Full HTML for

Basic foilset Overview of NPAC's CIV Project

Given by Marek Podgorny at Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review on 2 Dec 97. Foils prepared 12 April 98
Outside Index Summary of Material

The CIV Project included a set of 4 applications and a suite of technologies
The applications were Command and Control, Medical, Weather, Electromagnetism
We discuss Command and Control here
Technologies summarized here include Collaboration and 2D and 3D Collaborative GIS

Table of Contents for full HTML of Overview of NPAC's CIV Project

 Denote Foils where Image Critical
Denote Foils where HTML is sufficient
1 Collaborative Interaction and Visualization RL Project Manager: Robert M. Flo TEM Meeting Dec 2 97
2 CIV Statement of Work Summary
3 Base Technology Development
4 Presentation Focus
5 Collaboration Technologies
6 TANGO Collaboratory
7 TANGO: Highlights
8 System Architecture
9 TANGO: Control Application
10 TANGO: application control
11 Collaborative 3D GIS
12 Collaborative 3D GIS
13 Collaborative 3D GIS
14 Collaborative 3D GIS
15 The TANGOsim C2 Application
16 CIV Applications: C2
17 The Chosen C2 Application
18 TANGOsim Collaborative Simulator
19 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 1
20 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 2
21 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 3
22 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 4
23 Current DoD Users of TANGO framework

Outside Index Summary of Material

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 1 Collaborative Interaction and Visualization RL Project Manager: Robert M. Flo TEM Meeting Dec 2 97

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Marek Podgorny
NPAC, Syracuse University
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 2 CIV Statement of Work Summary

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Develop and implement several base technologies supporting collaborative interaction and visualization
Use pervasive Web infrastructure to integrate the base technologies into a collaboratory framework
Demonstrate feasibility of the Web-based collaboratory using a number of selected applications
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 3 Base Technology Development

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Digital data compression technology
Geographical Information Systems
Distributed multimedia databases
Web-integrated high-end 3D displays
Collaboration Technologies
Web integration technology
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 4 Presentation Focus

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Given time limitations, the presentation will focus on:
  • Web collaboration technology
  • collaboratory 3D GIS system
  • C2 demonstration
Handouts provide more detailed information
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 5 Collaboration Technologies

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
We have designed, developed, and implemented a Web based, generalized collaboratory system
TANGO is designed to:
  • create shareable information spaces
  • provide coordinated but independent views of related information
  • provide for distributed visualization and manipulation of correlated multimedia information streams
  • provide information views based on user's role/task
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 6 TANGO Collaboratory

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO is a software framework supporting computer-based communication and collaboration
  • Initial design and implementation for Command and Control application
  • Runs in Web environment and uses standard Web technologies
  • Allows for implementation of arbitrary collaboratory applications (examples will follow)
  • Multiplatform run-time and multi-language API
    • Runs on UNIX and Windows platforms
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 7 TANGO: Highlights

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Technically, TANGO is a distributed system based on event broadcasting
  • TANGO makes strict distinction between event distribution and data distribution pathways
Core system is implemented in Java and as a browser plug-in (going away for version 4 browsers)
Base programming module is a Java applet
  • however, other forms supported as well, including Java, C/C++ applications, JavaScript/VRML 2 modules, and LISP applications
TANGO modules can be downloaded from anywhere
  • can interact via a server at arbitrary location
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 8 System Architecture

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
N: Netscape Browser
LD: Local Daemon
CA: Control Application
AP: Applet
LA: Local Application
CS: Central Server
DB: Back-end Database
HTTP: Web server
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 9 TANGO: Control Application

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Application select
buttons
Application
Domains
Open/close and
floor control
Session
information
User information
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 10 TANGO: application control

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO session, sync, and
floor control buttons built
into the application control
panel.
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 11 Collaborative 3D GIS

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Focus: high-end terrain visualization with GIS overlays, integrated with Web
  • Open Inventor Web 3D viewer
    • initially designed as terrain viewer, later generalized to support general 3D visualization
    • as a browser, the viewer exceeds VRML browser functionality
    • supports both synchronous and independent views of data
    • supports multiple windows for different data layers
  • Multi-user functionality provided by TANGO framework
  • Support for stereoscopic viewing
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 12 Collaborative 3D GIS

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Terrain and other GIS data stored on HTTP server and fetched over the network via HTTP protocol
Handles multiple types of GIS data
  • satellite imagery, topographic maps, various geological characteristics (i.e., vegetation, geological resources, and water concentration) and arbitrary 3D objects are visualized (complete database for NYS).
Wavelet compression for both DEM and satellite images, reduces size of data by a factor of 32 for DEMs and 30-60 for textures.
Adaptive mesh simplification technique results in rendering time reduction by a factor of 40.
Internal caching system with pre-processing
Level-of-detail rendering
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 13 Collaborative 3D GIS

