Information Concepts for Coalition C2

Dr. Northrup Fowler IIIAFRL/IFT

525 Brooks Rd, Rome NY 13441-4505Email: fowlern@rl.af.mil

Tel: (315) 330-3011

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Summary?

• Where We Are - Platform Centric

• The Next Step - Network Centric

• A Vision of the Future - Information Centric

BetterCoalition Decisions

Faster

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Broad unpredictable world-wide threats every situation different

Rapid, tailored coalition force projection

Rapid automated support for planning, executing, and monitoring as situation evolves

Ability to control joint & coalition operations

Precision coalition operations at all echelons

High coalition ops tempo requires agility at all levels & functions

Smaller coalition forces integration for most efficient

use

Minimal casualties and collateral damage preemption to seize initiative

Operational ChallengesWhat are we concerned about for tomorrow?

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A Vision for the Future

Information Centric

Knowledge-based coalition operations…

enabled by information

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A Four Layer Model ofInformation Centric Systems

Visualization and Human-Computer Interaction

Information Management

Networking and Comms

Analysis Tools and Planning Aids

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Current US Capabilities

Visualization and Human-Computer Interaction

Information Management

Networking and Comms

Analysis Tools and Planning Aids

Overloaded Map graphicsSome Hand Crafted VisualizationsKeyboard IntensiveGraphical Plan EditorsGood Scheduling TechnologyStovepipe Analysis Models & ToolsWeb Based Browsing of DataLimited Subscription to DataStatic Templates

DII-COECommercial CommunicationsLink-16

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Command Post of the Future

Visualization and Human-Computer Interaction

Information Management

Networking and Comms

Analysis Tools and Planning Aids

• New DARPA Program • Kickoff meeting Feb 23-25, 1999• “CPOF will Create Design Rules enabling a New Interface Metaphor for C2 After Next”• Tri-Service Participation

Global Networked InformationEnterprise

• New OSD/DISA Initiative • GNIE will Replace DII-COE• Multi-level DoD public Key Network Infrastructure• Warfighting as well as Business Enterprise

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Information Management for the Warrior

Visualization and Human-Computer Interaction

Information Management

Networking and Comms

Analysis Tools and Planning Aids

• Battlespace Infosphere• AF Science Board 1998 Study• Continuing Refinement in 1999• http://web.fie.com/fedix/sab.html

Integrated Battle ForceManagement

• DARPA/ ISO Study Group - 1998• CD-ROM VisDem Available• Further Info from DARPA/ISO

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What is the Battlespace InfoSphere?

The BI provides a highly tailored repository of, or access to, information that is designed to support a particular geographic area or mission. The intent of the BI is to have a “single place,” a “virtual system of information systems,” that serves as a clearinghouse and a workspace for anyone contributing to the accomplishment of the operation—for example, weather, intelligence, logistics, or personnel.

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Inside the Battlespace InfoSphere

Input Planning/ExecutionProducts

Command Guidance User

Information Products &

DBs

FusionProducts

Combat SupportProducts

Manipulateto Create

Knowledge

PublishSubscribeTransform

QueryControl

Common

Representation

Interact

Decision Centric

PresentationsAutomaticFormatting& Filtering

Task CenteredInformation Discovery

Use-drivenInformation

Dissemination

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Key BI Concepts

Fuselet

Publish

Publish

Object

Subscribe

PublicationService

• Publish: Installation of Objects in “Catalog of Published Objects” maintained by specialized Publication Services. Services also maintain lists of pending Subscriptions

• Subscribe: Subscriptions specify metadata values that must match corresponding values in newly Published Objects

• Query: Like Subscription, but without automatic triggering

• Publication Service Processing:- Test each new Published Object against all pending Subscriptions- Test each new Query against all Published Objects

• Search: Trade-off Timeliness against Accuracy in Information Delivery

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Example: fuselets* that aggregate

• Each air base publishes a “base status” object to the BI. A fuselet that has subscribed to this type of object is triggered and publishes an aggregate “mission base status” object.

• Complex aggregation is achieved by cascading fuselets, forming higher-level knowledge.

Fuselet

Subscribe

Mission base status

Ramstein status

Aviano status

Taszar status

Publish

*“Any Computer program that uses the publish-subscribe mechanism and information standards of the BI is a Fuselet” Info Management for the Warrior AF SAB Study

Integrated Battle Force Management

Turning Information into Action - Continuous Preemptive Operations

Command and Control for the 21st Century

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IBFM Development Thrusts

• Develop an integrated set of high-level applications supporting Continuous Preemptive Operations, including:– Live, evolving plans– Combined or coalition arms force design– Continuous dynamic assessment– Situation query services– Intelligent software adversaries

• Develop a single sharable framework in which all C4/ISR elements can interoperate in a parallel, high-speed federation– Sharable Core Execution Representation as integrating

medium– Complex adaptive systems

– Adaptive, fractal architectures– Intelligent process management

Living Plans

Living plans reduce replanning required by today’s static deliberate plans

Autonomous software agents dynamically adapt living plans to the current situation

Plans continuously assessed for validity, viability, feasibility, and execution opportunities

Plan structures complex; bring together all relevant information representing all aspects of a plan

Living plans reduce replanning required by today’s static deliberate plans

Plan structures complex; bring together all relevant information representing all aspects of a plan

Autonomous software agents dynamically adapt living plans to the current situation

Plans continuously assessed for validity, viability, feasibility, and execution opportunities

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Living Plans

• Nodes represent– goals– activities or tasks– sub-plans

• Branches represent– coordinated set of activities for achieving a goal– Ex: colored branches represent integrated plans

coordinated across echelons (campaign, force, mission and engagement) and functions (employment, deployment, ISR, sustainment)

