GEOgraphically Distributed System Engineering Environment (GEODE)

The complexity of military systems is rising while government organizations are under pressure to reduce budgets, be more productive, and achieve higher product quality. Meeting these challenges require innovative technologies which maximize personnel productivity, reduce human related errors, improve sharing of engineering information, and increase utilization of available expertise. In this SBIR, Software Productivity Solutions proposes investigations and technologies for a GEOgraphically Distributed System Engineering Environment (GEODE) which allows geographically separated personnel to effectively collaborate on complex engineering data. SPS has ten years of experience in building engineering environments, including Catalyst, developed under the ASEA project. Our experience uniquely qualifies us to successfully research, analyze, and ultimately develop and commercialize this advanced collaborative environment. During Phase I, SPS will exploit deep technical expertise developed while designing and implementing Catalyst to identify and evaluate the feasibility and potential usefulness of advanced collaboration technologies. Candidate technologies for synchronous collaboration such as remote conferencing and remote browsing of engineering data will be evaluated. Candidate technologies will be also evaluated for asynchronous collaboration, such as automated capabilities for correctly and consistently exchanging complex engineering models. During Phase II, SPS will use Catalyst as a test bed for prototyping and evaluating collaboration technologies.