The Environment in Network Centric Operations: A Framework for - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Environment in Network Centric Operations: A Framework for Command and Control Presented to the 12th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium Paper I-156 Dr. Michael R. Hieb Sean Mackay Michael Powers Martin Kleiner Atmospheric and Topographic Engineering Center Dr. J. Mark Pullen Environmental Research, US Army Engineer Research and C4I Center Inc Development Center George Mason University

Overview • Terrain and Weather impact the Environment in which a Mission is performed • The Network-Centric Paradigm is transforming how Military Operations are conducted, but there is no well- recognized framework to capture the impacts of the physical environment within these processes • We present a methodology that relates the effects of the Environment to Missions and Tasks • We use a formalization of Command Intent to represent Missions and develop a framework for a range of physical and information constrains upon missions • The end result is Actionable Information Products based upon Terrain, Weather and Sensor Effects. Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

The Geo-environmental Operations Space Terrain and Weather (Wx) effects are ubiquitous and constrain or enable mission and unit tactics as well as platform, system, and soldier effectiveness geo-environmental Unconstrained information superiority Operations Space geo-environmental • Nearly infinite effects limitation on possible possibilities for Weather /Sensor scenario development scenarios / tactics Performance • Chosen tactics may be Terrain Constrained inconsistent with the Operations Space reality of the estimation of probable environment scenarios / tactics • Without working with terrain and environmental effects, exploitation of the geo-environment optimal scenarios / only adds complexity tactics Understanding and Exploiting Terrain and Wx effects allow for the identification and utilization off Procedures that work with the environment for optimal mission success – rather than those that are merely encumbered by the environment once they are put into action Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

Geo-Environment Analysis Standard approaches to Terrain, Weather and Sensor Analysis is effective at achieving isolated pieces of geo- geo-environmental effects environmental knowledge, but is specialized, and lacks Terrain Weather /Sensor a coherent framework for effective employment Un- Performance constrained Typical Result Constrained Operation Operation Terrain, Wx, and Sensor Space Space analysis products that are reasonably advanced, yet are: Standard Weather and Sensor Impact • highly specific Analysis • non-standard • Meteorologist, Terrain analyst, specialized • difficult to reuse Tactical Decision Aids (TDA) operator, UAV • difficult to transfer operator • Disparate Wx and Sensor oriented TDA use and sensor employment standards • GIS, standard and non-standard Wx, highly mission driven, “rule of thumb”, platform specific TDAs Standard Terrain Analysis • Terrain Analyst, Command Staff • OAKOC (Observations and fields of fire, Key terrain, Obstacles, Concealment and cover) • Assist in IPB (Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield), COA development ! . • Automated or “by hand” map analysis • GIS, standard and non-standard data sources, CADRG, TGD, non-standardized approaches, . ! possibility for the duplication of effort, highly mission driven Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

Unstructured Geo-Environmental products in a net-centric paradigm Wx Source Wx Source 2 1 Sensor at the Unique mission edge Intel requirements Terrain Analysis / Terrain Terrain Analysis Analysis 2 C2 Analysis 1 Data1 Sensor ? models / Data1 TDAs Data Terrain C analysis Data A Sensor Sensor models / Analysis TDAs Wx Data2 processing data proliferation at the expense of models actionable information Unstructured geo-environmental data and product flow in a net-centric environment Therefore, achieving the Net- The Net-centric Environment hold the promise of making geo- centric paradigm without a environmental data more available. However: structured mechanism for • No solution for the proliferation of data at the expense of defining and controlling actionable Information actionable information • Typically, making more data available exacerbates the exchange may actually make problem of identifying and extracting Actionable acquiring actionable geo- Information environmental information more difficult. • Typically, band-width is limited Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

Goal: Structured Geo-Environmental products in a Network-Centric paradigm Sensor at the Unique mission Data A Terrain edge requirements Analysis 0.59 0. 0. product flow in a net-centric environment Terrain Terrain Terrain 0.7 8 2 Analysis 2 Analysis 1 6 3 0.4 Analysis 7 Structured geo-environmental data and 5 Sensor models / TDAs Common Product Common Definition Exchange Framework Grammar Intel Analysis / Sensor Sensor models / C2 Analysis TDAs Actionable Information of minimal bandwidth targeted Wx processing Data A to the applicable force unit models Wx Source and task 1 Benefits of a Framework: • Reduce the size of the information exchanged • Favor Actionable Information exchange at through linking to mission parameters the expense of raw data exchange. • Enable the interpretation and reuse of actionable • Target and index the information generated information products as opposed to propagating the and exchanged to the needs of the mission same data for re-analysis and re-processing Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

Anatomy of an Effective Framework These requirements are addressed through: Central to incorporating geo-environmental information into Net Centric C2 processes is • Evolution of a tiered framework for geo- the realization of information value. This environmental information – the realized value should exhibit two GeoEnvironmental Actionable characteristics: Information Framework (GeAIF) (1) Understood format /syntax to ensure • Development of a geospatial Battle interoperability Management Language (geoBML) (2) Semantic precision to ensure consistency • Processes to use geoBML to relate Actionable geo-information to mission information within data exchange Therefore, Incorporating geo-environmental models. information into a networked C2 processes and systems requires: (1) conceptual framework that categorizes Environmental and Common Prouct Sensor information from mission Common geoBML Definition Exchange receipt through planning and Framework Grammar GeAIF execution stages (2) A language capable of defining the appropriate basis of exchange and use of information. Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

GeAIF Structure The Geo-environmental Actionable Information Framework (GeAIF) is built upon a tiered structure of of Tactical Spatial Objects • Tactical Spatial Object (TSO): An object developed with topographic support systems/applications that directly supports the planning and execution of military operations. • In addition to a geospatial component, the TSO contains relationships to specific Tiered TSO operations, missions and tasks Structure • TSOs are a operational method for the Warfighter / operator to clearly convey his/her specific geospatial requirements to fine coarse supporting Environmental Analysis services mission specific General / highly • TSOs also allow the Environmental Analysis reusable services to return immediately usable primarily dynamic primarily static products to the operational user Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

Tiers of Information Tier 1s are foundation products • TSOs are of two types • Are generally computed for relatively large and arranged in three Areas of Interest • Provide movement solutions tiers: • Used to develop Tier 2/3 TSOs Tier 2/3s are mission or task specific • Are generally computed for relatively small Areas of Analysis • Generally have an associated Graphic Control Measure (GCM) Specific, Low Highly Re-Use Tiered TSO Structure Tier 3 Products Generality Level of Tier 2 Products fine coarse General, High Re-Use Highly Tier 1 mission specific General / highly Products reusable primarily dynamic primarily static Raw Environmental High level of Data only Type of Information tactical detail Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007

geoBML geoBML is the semantic and • geoBML products are TSOs syntactic bridge between the highly • geoBML is built upon standard specialized domain of terrain C2 Semantics (such as the Joint reasoning and analysis and the Consultation Command and immediate needs of the operational Control Information Exchange Warfighter Data Model – JC3IEDM) Applicable TSO Request Terrain Analysis 1 Mission Requirements TSOs C2 services / geoBML M&S services TSOs n o s i i s M / s k a T s O S T l e a b c l i p p a TSOs Terrain Analysis 2 JC3IEDM Paper I-156 ICCRTS 2007