1. Huntsville Simulation Conference 2010
Natural Environment Representation in M&S: Environmental Data Cube Support System (EDCSS)
Mr. Mark Webb
DoD ASNE MSEA
Mr. Steve Lowe
Atmospheric and Environmental Research

2. Outline Challenge & Mission Environment Representation for M&S
What is EDCSS?
Products & Data
Conclusion

3. The Challenge & Mission
Models & simulations continue to increase in realism, and complexity, requiring higher fidelity environmental representations to drive realistic and consistent behaviors.
No existing capability to provide correlated support products across all four natural environment domains (Atmosphere, Space, Ocean, Terrain).
MISSION: “Enable M&S developers and users to represent the natural environment and its effects rapidly, thoroughly, and consistently in a manner that promotes cost-effectiveness, ready access, interoperability, re-use, and confidence.”

4. Environment Representation for M&S
Increasingly complex entity models (sensors)
Lack of environment becomes increasingly unrealistic
Fidelity requirements increase quickly
Consistency between simulations becomes more difficult
Consistency requires the capability to
Conduct scenario-based searches for relevant conditions
Capture and track products required by each simulation/tool
Generate and distribute products at simulation runtime
Emerging simulations require that environment products be provided in a manner that is
Efficient, effective and flexible while conforming to standards
Brief discussion.

5. Environmental Effects Representation
Define Environmental Conditions
High Wind
Ocean Waves Form
Surf Builds
Clouds
Develop
Terrain Gets Wet
Precipitation Starts
Deliver Required Impacts
Tank Gets Stuck In Mud
Plane Can’t See Tank Through Clouds
High Surf Prevents Landing On Beach
High Waves Prevent Ship From Refueling.
Noise From Waves Reduce SONAR Performance.

6. Environmental Data Cube Support System
Build an Integrated
Environment Representation …
2. Produce a full suite of support products …
3. Distribute during event execution
National
Providers of …
Data, Models,
Effects,
Expertise
we can build a scenario based on the impacts the senior leaders and exercise using weather as a stimulant
User
Domain
Simulation
Domain
Control Domain 6 6

7. Scenario Development Process
EDCSS at Work
EDC Production Site
EDC Provider Sites
Data
Event
Planners
Scenario Development Process
Effects
Graphics
Messages
Event
Support
Package
EDC Distributor
HLA Simulation Network is used as first instantiation of environmental sim server (listed on diagram as the “EDCSS HLA”), with follow-on efforts to establish TENA and DIS networks if/when/where required.
Event
White Cell
C2 Domain
EDCSS / JBUS
HLA 7

8. EDCSS Architecture Components
Provider Sites
request
EDCSS
Production
Hosted Web Application / Services
Emphasis on Project-based Work Flow
Manages Community Product Requirements
Coordinates all Product Generation
Product Generation
Data Access
Model Execution
product
Upload
Completed
Projects
Logical groupings of like-kind product generation capability, independent of physical location.
Hosted Web Application / Services
Separates Distribution from Production
Provides for Dynamic Scenario Management
Provides SME Analysis Functions
EDCSS
Distribution
Automated Pull of Products
EDCSS
Integration
Optional Software Toolkit
Provides Java / C API for easy integration
Manages pull of products to local box

9. EDCSS Distribution / Integration
EDC Distributor
Hosted Site / App
Completed
Projects From
Production Site
Publish Site
Manual
Delivery
Notification Service
Download Service
“Local Solution”
Automated
Pull by Project,
Component, DTG
Code to
WSDL
EDC Runtime
Integration Module (RIM)
Download Client
Local Cache
Consumer
Application
Runtime API
Code to Java / C API

10. EDCSS Product Types WMO Standard Messages GrADS-Based Conventions DATA
IMPACTS
Data Formats defined by
Syntax & File Name
Content / Representation
Standards-Based
GRIB, netCDF, etc.
Application-Based
TAWS, AREPS, JMV, etc.
Custom ASCII, Binary, CSV
System Performance
EO Sensors (TAWS)
EM Sensors (AREPS)
Mobility (STDMOB)
System Impacts
IWEDA
SEIS
Custom
WMO Standard Messages
METAR, TAF, BT to date
Upper Air, etc.
Conventions
Military vs Civilian
CONUS vs Foreign
GrADS-Based
Fully Customizeable
“Annotated” WMS
Simulated Satellite
PNG/JPG/KML/TIFF/NITF
TEXT
IMAGERY

