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5.1 
Map-Guided Scene Analysis 
Given standard digital terrain data products (*.e., DTED, DFAD, ITD, TTD, DNC) and controlled imagery, 
new techniques and processes are required to automatically assess and describe the standard products as built 
in terms of metadata. Given a standard digital map products and controlled imagery, automated processes are 
needed to automatically screen the imagery for inconsistencies between the image and map data associated with 
terrestrial change; for a detected anomaly, automated processes are desired to identify, delineate and attribute 
the change and update the digital map. Given standard digital terrain data products and controlled imagery, 
develop automated processes to automatically intensify the digital map (t.e., add greater detail to the road or 
drainage network) or augment the map with new categories of terrestrial information (t.e., detect, delineate and 
attribute man-made objects such as buildings). 
5.2 Spatial Data Integration 
Given a set of cartographic components (t.e., terrain surface, features, 3D objects, texture maps), generate an 
integrated, spatially coherent digital representation of a given geographic area of interest. Aggregate and generalize 
the spatial data by well defined criteria to generate a set of corresponding representations at successively coarser 
levels of resolution. Support subsequent map updates by propagating changes in each level of representation. 
5.3 Automated Terrain and Feature Extraction 
Over the last twenty years, the remote sensing community has focused its efforts on the analysis of remotely 
sensed multispectral imagery such as Landsat MSS, Landsat TM, and SPOT using computational models derived 
from statistical analysis. As the pixel size has been reduced from 80 meters, to 30 meters, to 10-20 meters, 
the opportunity to apply structural and spatial analysis techniques has become increasingly attractive. Now, 
a new generation of high resolution airborne multispectral scanners (t.e., Daedaleus, AVRIS, MEIS, HYDICE) 
can be flown to support multispectral pixel resolutions well below five meters. In addition, new technology 
for Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IFSAR) is providing a means to generate digital elevation data 
(potentially at high spatial resolutions) with registered SAR intensity images and associated coherence data. As 
a result, new opportunities exist to develop image understanding technology to support the automated analysis 
of high resolution multispectral imagery and IFSAR data that goes well beyond traditional statistical analysis. 
The potential impact for automated surface material classification, more accurate map feature attribution, and 
improved thematic and land-use maps makes this an important technology development area. 
5.4 Flexible Standards 
Much of the progress in Distributed Interactive Simulation has been to due to significant investments in de 
veloping functional standards and the creative tension between innovation that give rise to new standards and 
standards that provide a framework for innovation. On-going efforts seek to develop additional functional stan 
dards for a Synthetic Environment Data Representation Interchange Specification (SEDRIS) 1 and a Sensor Model 
Application Programmer’s Interface (API) to exchange controlled imagery between heterogeneous workstations. 
5.5 Distributed Collaboration 
In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on 21 May 1992, Dr. Victor H. Reis, then Director, 
Defense Research and Engineering, stated the following: 
“Network simulation is a technology that elevates and strengthens collective problem solving of hu 
man beings, people acting as teams, and this is true whether they are design teams, manufacturing 
teams, education teams, training teams, acquisition teams or warfighting teams. Network simulation 
with modern information technology can connect people together in an aligned, coherent, integrated 
enterprise. It is at the very heart of the Department’s technology strategy.”