A Cognitive Systems Approach to Supporting Airborne Persistent Surveillance Data Analysis

ABSTRACT: Airborne persistent surveillance capability represents an evolutionary advance in Air Force intelligence analysis capabilities. With broad WAMI coverage areas, analysts can now monitor individuals, groups, and vehicles across space and time, allowing them to more accurately and effectively develop networks and patterns, and provide critical, time-sensitive information to customers. But with these capabilities come significant cognitive challenges. We propose an inherently analyst-centric approach to studying both current and future cognitive demands associated with real- and near-real time Air Force WAMI analysis. To identify current cognitive demands, we will complement our ongoing Blue Devil analyst study with a cognitive protocol specifically targeting the WAMI analysis process. To study future cognitive demands, we will develop and execute a cognitively-based simulation interview protocol, leveraging a 5x5 mile, color WAMI dataset collected specifically for this effort. The simulation will include both existing Air Force analysis tools and novel ones used by our partner, PSS, in their analyses. The simulation will also represent additional likely future Air Force capabilities planned for the next iteration of Blue Devil, and will incorporate simulated customer interactions, and critical cognitive elements. Candidate measures of effectiveness and analyst-aiding technologies will be developed, based on both current and future demands. BENEFIT: This effort represents an unprecedented analysis of both current and envisioned cognitive demands associated with Air Force WAMI analysis. Among the many transition avenues are the 495th EIS (specifically, Blue Devil and Gorgon Stare programs), NGA and DARPA, the Department of Homeland Security, and law enforcement. Any of the myriad government entities that are dealing with emergent airborne persistent surveillance capabilities will benefit from products and effectiveness measures based on cognitively-derived analyst requirements.