Synthetic Environment Data Representation and Interchange Specification SEDRIS

1
Synthetic Environment Data Representation and
Interchange Specification (SEDRIS)

• Simulation Interoperability Workshop
• September 14, 1998
• http//www.sedris.org

2
Agenda

• 0830 - Introductions - Graham Shanks
• 0835 - Status DMSO Perspective - Paul Foley
• 0850 - Project Overview - Farid Mamaghani
• 0925 - SISO SEDRIS - Jim Shiflett
• 0930 - SEDRIS Applications (10 mins. each)
• Oceanographic Data Sets (Susan Starke, NRL -
  Stennis)
• Database Content Evaluation (Bob Richbourg,
  IDA)(demo)
• UK DERA and SEDRIS (Barry Tomlinson, DERA, UK)
• 1000 - Break
• 1030 - SEDRIS Applications (cont.)
• SEDRIS Navigator (Paul Metzger, RBD) (demo)
• SEDRIS to ModSAF (Victor Skowronski,
  Litton/TASC)
• CCTT Interchange Experiment (Ken Donovan, LMIS)
  (demo)
• MultiGen-Paradigm and SEDRIS (Juliana Slye,
  MGI/Paradigm)
• SEDRIS Coordinate Conversion (Ralph Toms, SRI)
• MEL - SEDRIS Prototype (Louis Hembree,
  NRL-Monterey) (demo)
• SEDRIS to CCTT SAF (Jon Watkins, SAIC)
• Object Browser Side-by-Side tools (Jesse Liu,
  AcuSoft) (demo)
• 1150 - Question Answer Session

3
The Problem - The Solution

• Database Interchange Today
• Expensive, time consuming, and often unreliable
• User systems require a unique converter for each
  source
• Databases may undergo several conversions before
  a useable format is obtained
• Database Interchange - SEDRIS
• One standard method used for interchange
• Fewer conversions, therefore, less opportunity
  for error
• Common tools and software shared and reused
• Reduction in conversion costs achieved

Producers NIMA AFCCC NAVO
Native database format n
Common Data Model
Native database format 3
Resource Repository
4
Why SEDRIS?

• To Meet the Need to
• Share common descriptions of the physical
  environment as a precondition for
  interoperability
• By Providing
• A uniform and effective mechanism for the
  unambiguous and loss-less interchange of
  environmental databases before simulation runtime
  execution
• With Sponsorship from
• Defense Modeling and Simulation Office
  (DMSO)
• MS Executive Agents for Authoritative
  Environmental Representation
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  (DARPA)
• U.S. Army Simulation Training and
  Instrumentation Command (STRICOM)
• Program Manager for the Combined
  Arms Tactical Trainer (PM CATT)

5
Project Goal
Producers NIMA AFCCC NAVO
Native database format n
Producers NIMA AFCCC NAVO
Native database format n
Native database format 3
Resource Repository
Resource Repository
Native database format 1
Native database format 2
Interchange Today
Interchange through SEDRIS
Complete Interchange Mechanism
Data Modeling API Prototyping
Format Prototyping
CY 1995 ------------------------ 1996
---------------------------- 1997
--------------------------- 1998------------------
---------- 1999
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SEDRIS Objectives

• Mission To provide a uniform and effective
  mechanism for clear, complete, and unambiguous
  interchange of environmental databases.
• Primary Objectives
• Articulate and capture the complete set of data
  elements and associated relationships needed to
  fully represent the physical environment.
• Support the full range of simulation applications
  (e.g., computer-generated forces, manned, visual,
  and sensor systems) across all environmental
  domains (terrain, ocean, atmosphere, and space).
• Provide a standard interchange mechanism to
  pre-distribute environmental data and promote
  database reuse and interoperability among
  heterogeneous simulations.

7
A Full Range of Applications ...
8
DB Generation Interchange - SEDRIS
maps, charts
textures, imagery
Native database format 2
Converter
Master Environmental Library
Database Generation System 1
Integrated database format 1
Native database format 3
Converter
. . .
. . .
. . .
Database Generation System n
Converter
3D models
CGF database
CIG database
Map Generation System
attributes, observations, descriptions
Sensor database
database map
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SEDRIS Target Applications

• DoD MS Analysis, Training, and Acquisition
  Systems
• Sensor Systems (EO/IR, Radar, Acoustic, etc.)
• Computer Generated Force Applications
• Computer Image Generation
• Virtual and Constructive Simulation Systems
• Vehicle Dynamics Software Applications
• Simulation Map Generation
• Geographic Information Systems
• DoD C4ISR Systems
• Commercial Sector

10
Primary Aspects of SEDRIS

• Unambiguous representation of environmental data
• Semantics and relationships of data elements
• All environmental domains
• Expressed in the SEDRIS data representation
  model
• Efficient interchange of environmental data
• Sharing and re-use
• Ease of access and software development (API)
• Tools and applications

