Research Study Group

AC/243(Panel 8)/RSG.30

Visualizing Massive Military Datasets

II. Proposed Programme of Work

Specific tasks

1. The following tasks have been identified:

Task 1:
Develop a database of related visualization work. This should include contact names and a taxonomy of topics under study. The database will be complete during the first six months, but will be updated continually during the life of the RSG, and made available on-line internationally. [This is conisdered to be a needed resource for the research outlined in steps 4 and 5.] A subtask in this activity is to develop and circulate a network-of-experts working in this field and related ones.
 
Task 2:
Assemble a large, highly varied test database of military text, from various sources and derived from several media--including real or simulated automatic speech recognition. [Not only should this be large and varied, it must be capable of simulating the rapid change and input that will characterize data flow in fielded applications.]
 
Task 3:
Collaborative experimentation. Through collaborative experiments, identify and characterize visualization techniques and tools, suited to differnet purposes such as monitoring, alerting, searching, exploring, analysis, problem-solving, briefing and decision support.

Deliverables

2. Planned deliverables are as follows:

Year 1.

a) Two databses, one describing the expertise in the field of visualization, the other focused at massive test data; and
b) The Network of Experts, already formed, active and grouping in excess of 50 experts, worldwide.

Year 2. Review Milestones and Progress Report of the RSG.30, detailing:

a) the development of the visualization database, including descriptive metadata;
b) the development of the "test databaase", including major descriptors; and
c) the progress on the research from Task #3.

Year 4. Final Report for the current work period, detailing:

a) the results of all experimnetation (Task #3); and
b) the updated metadata summarizing the contents of the current databases, developed under Tasks #1 and #2.

Schedule

3. The planned schedule is shown on the attached bar chart

Contribution

4. Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Spain, and Belgium have expressed an interest in participating in this work. Canada is willing to lead. The Netherlands have opted to initially attend as an observer.

Status

5. The status of this RSG is to be OPEN. The results from this work will be richer as a function of the number of participating nations and their level of effort.