Gavin Pearson

Matching sensors to missions using a knowledge-based approach

Making decisions on how best to utilise limited intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisance (ISR) resources is a key issue in mission planning. This requires judgements about which kinds of available sensors are more or less appropriate for specific ISR tasks in a mission. A methodological approach to addressing this kind of decision problem in the military context is the Missions and Means Framework (MMF), which provides a structured way to analyse a mission in terms of tasks, and assess the effectiveness of various means for accomplishing those tasks. Moreover, the problem can be defined as knowledge-based matchmaking: matching the ISR requirements of tasks to the ISR-providing capabilities of available sensors. In this paper we show how the MMF can be represented formally as an ontology (that is, a specification of a conceptualisation); we also represent knowledge about ISR requirements and sensors, and then use automated reasoning to solve the matchmaking problem. We adopt the Semantic Web approach and the Web Ontology Language (OWL), allowing us to import elements of existing sensor knowledge bases. Our core ontologies use the description logic subset of OWL, providing efficient reasoning. We describe a prototype tool as a proof-of-concept for our approach. We discuss the various kinds of possible sensor-mission matches, both exact and inexact, and how the tool helps mission planners consider alternative choices of sensors.

Reasoning and resource allocation for sensor-mission assignment in a coalition context

We consider the problem of sensor-mission assignment as that of allocating a collection of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets (including sensors and sensor platforms) to a set of mission tasks in an attempt to satisfy the ISR requirements of those tasks. This problem is exacerbated in a coalition context because the full range of possible ISR solutions is not easy to obtain at-a-glance. Moreover, the operational environment is highly dynamic, with frequent changes in ISR requirements and availability of assets. In this paper we describe a solution for the sensor-mission assignment problem that aims to maximize agility in sensor-mission assignment, while preserving robustness. The search space of potential solutions is reduced by employing a semantic reasoner to work out the types of sensor and platform bundles suitable for a given set of ISR tasks. Then, an efficient resource allocation algorithm is used to assign bundles of sensor/platform instances to satisfy each task, within the search space determined by the reasoner. The availability of instances takes into account access rights on those instances across the coalitionpsilas inventory. We describe a proof-of-concept implementation of this approach, in the form of a decision support tool for ISR planning.We illustrate the approach in the context of a coalition peace support operation scenario.

U.K. MoD Land Open Systems Architecture and coalition interoperability with the U.S.

The UK Land Open System Architecture (LOSA) is an open, service-based architecture for systems integration and interoperability in the land environment. It is being developed in order to deliver coherent and agile force elements at readiness to operations. LOSA affects planning, delivery and force generation, and supports Future Force 2020. This paper will review the objectives of LOSA and the progress made to date; before focusing on an approach to achieve plug-and-play interoperability of ISR assets. This approach has been proposed to the US DoD Coalition Warfare Program Office as a programme to develop a technology solution to achieve the goal of ISR interoperability. The approach leverages the efforts of the UK Land Open System Architecture (LOSA) and the US Terra Harvest (TH) programs. An open architecture approach is used to enable rapid integration and for disparate assets to autonomously operate collaboratively and coherently; assets share situational awareness and cue other assets when a prescribed set of operational conditions are met. The objective of the interoperability programme being to develop a common lexicon and coherent approach to collaborative operation and information release.

Dynamic management of layered ISR systems

There is a need for effective and efficient dynamic management of scarce high-demand/low-density ISR collection assets. This paper presents a doctrinal analysis of ISR management which leads to the conclusion that a key role in the developing of dynamic ISR support solutions to dynamic ISR support requests is played by the ISTAR Manager within Collection Operations Management. It develops the hypothesis that visualisation, situational awareness and planning (aka decision support) tools could support the ISTAR Manager in the more effective and efficient development of ISR support solutions. Finally, it describes the experimental capability developed by Dstl, together with a number of industrial partners, to test this hypothesis.

