TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMW180 Ship

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Use Modeling and Simulation (MODSIM) to enhance IO training.

DESCRIPTION: Information Operations (IO) is abstract on many levels for which training is difficult. Modeling and Simulation (MODSIM) can greatly enhance the learning of abstract concepts through descriptive languages and visualization. MODSIM can be used to enhance IO training. The innovation required is to leverage modeling and simulation to provide the same degree of insight to the IO practitioner as it provides to the discipline of engineering. IO mission planning support and effects based (physical and influence) operations are well suited for MODSIM. In addition, emerging model based and data driven architectures will allow MODSIM based training to keep pace with system development and emergent requirements. As a guide for innovation, consider the following: (1) provide innovative animation to visualize fundamental phenomena for the Information Warrior; (2) define canonical problem sets (representative scenarios for problem classes) which would span the problem space at the physical level in terms of modern radios, networks, and scenarios and at the objective level in terms of outcomes at each layer of the reference model. Alternatively, simulations can define patterns that a IO practitioner can recognize that can be applied to real scenarios.

PHASE I: Will include researching communications and process models and simulation frameworks to provide fundamental insight into the information problem space. A strategy will be developed to visualize abstract concepts in communications and mission planning for the warfighter. The relationship between measures of system performance, geometry of distributed assets, channel effects, and measures of mission effectiveness will be demonstrated using scenario based modeling and simulation. The results of the research will be analyzed to determine the content of training layers beyond system operations that leverage commercial success in network communications planning, and use animation to train features of complex communications and protocols. The development approach will include a plan to integrate commercial modeling capabilities to extend to influence operations.

PHASE II: Includes the development of a prototype system. The prototype will demonstrate system feasibility, sound conceptual design, database design, interface capability, and a practical implementation approach to provide effective learning. The database design, metadata tagging and cataloguing should adhere to standards outlined in reference 3.

PHASE III: Will include the development of a modular, scalable, and reusable system from PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL tools in a federated environment in which modeling centers in DoD/Industry environment can collaborate to train responses to emergent scenarios. The resulting product would provide a valuable training experience to a wide population of warfighters and practitioners at a deeper level. Within the Fleet Training Continuum (FTC) and the Integrated Learning Environment (ILE), IO M&S Training could be used by TYCOMs to certify their IO/IW personnel during any phase of the Fleet Response Training Plan (FRTP) for CSG/ESG operations. Additionally, IO M&S Training materials maintained within the ILE would allow Immediate Superiors in Command (ISICs) to tailor their own IO/IW training for all phases of the FRTP and facilitate unit level certifications.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: MODSIM is heavily used by industry to manage, plan and study networking and communications. The technology successfully developed in this project will have multiple military and commercial applications. Military applications will include feedback to operational communication systems to optimize IO performance. Non-military applications will include the ability to apply this capability to provide improvements to numerous commercial communications systems.

REFERENCES:

1. IEEE standard 1484 Learning Technology Training Architecture

2. IEEE standard 1516 Modeling High Level Architecture

3. Naval Personnel Development Command (NPDC) "Guidance for Development and Management of Navy Integrated Learning Environment Content", 5 August 2005

4. COMUSFLTFORCOM/COMPACFLT Instruction 3501.3A "Fleet Training Continuum (FTC)"
20 Dec 06

KEYWORDS: Information Operations, Modeling, Simulation, Training, Learning Object Metadata, effects based operations

TPOC: Ralph Skiano
Phone: (619)524-7890
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Thomas Starai
Phone: (301)669-2133
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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