ICONVIEW - ISR CONstellation Visualization and Investigative Evaluation Workbench

The complex challenges of successfully managing and tasking ISR assets to collect sensor data include the requirement for each ISR collection route to satisfy multiple constraints (e.g., collision avoidance and limited fuel supply) that make manual planning difficult. ISR routes must also meet numerous and often competing objectives (e.g., avoiding adverse weather effects, maximizing sensor performance, and consistently tracking targets). As a result, the number of sensors and sensor platforms, the highly diverse advantages of each, and the ways of combining them are making it harder for operators to maximize their use. As automated ISR constellation management algorithms are being developed, some means of identifying the best algorithm to use in each unique operational scenario is needed. We propose to develop ICONVIEW (ISR CONstellation Visualization and Investigative Evaluation Workbench) as a means of impartially evaluating and contrasting different ISR constellation management algorithms. ICONVIEW is a complete end-to-end analytical research environment capable of specifying scenario models, designing effectiveness metrics, executing simulations, and evaluating the results using advanced meta-data visualization techniques. BENEFIT: In addition to direct application of the developed system to specific programs within the DoD, we will provide consulting services to customers within the DoD, other federal agencies, and commercial entities that develop or employ data collection management algorithms to help them determine the best algorithm to use and to improve the performance of their existing algorithms. In particular, we will look at companies that rely heavily on route planning, such as public transportation for large urban areas, private utility services, and package or commodity distribution companies.