• Critical Part of the Shared Core Execution Representation

• Highly structured, nested object

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Plans Span Functions & EchelonsSustainmentISRDeploymentEmployment

ObserveObserve

ActAct

OrientOrient

DecideDecide

Campaign

Force

Mission

Engagement

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Different “Functional” Viewsof the Same Concept

Ground Ops

CONFIGURATION ITEM

Attachment_timeAssembly_instructionsArming_instructions

FinancePROPERTY

Unit_costFunding_programContract_number

Mission Planning

Flight Planning

AERODYNAMIC OBJECT

Minimum_drop_altitudeDrop_angle

Drag_coefficient

ORDNANCE

Desired_impact_pointTime_on_target

Applicable_aircraft

Transportation

Engineering

MANUFACTURED ITEM

Casing_thicknessDetonation_mechanismAttachment_mechanism

CARGO

Packaged_weightPick_up_location

Destination

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Different Concepts!Ontology: A Theory of Semantic Consistency

And the Air Force will obtain a long-term lease.

Coalition Operations will not make this problem easier!

If you say, “If you say, “secure the buildingsecure the building” …” …

The Navy will cordon and blockade the facility.

The Marines will assault with heavy fire.

The Army will clear the building andlock the doors and windows.

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Air Campaign Planning Specialization of the Core Plan Representation

http://www.teknowledge.com/CPR2/

http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/~arpi/spar

Core Plan Representation

Shared Plan & ActivityRepresentation

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What we What we “think” they “think” they think is the think is the statusstatus

Distributed Distributed Aerospace Aerospace MgmtMgmt

Assessment & Assessment & Status (BDA) Status (BDA) of meeting of meeting Tasks / Tasks / Objectives Objectives EffectEffect

Aerospace Information Architecture for What Needs to Be “Published”

Available Available Coalition Coalition Aerospace Aerospace ResourcesResources

Planned Use Planned Use of Coalition of Coalition Aerospace Aerospace ForcesForces

Total of Total of Aerospace Aerospace Coalition Coalition ResourcesResources

COG Analysis, Political/Cultural Implications, COG Analysis, Political/Cultural Implications, Combined & Coalition Interaction, Strategy, ROE, Combined & Coalition Interaction, Strategy, ROE, Guidance, Phase Points, Priorities, WeatherGuidance, Phase Points, Priorities, Weather

Capability for continuous effects-based plan adjustments and generation of dynamic Aerospace

execution orders (DAEO)

EventNational / Coalition Objectives

Planned Aerospace Objectives w/ Effects

Planned Aerospace Tasks w/ Effects

Planned Campaign Objectives w/ Effects

Planned Aerospace Actions w/ Effects

Perceived Perceived Enemy Tasks Enemy Tasks w/ Effectsw/ Effects

Perceived Perceived Enemy Enemy Objectives w/ Objectives w/ EffectsEffects

Perceived Perceived Enemy Enemy Actions w/ Actions w/ EffectsEffects

Perceived Perceived Enemy Enemy National National Objectives w/ Objectives w/ EffectsEffects

Perceived Enemy COG Analysis, Perceived Enemy COG Analysis, Political/Cultural Implications, Political/Cultural Implications, Strategy, ROE, Guidance, Phase Points, Strategy, ROE, Guidance, Phase Points, PrioritiesPriorities

Perceived Perceived Enemy Enemy Available Available ResourcesResources

Perceived Enemy Perceived Enemy Planned Use of Planned Use of ResourcesResources

Perceived Perceived Enemy Total Enemy Total ResourcesResources

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Sharable Core Execution RepresentationKey Objectives

• To produce an integrated situation and plan representation that provides a “possible worlds” view– Location transparent distributed representation and repository– All-source Information about current and projected situations– Current top-to-bottom COA, alternatives considered, linked decision rationales– Ability to coordinate planning, reasoning, and evaluation from all stakeholder

perspectives (employment, deployment, intelligence, logistics, combat support)

• Develop the ability to plan and execute effects-based operations in uncertain and dynamic conditions– Explicit representations for beliefs, uncertainty, and probability– Strategies for structuring planning approaches according to types of

uncertainty the predominate– Explicit planning for uncertainty reduction

• “Virtually” integrate C2 information products at the knowledge level – e.g. linked campaign planning, campaign assessment, and ISR tasking

No Information without Representation!

BI Processes

Strategic Plan Operational Plan

SituationalData

DisplayFuselet

Force ModulesTPFDDs

ResourceEstimates

Asset ListISR Tasking

Geo-SpatialModels

Intel View

Operations View

Logistics View

C:0 C:1 C:2 C:3 C:4 C:5 C:6 C:7 C:8 C:9 C:10C:11 C:12C:13 C:14C:15 C:16C:17 C:18C:19C:20C:21C:22 C:23C:24

MAAWAA

MAAWAB

MAAWAC

MAAWAD

MAAZAA

MAAZAB

WBBAAC

WBDAAA

WBDAAB

WBBAAA

WBBAAB

LOG PLAN OBJECT - AUTO SCHEDULING

LOG PLAN OBJECT - AUTO SCHEDULING

SAT “A”SAT “B”SAT “C”SAT “D”SAT “E”

DisplayFuselet

DisplayFuselet

ResourceProjectionFuselet

Sat CoverageFuselet

CampaignAssessmentFuselet Best Support

Objectives to Win

Ability to Support

Operations

Intel & Sensor Tasking

Objectives

Ability to Support

Operations

BetterCoalition Decisions

Faster

Less Time Spent ManuallyFusing Information Sources

Fewer Opportunities forErrors in Fusing Information

More Time Spent InterpretingInformation & Making Decisions

Knowledge-based Coalition operations…enabled by information

Collectively, the Information Needed by Each Functional Area is the Information Needed to Carry out

the Overall Operation

BI Benefits