Dated June 16, 1999
Terms of Reference
Background
Understanding the implication of information derived from huge amounts of data remains a key concern in military and defence operations. NATO DRG approved the formation of a Research Study Group, RSG30 of Panel 8, to address visualisation of massive military datasets. On formation of the RTO this RSG was subsumed under the IST panel as TG002 (IST05).
The TG’s understanding of "visualization" implies understanding data rather than simply displaying it on a screen; other sensors besides the eyes are frequently involved in creating a mental understanding, and visualisation techniques can include both hearing and touch. TG002 developed a fact sheet, extracted here–
Many people believe visualization to be the ability of computer systems to process data and display the results pictorially. However, visualization is not the computer's capability to generate pictures and graphs from data, but rather the human's capacity to utilize effectively the output from the computer to understand the data.
The model shows conceptually how the various building blocks of the visualization process relate to each other.
TG-002 interprets visualization as a human activity supported by technology. It is a means by which humans make sense of complex data. The TG considers visualization technologies, such as search engines, algorithmic processes and display devices and techniques, but only in relation to how they help humans to perform their tasks effectively. We emphasize the human use of the computational subsystem in ensuring that the right information is available in the form and at the time needed.
The research study group spawned a network of experts [N/X] to bring together Government, Private Sector, and University scientists, developers and users of the visualization technologies. The N/X, meeting annually, has promoted and coordinated development and research in areas of military and defence interest.
Military Benefit
Many military systems do not allow their users to develop a useful understanding of what their various data and information sources means in respect of their immediate requirements. The users may not be able to use the engines to extract the information from the data, or they may not be able to create displays that allow them to see what they need. Potential data sources may be ignored, or are not well used, because techniques for extracting information are deficient. As a consequence, users of many current systems discard much of their data unassessed. Strategic and tactical actions, simulation and training all are seen to be less efficient than they might be.
New technologies and data sources now envisaged will require radically improved ways to allow users to interact with data. Interaction is critical, but at present such information is usually presented passively as a real aligned situation display to commanders, analysts and executives. Effective visualisation requires users to interact closely with visual, auditory and perhaps tactual displays.
Anticipated military benefits are:
Description of Activities
TG-007 will use virtual and face-to-face meetings and workshops to exchange information concerning visualization activities among disparate R&D and user communities. This will start with a workshop set for Ottawa in June 2000. TG-007 will meet semiannually, fostering international cooperative short term and long term research into multimedia data (e.g. HTML, Chat news, Internet data formats, etc.) and information utilization and knowledge discovery and extraction.
Data and reports will be disseminated and exchanged through papers, Proceedings, Interim and Final reports, and the World Wide Web.
TG-007 will continue to direct, consult, foster and support the Network-of-Experts, Visualization for Massive Military Datasets.
The network [N/X] will continue to meet annually, producing needed technical information to the TG, producing meeting Proceedings and fostering communications among its members.
Scope
TG-007’s scope will be guided by the perceptual functions of monitoring, alerting, searching, exploring, and analysing, for purposes of briefing, problem of solving and decision support. In each of these areas, specific and different types of interaction with information are required.
Specific Goals:
Expected outputs
Tangible deliverables expected from TG-007 are as follows:
Duration
The work programme of the TG-007 will occupy three years from its first meeting. There will be a report of activities and progress at the end of the each twelvemonth.
Membership
TG-007 membership will be scientist national-delegates with technical background in processing visual information and familiarity with defence applications.
Each delegate will be required to provide the others with a global overview of research activities at least within their own nations. Military experts, from such organizations as NCCCA are particularly sought for TG-007 membership
Special needs
Nations involved in collaborative projects normally will choose their participation according to their needs and capabilities.
It is assumed that participants will have access to computing and other resources sufficient to their RSG activities.
Discussions will be up to the classification NATO-SECRET. The meetings will be open to industry participation from the NATO countries as a general rule. Specific discussions may be considered closed on a case by case basis.
By Partners
The status of the Group is OPEN.
By Experts from Industry
Invited participation of experts from Industry is recommended, subject to the unanimous approval of all participating nations. Technologies for visualization apply to various industrial information systems (e.g. text search engines) and experience from these areas will cross-fertilize the results of the TG’s work. The military aspects of visualization, on the other hand, will not exclude the participation of members from non-military organizations.
TG-007 will maintain liaison with the following bodies: