de 
ne 
| 2 
V 
je 
at 
le 
nt 
le 
e 
id 
Le 
id 
je 
ar 
f 
  
features is essential. It is not sufficient just to detect features/changes 
the exact positions must also be known. AIMS has the capability to merge 
digital radar with the Defense Mapping Agency's(DMA) existing point 
positioning data base(PPDB) The AIMS user will have the ability to 
transfer points of interest from the digital radar to the PPDB and precise 
latitude, longitude and elevation data from the PPDB to the radar scene to 
satisfy extremely accurate positioning requirements. This information is 
of great to the military e vertical obstuctions, radar emitters, bridge 
crossings, and overall target positioning). 
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPLICATIONS 
Aims will be implemented at Autometric using a conventional 
information system design and development techniques and eventually a 
more robust set of artificial intelligence (Al) techniques. he 
subdisiplines of Al the will be used include 1) imagery understanding, and 
2) expert systems. 
Imagery Understanding 
Imagery understanding algorithms will be applied to the features that 
have been detected in the digital radar imagery. The feature extraction 
algorithms will seperate features from their backgrounds achievind a 
'stable structure' (Hsu, 1985). Imagery understanding software will then 
be applied to these detected features.  Inferences are made from 
recognizable shapes and patterns. 
Expert Systems 
Expert system techniques will be used to support applications that 
require interpretive,  diagnostic,predictive,prescriptive or planning 
assistance. Expert systems are currently being developed at Autometric 
using cartographic feature rules for the automated analysis of radar 
imagery. The basis of the expert system is a knowlodge base containing 
inference rules using radar feature shape/pattern descriptors together 
with digital MC&G feature information. As new knowlodge is aquired 
and/or new inference rules are developed they will be added to the 
knowlodge base and inference rules set without having to change the basic 
expert system architecture. 
CONCLUSION 
It appears that the necessary technological hardware and software 
environmnent exist to make AIMS fully operational as an exploitation 
system of SAR as well as other imaging sensors. AIMS has the unique 
capability of being able to handle radar imagery in both analog and digital 
formats. The user is able to take advantage of the more beneficial 
exploitation potential of either format by utilizing AIMS modular software 
and hardware configurations. 
Although digital image processing techniques are rapidly advancin 
using artificial intelligence methodologies, digital imagery still can no 
stand alone as a completely exploitable mae format. Perhaps the time 
will come that all imagery will be in a digita format, but until that time, 
«AM will serve as an ideal transitional system between the two image 
ormats. 
369