An Environmental Data Model for 3D Models

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An Environmental Data Model for 3D Models

• Dr. Dale D. Miller
• Annette Janett
• Leo Salemann
• Steve Farsai
• Evan Y. Miller
• Lockheed Martin Information Systems
• ddmiller_at_lads.is.lmco.com,
• ajanett_at_lads.is.lmco.com,
• lsaleman_at_ lads.is.lmco.com
• sfarsai_at_ lads.is.lmco.com
• emiller_at_ lads.is.lmco.com
• Dr. Paul A. Birkel
• The MITRE Corporation
• pbirkel_at_mitre.org
• sponsored by
• DMSO
• Terrain Scenario Generation and Archiving (TSGA)

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Outline

• Background
• Methodology
• Examples
• Attributing Models
• EDCS Attribute Adder (EAA) Software
• MEL Archives
• Future Directions

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Background

• What is a Data Model?
• What is a Data Dictionary?
• Who uses Data Models for what purposes?
• What is a Data Model Framework?

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What is a Model?

• A model is not just a smaller copy of something
• A model is a formal representation which
• Hides uninteresting detail
• Substitutes symbols for bulkier components
• Highlights important facts
• Promotes understanding of the whole

In C4ISR, we model men and materialusing
Terrain Data and Tactical Decision Aids
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What is a Data Model?

• A Data Model (aka Information Model) consists of
• Representations of things (entities)
• Abstractions, and not the thing itself
• E.g., a customer entity is not an individual
  customer
• We would speak of (model) forest, and not the
  Ardennes
• Properties of things (attributes)
• Descriptions of an entity (again, abstractions)
• We would speak of (model) a birth date, and not
  July 4, 1776
• Associations among things (relationships)
• How entities relate to each other, often as part
  of a process
• E.g., a Customer entity has a Purchase
  relationship to a Product entity
• Relationships can have attributes, too
• E.g., the Purchase has a Sales Date and Total
  Cost
• It is a picture of how these things are related
• And identifies the things important to a business

The term feature is often used in the MCGI
community.
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Entities, Attributes, and Relationships

• Entity (feature)
• Any distinguishable person, place, thing, event,
  or concept about which information is kept.

• Attribute
• A property of an entity.

• Relationship
• A connection, link, or association between two
  entities.

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What is a Data Dictionary?

• Isolated words have too many interpretations
• A Data Dictionary provides the authoritative
  descriptions of data elements in Data Models
• E.g., name, definition, data type, range of
  values, etc.
• Data elements often included in a Data Dictionary
  include entities, attributes, relationships, and
  aspects of attribute domains (e.g., enumerates,
  units)
• Notations vary (as is also the case for data
  modeling)
• A Data Dictionary may span multiple Data Models

Using a common Data Dictionary improves
interoperability by ensuring that the domain
things in each Data Model share common
definitions, even though they may be assembled
in very different ways.
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EDCSEnvironmental Data Coding Specification
See http//www.sedris.org/edcs.htm
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Who Uses Data Models and for What Purposes?

• Everyone (should!)
• To establish interoperation
• The Bottom Line

Classic Islands of Automation
Common Data Model

• Providers of Data

Objective Data Interchange

• Developers of Systems/Software

• Specifiers of Functionality

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Previous EDM Activities

• JSIMS Terrain Common Data Model
• Common Data Model Framework (CDMF)
• Ocean and Atmosphere Requirements Data Model
• Re-engineering Legacy EDMs

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TSGA EDM for 3D Static Models

• Goal sufficiently rich classifications and
  attribution so that any models in 3D model
  archives can be uniquely identified by its ECC
  and EAC values
• Query

Find a 3D model of a factory whose dimensions (H
X L X W) are approximately 20 X 40 X 20 meters,
predominant exterior colors are red and gray, has
two smokestacks, produces chemicals, has various
roof levels, a metal roof, and an exterior wall
pattern of brick.
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Initial Methodology

• Extracted all ECC and EAC from EDCS which were
  judged to potentially apply to 3D models
• Models in numerous legacy libraries were examined
  and analyzed for classification and attribute
  requirements
• Other authoritative classification schemes
  analyzed and adapted
• e.g., Urban Terrain Zone (TEC contract
  DACA76-93-C-0016)
• Web searches on real world structures elucidated
  latent requirements