11. Download Product Files by Date (also available via web service)
EDCSS Support Site
Download Product Files by Date
(also available via web service)
FTUS80 KWBC
RKJK TAF KT 9999 SKC QNH3005INS
BECMG 1107/ KT 9999 SKC QNH2988INS
BECMG 1113/ KT 9999 SKC QNH2991INS
BECMG 1119/ KT 9999 SKC QNH2986INS
BECMG 1201/ G25KT 9999 SCT270 QNH2969INS
BECMG 1207/ G37KT 9999 SKC QNH2967INS 11

12. EDCSS Terrain Domain Development Objectives
Implement automated execution of terrain properties model coupled to fully dynamic atmospheric scenario
Implement automated execution of vehicle mobility performance model coupled to coupled atmosphere-terrain domain scenario
Implement delivery mechanism for terrain domain output that efficiently addresses resolution gap between domains
Benefits of EDCSS Approach
Allows for terrain domain modeling to reside at Centers of Excellence
Leverage DoD standard modeling capabilities
Accessible via EDC Provider Site services interface
Allows for terrain domain parameters and effects to be modeled independent of specific simulation terrain databases

13. Vehicle Mobility Modeling

14. EDCSS Space Domain
Objective: Provide a tool and web application that merges space weather (SW) data archives with impacts rules to create an effects matrix that will be accessed by simulations that replicate space-based systems and performance.
The Problem: The space environment continues to be under/non represented in the M&S community. A number of factors contribute to this problem including availability of data the non-intuitive nature of space, lack of standard impact rules and difficulty in interpreting physical parameters.
Result: An end-to-end system that integrates existing pieces to form a functional system.
Collaborative effort with NGDC Boulder CO
The summary is that the pieces needed to complete the puzzle exist, but are separate from each other and inaccessible. The SEIS will be that end-to-end solution. Also important is that this is not just an academic exercise as shown in the next slide.

15. Space Impact Products ** Data, effects and products
available through SEIS
GPS and Ionospheric Impacts
SWA Product

16. EDCSS Stakeholders DoD M&S Executive Agents Director, Defense
Research &
Engineering
DoD Communities
Enabled by M&S
Terrain
Acquisition
Requirements
Analysis
Ocean
Experimentation
Intelligence
Air & Space
Planning
Testing
Training
Direct
Development
Support Users

17. EDCSS Support to Communities Enabled by M&S
Acquisition
Testing
Intelligence
Planning
EDCSS Promotes: Interoperability, Reuse, Efficiency Common & Crosscutting: Tools, Services & Data
JEFX this year will include elements of FCS
its focus is on battlefield communications and will test TBONE and BACN
STORM
Analysis
Experimentation
Training

18. Summary
Historical Scenarios provide the right mix of realism an control
Environmental Modeling capabilities readily available to downscale and couple representation across multiple domains
Environmental Data Cube Support System (EDCSS)
PRODUCTION: Beyond data, to include graphic, text, effects products
DISTRIBUTION: Network-agile services for product dissemination
INTEGRATION: Local product management (caching) and API’s to ensure effective use and reduce development cost
The EDCSS provides a project-oriented suite of support tools for the M&S community grounded in a formalized support process emphasizing the use of a common environment representation across all consumers.

19. Leadership Info DoD ASNE MSEA Senior Lead DoD Ocean MSEA Senior Lead
Dr. Fred Lewis
U.S. Air Force
Director of Weather
DoD Ocean MSEA Senior Lead
RDML Jon White
U.S. Navy
Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography
Command
DoD Terrain MSEA Senior Lead
Mr. Paul Weise
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NGA Modeling and Simulation Executive Agent
DoD ASNE MSEA (Deputy)
Col Mark Zettlemoyer, A3O-WX
DoD Ocean MSEA Lead
Mr. Steve Payne, GS15, CNMOC
DoD Terrain MSEA Lead
Mr. Paul Foley, GS15, NGA
EDCSS Program Manager
Lt Col Joe Kurtz