Development of Battlespace Information Flow and Content Methodology

In Phase I we studied the feasibility of our proposed Semantic Information eXchange Architecture (SIXA) to support the flexible management and interchange of battlespace information among heterogeneous systems while also enabling the rapid introduction of new technological capabilities. The SIXA methodology is based around the concept of negotiation-based information interchange and a data mediation process grounded in a formal C2IEDM-derived ontology represented in the Web Ontology Language OWL. In Phase II we intend to transition from the conceptual to the functional by implementing SIXA's core negotiation and mediation service components as well as developing an enhanced pedigree service with an associated intelligent client capable of reasoning about information quality using domain knowledge represented in the SWRL, the Semantic Web Rule Language. We will demonstrate the merits of the SIXA approach through simulation-based testing and contrast the results against those achieved using current systems and practices. The final result will be a functional prototype suitable for integration into an operational environment to enable the initial field testing slated to occur during the first of two Phase II Extensions in 2007.