1. JTLS-GO GIS Tool Updates
March 2008
JTLS-GO GIS Tool Updates
Harold Yamauchi
ROLANDS & ASSOCIATES
18th JTLS International Users Conference
16 November 2016
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2. JTLS GIS Terrain Tool Objectives: Implementation:
Provide the JTLS user a method to retain reusable terrain data in a master database
Provide the JTLS user with a graphical tool to access this master data, edit and save portions of the data for a specific JTLS scenario
Export the data in a JTLS scenario format
Implementation:
All code developed using the Java JDKTM (1.8.0 update 112)
Graphics and shapefiles handled by OpenMapTM API (5.1.2)
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3. Default Master Database
JTLS GIS Tool includes a worldwide terrain database:
Linear terrain - roads, railroads, rivers, air corridors, sea lanes, national boundaries and coast lines (for generating shore barriers)
Polygonal terrain - areas occupied by cities, forests, mountains, hills, deserts, swamps, open areas, water (oceans and lakes), islands and permanent snow/ice
Stored in shapefiles
Elevation data comes from NOAA’s ETOPO1 Global Relief Model
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4. Default Master Database
Default Database Directory
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5. Alternate Master Database
Allows user to:
Substitute shapefiles (linear and polygonal terrain)
Substitute the elevation data
Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) Level 0, 1 and 2
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6. Alternate Master Database
Alternate Database Directory
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7. tool_properties.xml Shapefile Example November 2016
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8. tool_properties.xml Elevation Model Selection Examples November 2016
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9. Shapefile Formats for GIS Tool
In general, “shapefile” format consists of a collection of files with a common filename prefix.
Shapefiles needed by GIS tool:
.shp – holds the coordinates of terrain features
.shx - positional index of each feature in .shp
.dbf – holds attributes of each feature in .shp in dBase III format
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10. GIS Tool Shapefile Formats
River Example
River nodes are stored in three files:
river_nodes.shp – node coordinates stored as point geometries
river_nodes.dbf – node attributes
river_nodes.shx – index
River arcs are stored in three files:
river_arcs.shp – arc coordinates stored as two-point polyline geometries
river_arcs.dbf – arc attributes
river_arcs.shx – index
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11. GIS Tool Shapefile Formats
River Example
Format of river_nodes.dbf
Name,C,40
NodeName,C,40
DelayTime,N,12,5
Id,N,20,0 – internal use only
Format of river_arcs.dbf
ArcName,C,40
Width,N,40,5
Depth,N,40,0
Dist,N,40,5
FjordFlag,C,40
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12. Preprocessor - Reformat User-Supplied Shape Files
The geometries in the .shp file are provided as polylines
Each polyline is broken down to individual points (nodes) and line segments (arcs)
JTLS-specific attributes are added to the nodes and arcs.
Polylines that intersect (at nodes) are merged to build a network
Prevent duplication of nodes at the intersection
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13. Questions

14. Terrain Grid ( 1 of 4)
Terrain is represented in levels of detail (LOD). Higher LODs are nested inside lower LODs.
For each LOD, terrain is represented by grid squares of fixed size. As the LOD increases, the size of the grid decreases.
Grid squares are equal in size from a latitude and longitude perspective, not a distance perspective. (The JTLS model will properly process the differences of area covered by each grid square.)
Largest grid size (lowest LOD) is 10 degrees by 10 degrees. Smallest grid size (highest LOD) is 15 seconds by 15 seconds.
Terrain characteristics of the grid affect the JTLS model, such as the ability of sensors to detect objects and ground unit mobility
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15. Terrain Grid Representation
Terrain Grid ( 2 of 4)
Terrain Grid Representation
Examples of grids of size 10 degree x 10 degree, 5 degree x 5 degree, 1 degree x 1 degree, 30 minute x 30 minute and 15 minute x 15 minute.
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16. Terrain Grid ( 3 of 4) Each grid square is assigned a terrain type:
Open
Rolling Hills
Forest/Jungle
Desert
Swamp
Mountain
Permanent Snow/Ice
City
Water (ocean and lake)
Small Island
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17. Terrain Grid ( 4 of 4)
Each grid is assigned a road coverage type as follows:
No Roads
Poor Roads
Good Roads
Other grid attributes:
Max Elevation
Average Elevation
Average Depth
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