A generative model for predicting terrorist incidents

A major concern in coalition peace-support operations is the incidence of terrorist activity. In this paper, we propose a generative model for the occurrence of the terrorist incidents, and illustrate that an increase in diversity, as measured by the number of different social groups to which that an individual belongs, is inversely correlated with the likelihood of a terrorist incident in the society. A generative model is one that can predict the likelihood of events in new contexts, as opposed to statistical models which are used to predict the future incidents based on the history of the incidents in an existing context. Generative models can be useful in planning for persistent Information Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) since they allow an estimation of regions in the theater of operation where terrorist incidents may arise, and thus can be used to better allocate the assignment and deployment of ISR assets. In this paper, we present a taxonomy of terrorist incidents, identify factors related to occurrence of terrorist incidents, and provide a mathematical analysis calculating the likelihood of occurrence of terrorist incidents in three common real-life scenarios arising in peace-keeping operations

Instinctive analytics for coalition operations (Conference Presentation)

The success of future military coalition operations—be they combat or humanitarian—will increasingly depend on a system’s ability to share data and processing services (e.g. aggregation, summarization, fusion), and automatically compose services in support of complex tasks at the network edge. We call such an infrastructure instinctive—i.e., an infrastructure that reacts instinctively to address the analytics task at hand. However, developing such an infrastructure is made complex for the coalition environment due to its dynamism both in terms of user requirements and service availability. In order to address the above challenge, in this paper, we highlight our research vision and sketch some initial solutions into the problem domain. Specifically, we propose means to (1) automatically infer formal task requirements from mission specifications; (2) discover data, services, and their features automatically to satisfy the identified requirements; (3) create and augment shared domain models automatically; (4) efficiently offload services to the network edge and across coalition boundaries adhering to their computational properties and costs; and (5) optimally allocate and adjust services while respecting the constraints of operating environment and service fit. We envision that the research will result in a framework which enables self-description, discover, and assemble capabilities to both data and services in support of coalition mission goals.

Intra-group Tension Under Inter-group Conflict: A Generative Model Using Group Social Norms and Identity

Group behavior is an important feature of conflict scenarios. Often such groups are chaotically organized, but their ideals are sociologically embedded across members such that the group has expected behavior that can represent a major threat. Therefore being able to model the evolution of groups on a generative basis, to anticipate their possible mutation, is valuable. However this is complex due to the diverse nature of human behavior and scenarios. In this paper we present an innovative approach to modeling these issues. Group identities are represented in terms of the behaviors (social norms) that members are expected to carry out towards other groups. Individuals predominantly compose their identity from the identity of the groups to which they belong, which is known to occur in situations of heightened conflict. The model introduced enables exploration of tensions associated with affiliation to multiple groups and the influence on inclusion and exclusion of individuals.

Reaping the benefits of an open systems approach: getting the commercial approach right

Critical to reaping the benefits of an Open System Approach within Defence, or any other sector, is the ability to design the appropriate commercial model (or framework). This paper reports on the development and testing of a commercial strategy decision support tool. The tool set comprises a number of elements, including a process model, and provides business intelligence insights into likely supplier behaviour. The tool has been developed by subject matter experts and has been tested with a number of UK Defence procurement teams. The paper will present the commercial model framework, the elements of the toolset and the results of testing.

The convergence of open systems and interoperable systems

This paper sets out the case that technical ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) System Interoperability is a sub-set of more general Open and Modular Information System design; both address the same architectural issues associated with layers, templates, interface specification, profiles, data models, process control and assurance. The paper develops a set of frameworks and models to enable those ISR specialists concerned with interoperability to engage with those concerned with open and modular information system infrastructures.

A systems approach to achieving the benefits of open and modular systems

The ability to evolve Military Communication and Information Systems (CIS) effectively and affordably is enhanced by the adoption of open and modular system architectures. However, there are a number of issues with actually achieving these benefits in practice. This paper presents the results of an initial system study into blockers to the achievement of the benefits of open and modular systems. In particular, the study and this paper, focuses on the issues associated with: the rapidly evolving Information and Communications Technology landscape; the commercial approach to the procurement of CIS systems; the evolution of such systems in a safe and secure manner.