Type of Research:
Private Corporation and Military
Summary: C4ISR = Command, Control, Communications & Computer Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance.
There is a very real problem in that heretofore there was not a consistent data structure among the numerous DoD systems. Ideally, the data that is displayed on the computer screens inside command vehicles and in the War Room should be seamlessly imported into simulation programs. This paper proposes using the GCCS Ambassador as an interface. “As part of previous C4ISR-Simulation interoperability experiments, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) had already developed a GCCS HLA-compliant interface (known as the "GCCS Ambassador") that allowed simulation data to be sent via the RTI and deposited into the GCCS Track Database Manager (TDBM). This interface was originally developed to work with the Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS), an aggregate-level simulation of air, ground, and sea operations used primarily by the Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC) in Joint training exercises.”
“While any simulation that is HLA compliant could in theory derive data from GCCS (Global Command & Control System) in this manner, there are only a select few that are used in the execution of COA (Course Of Action) and deliberate planning applications that really need this capability. The Joint Warfare System (JWARS) is one of the simulations that is currently considering adopting this technology for use. As JWARS has a requirement specified in its Operations Requirements Document (ORD) for operating as a COA application [JWARS, 1998] in support of CINC analysis requirements, this type of initialization scheme may be well suited for it. JWARS has recently developed an HLA interface for use with other applications, which would provide a straightforward approach for implementation with the GCCS Ambassador.”
“While the GCCS COP provides a significant amount of information on enemy and friendly units, it does not contain several bits of data of interest to the analysis of COAs. Among the data sources that would be beneficial for inclusion in this federation are the Master Intelligence Database (MIDB), Status of Resources and Training Systems (SORTS), and Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES) data. Also, since GCCS is an aggregated view of the entire theater battle, it tends to lack certain detail that can be found in component data sources such as Theater Battle Management Core System (TBMCS), and the Joint Common Database (JCDB). Implementation of COA analysis at lower echelons may require finer resolution data that can only be found in these component C4ISR systems.