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Consistency of Attribution

• Some general rules of thumb were developed to
  help ensure such consistency.
• The following non-exclusive classes of ECCs were
  defined
• Vertical structures
• Vertical structures which are not buildings
• Buildings
• Commercial and industrial buildings and
  facilities
• Aggregate features (multiple structures)
• Bridges and bridge spans

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Rules of Thumb

• All vertical structures get these attributes
• All vertical structures which are not buildings
  get SMC_
• All buildings get these additional attributes

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EDM Rationale

• Commercial and Industrial Buildings and
  Facilities get all Building attributes plus these
• Aggregate features get all Vertical Structure
  attributes plus these

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Analysis of Consistency of Attribution Example
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EDCS Extensions - ECC

• Eleven ECCs added or modified
• Submitted as SEDRIS Change Requests (SCR) and
  approved for EDCS 2.8

Example ECC Definition Hay or straw in which
equally sized portions are stacked upon each
other to form a large interlocking structure. A
haystack may often be covered with a tarpaulin.
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EDCS Extensions - EAC

• 37 new EACs

Example EAC Definition Number of horizontal
subdivisions within a structure for accommodating
people or equipment, possibly distinct from the
number of stories in the structure, where these
subdivisions may include underground floors as
well as above ground floors.
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EAC Enunerates

• 325 new enumerates, all with definitions
• Example enumerate definition
• Resulting EDM has 84 classifications and 60
  attributes
• Each feature has an average of 24 attributes

Definition Construction technique in which an
internal frame composed of wooden small beams,
bears the load of the roof, contents, and the
structure itself. Frame is composed of wooden
small beams. An external sheathing composed of
stucco is incorporated into the structure.
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EDM Examples
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Attributing Models

• Largely a manual process, considering
• visual appearance
• lineage
• file names (which may reflect what was intended)
• Dimensional attribution (HGT_, LEN_, WID_)
  generated automatically

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What is it?
This landmark includes three towers the largest
is 187 meters high and features a restaurant, a
snack bar, a cafe, and a high viewing sphere
which makes a complete rotation every 30 minutes.
The second tower is 147 meters high and was
designed as a reservoir for one million gallons
of fresh water. The smallest tower provides
lighting for the two other towers as well as
electricity for the entire area. (from
http//www.geocities.com/big_buildings4/kuwait.htm
l)
Watertower? Restaurent? Observation
Deck? Lighting and substation?
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Barn from CCTT P1
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MOBA-J from Ft. Benning MOUT
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EDCS Attribute Adder (EAA)

• An automated software application for adding
  (further) EDCS attribution to an existing SEDRIS
  transmittal (STF)
• A C-language application that operates on an
  existing input STF
• Will result in a modified output STF
• Uses the SEDRIS read-api to read the input STF
• Uses the SEDRIS write-api update capability to
  write a new output STF
• Option to make copy of input STF since update
  capability modifies input STF in place

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EAA Process and Data Flow
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MEL Archives in STF
Model Texture Repository STF
Terrain Textures
3D Models

• Discoverable and accessible through MEL resource
  site at TEC
• Appropriate metadata included
• All except CCTT models publicly available
• Schedule later this year

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3D Models -- STOW Southwest Asia
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3D Models -- Ft. Benning MOUT
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3D Models -- JCOS Newfoundland
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3D Models -- STOW SWUS
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3D Models -- Sweden
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3D Models -- CCTT
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Future Work and Opportunities

• Future simulation systems will be able to use
  this EDM to fully specify 3D models to be
  procurred
• without vagaries of individual perceptions
• Environment Federation currently uses EDCS codes
  in its FOM for instancing new models or
  communicating state at runtime
• could be extended to fully use EDM for 3D models
• extend software to find a model which most
  closely matches the specified description
• Extensions to models of vehicles and equipment
  underway (DMSO sponsorship)
• intended to capture the nearly 10,000 vehicle and
  equipment types in EBV document
• briefed earlier by Annette Janett in RPR FOM and
  EDCS PDGs