Environmentally Constrained Naval Search Planning Algorithms

The Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS), currently employed by Carrier Strike Groups for integrated command and control and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), uses the Operational Route Planner (ORP) that incorporates a genetic algorithm to define optimal ASW search tracks. This capability does not currently consider route planning and supporting ASW operations in the context of avoiding, where operationally feasible, environmentally sensitive areas that may be on the track or within the operating area of the strike group. The purpose of this effort is to develop a computer-based routing program that can be implemented into USW-DSS which will use the same input/output structure as ORP, but also incorporate environmental/protected species databases and the Marine Acoustic Propagation System (MAPS) being developed for National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). MAPS will provide the ability to estimate received ship and aircraft radiated noise levels as well as that from medium frequency active (MFA) and high frequency active (HFA) sonar systems. This enhancement to ORP functionality will allow operators to maximize strike group ASW effectiveness and route planning efficiency while also minimizing the impact on environmentally sensitive areas from strike group-generated noise.