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Database support: all locations are geo-referenced. Supports "pickable" mode. A "pick" spawns a spatial database query.
Database backend implemented using Informix/Illustra object-relational database
Query refinement via web browser interface
  • programmable selection of canned queries
Database contents:
  • TIGER/Line data, US census data, business data, web domain name database, ..... (complete database for NYS)
Viewer objects can have associated HTML links
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 14 Collaborative 3D GIS

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Extended scene model
  • (Compatible) scene description language
  • Support for dynamic addition of objects to the scene.
  • Support for WWW anchor (link) functionality
  • Objects behavior can be externally controlled - support for simulation and "3D streaming"
  • Support for compound objects, translation vectors
    • creates assembly/disassembly capability
  • Support for linked object/camera duo (object tracing capability)
  • Synchronous and asynchronous master/slave relationship, re-sync mode (all within TANGO framework)
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 15 The TANGOsim C2 Application

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO Java
Collaboratory
Server
HTTP
Server
MultiMedia Mail
C2 Commander
Chat
VTC
Event Driven
Simulation
Engine
C2 Radar Officer
3D GIS
Scripting
Language
C2 Weather Officer
Message Routing
SW/Data Distrib.
Other
Collaborators
MultiMedia Mail
Chat
Simulation
Engine Controller
All Clients
Typical Clients
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 16 CIV Applications: C2

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Military expertise provided by Vanguard Research, Inc.
Application built around a scenario driven by a programmable event simulator, using Tango as message router
Selected functionality of the Granite Sentry is emulated by TANGO modules, with support for multiple, task-oriented views of the same data
Access to diverse distributed textual and MM databases is provided using general and specialized tools
Application supports service and data replication mechanisms in an attempt to deliver information to wherever and whenever it is needed, and to present it in interactive fashion
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 17 The Chosen C2 Application

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Unmanned terrorist plane carrying bacterial weapon overflies New York with possible fighter intercept before crashing near Syracuse and requiring emergency response
NORAD Air Defense Command and Control with participants
  • NCA, NMCC, NORAD, ADOC, AEGIS, National Guard
  • FAA, FEMA, CDC
  • NYS Governor, NYS Police, Local Medical Facilities/ Personnel
Participants can be real or virtual and have access to rich set of GIS and basic collaborative tools
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 18 TANGOsim Collaborative Simulator

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGOsim extends TANGO architecture by adding a discrete event simulator
  • this extension allows one to go beyond the basic "cooperating twins" model of most Java collaboration systems
  • implements a multithreaded, script driven simulation engine with virtual time support
  • independent, configurable Simulation Controller applet for remote interactive control
  • implements extensible scripting language for scenario definition
Allows customizable server filters to support scenario and client dependent views of given application
Allows real and virtual participants to be intermixed
Provides natural Collaborative Computing framework with people and simulations/virtual people intermixed
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 19 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 1

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Pervasive technologies
  • Leverages existing web-based technologies
    • e.g., TANGOsim could be implemented at C2 centers in very near term with lower cost than "stove pipe" approach
  • Incorporates a web browser which permits easy access by C2 centers to many Web based databases
  • Enables collaborations between multi-service, non-collocated C2 centers
    • TANGOsim locations can be linked together to provide hierarchical systems as required
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 20 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 2

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Pervasive Technologies, cont.
  • Allows nesting of hierarchical collaborative sessions
    • e.g., staffs may hold collaborative sessions to provide real-time support to C2 center division heads who are participating in a higher level collaborative session
  • Simplifies interfacing of existing non-web based C2 databases by using linkages of legacy technologies to web based standards and applications
  • Supports "information push" capability bundling presentation tools and content into one package
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 21 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 3

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGOsim implemented functionality provides:
  • Multiple, simultaneous collaborative interactions by a single participant
  • High information content visualizations
  • Audio and video on demand
  • Web-based teleconferencing
  • Interactions with surrogate participants
  • Rapid C2 prototyping and usability testing
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 22 TANGOsim Benefits to DoD Command and Control -- 4

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGOsim database capabilities:
  • Provide a test bed for recording, measuring, and evaluating:
    • Collaborative interactions between C2 staffs
    • Usability and information content of various visualizations of the same data
  • Enable repeatable collaborative experiments
    • How does one measure the effectiveness of a collaboration ?
    • How does one measure and compare two or more collaborative applications ?
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 12 April 98

Foil 23 Current DoD Users of TANGO framework

From Overview of NPAC's CIV Project Rome Laboratory TEM Contractors Review -- 2 Dec 97. *
Full HTML Index
Application domains:
  • Command and Control and Search and Rescue
  • Distance Learning and Training
  • Remote consulting and user support
  • Engineering collaboration
Institutions and Agencies:
  • Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton
  • CEWES, Vicksburg
  • ARL, Aberdeen
  • XII Committee and Marines Warfighting Lab
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