11
SEDRIS Consists of...

• Common data representation model for all
  environmental domains (terrain, ocean,
  atmosphere, and space)
• Read and Write APIs at multiple levels of
  complexity
• SEDRIS Transmittal Format
• Tools and Utilities
• Support from the principal (DoD, Federal,
  Commercial, and International) resource providers
• Standards for data representation and interchange

12
SEDRIS Data Representation Model

• Geometry type objects (such as 3D polygons,
  patches, lines, and points which provide the
  physical/surface representation of real world
  objects)
• Feature type objects (such as areal, linear, and
  point features which represent higher level
  abstraction of real world objects)
• Topology (which allows concise, mathematical
  definition of inter-Feature or inter-Geometry
  object relationships)
• Attributes (such as location, time, color,
  sound, width, etc.)
• Libraries (that store a copy of any instanceable
  object)
• Explicit relationships among feature objects,
  among geometry objects, or between geometry and
  feature objects
• Organizational schemes that allow well-described
  hierarchical configuration of geometry and
  feature objects

13
The SEDRIS APIs

• Uses a Layered Software Model
• Deals with Missing or Wrong Format Data
• Provides Context-Sensitive Access to Data
• Supports Multi-Path Access

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SEDRIS Transmittal Format Characteristics

• Supports the full range of environmental data
• Efficiently enables users (producers and
  consumers) conversion software to pass data
  through the SEDRIS data model
• Is transparent to the end user
• Does not mandate any specific hardware platform
  dependency

15
SEDRIS Class Attribute State Coding Standard

• Separates enumerations from the data model and
  data dictionary
• Evolve at different rates and times
• Allows better leverage of external standards
• Increased flexibility/extensibility
• Applies to
• Classification (and Features) -? SEDRIS
  Classification Codes (SCC)
• Attributes (and Values) -gt SEDRIS
  Attribute Codes (SAC)
• States -? SEDRIS State Codes (SSC)
• Leverages and extends NATO STANAG 7074
• Alphanumeric codes
• Shallow hierarchy (not clear theres a better
  approach)
• Comprehensive documentation
• nOT CasE SeNsitIvE

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Technical Development Process

• Open forum and process for technical development
• Each new data subject area is addressed by first
  developing a mapping document to the data
  representation model to ensure the model is
  complete
• Make the best decisions in balancing design
  elegance with operational practicality
• Spiral development process characterized by
• Formal SEDRIS Change Request (SCR) management
  process
• Use of specialty groups (Ocean/Atmosphere,
  Visualization, Metadata, Coordinates,
  Documentation, Interchange Format)
• Interchange Experimentation and Validation

17
Successful Teamwork

• Excellent example of teamwork across the board
  (associates, management, government agencies,
  etc.)
• Cross-pollination and cooperation among
  competitors
• Innovative successful process management
• Diligent management of twenty-two organizations
• Increased level of understanding in the community
  on environmental issues

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What SEDRIS Is Not

• The solution to interoperability (but it is a
  critical precondition)
• A database generation system
• An enforcement method for building databases
• A value judgment on database content
• A validation and verification methodology
  (but it helps)
• A proprietary interchange mechanism
• Just a data interchange format (DIF)

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FY96-98 Activities Accomplishments
1996 1997
1998 1999
Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
SEDRIS ASSOCIATE 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 MEETINGS (SAMs) ?
? ? ? ? ? ?
? ?
DATA MODEL 1.0 1.01 1.02
1.03 1.04d 1.05c
1.33 RELEASES ?
? ? ? ? ?
? ?? 1.06a 1.34
SHOWS, SIW I/ITSEC SIW
ID NATO SIW OH ESRI CONFERENCES
? ? ? ?
? ? ? ? OH SEDRIS
Open house
?? ? ? ID
DMSO Industry Days
OH/SIW ITEC ID
? I/ITSEC
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Review

• The SEDRIS technology contains
• a comprehensive data representation model for all
  domains of environmental data
• a specified interchange format and a powerful API
  for interchanging databases
• tools, utilities, and conversion applications
• and will provide
• complete and unambiguous descriptions to
  represent the environment
• loss-less interchange
• a standard interface and interchange format
• reusable applications
• an initial commercial support capability for
  SEDRIS databases and interchange

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FY 99 Projected Milestones
1998
1999 2000
OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL
AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN
SEDRIS Associates 10 Meeting
?
Data Model 2.0
2.5
3.0 Releases ?
?
?
Training
? ? ?
? ?
Shows, I/ITSEC
SIW ITEC/UC ID SIW
UC Conferences ?
? ?? ?
? ? UC SEDRIS Users Conference ID
DMSO Industry Days

• Release 2.0 (initial formal release) November
  1998
• Release 2.5 March 1999
• Release 3.0 September 1999
• SEDRIS Users Conferences and Training Sessions
  in 1999
• Will be developing technical specification
  suited for standardization in 1999