, NCALS enables mission critical systems such as weapon systems to segregate their real-time, mission critical software from enterprise integration software. This maintains the safety and security required by such systems, while accommodating rapid changes in Internet-based, enterprise technologies.This paper discusses the legacy system challenge and describe a technology prototype developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren to realize the NCALS concept. The prototype works automatically, behind the scenes, to expose legacy data to the GIG and to make GIG data available to legacy systems.

Linear Referencing for Network Analysis of IED

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:55:09 GMT

Title: Linear Referencing for Network Analysis of IED

Authors: Curtin, Kevin M.

Abstract: This paper outlines a motivation for associating IED events (and other significant physical and human geographic features) with the road network, describes the use of methods known as linear referencing in order to do so, and presents an example of how linear referencing of several types of events can occur. This is followed by a description of several measures of network density of events, and a demonstration of how linearly referenced events can be combined to analyze spatial coincidence of different event types. This is followed by suggestions for future research including the development of network based spatial statistics, optimization of network services based on the linearly referenced events, and geographic information system tool development to integrate these methods.