An ObjectOriented Database Approach to Vector Mapping

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An Object-Oriented Database Approach to Vector
Mapping

• 3 August 99
• presented by
• Kevin B. Shaw for NRLs DMAP Team

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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the Marine Corps
Warfighting Lab (MCWL), National Imagery and
Mapping Agency (NIMA), Defense Modeling and
Simulation Office (DMSO), and the Oceanographer
of the Navy (N096) for funding the development of
the Geospatial Information Database (GIDB).
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DMAP Team Members
Kevin Shaw, Team Leader Susan Carter, Program
Analyst Miyi Chung, Electronics Engineer Hillary
Mesick, Physical Scientist Ruth Wilson,
Mathematician Roy Ladner, PhD Computer Science
Student John Sample, PhD Computer Science
Student Orlando Karam, PhD Computer Science
Student Todd Lovitt, Planning Systems
Inc. Barbara Ray, Planning Systems Inc. Frank
McCreedy, Planning Systems Inc. Dr. Mahdi
Abdelguerfi, University of New Orleans Dr. Maria
Cobb, University of So. Mississippi Dr. Fred
Petry, Tulane University Dr. Don Needham, U.S.
Naval Academy
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ECOC
NRL's GIDB
USS Coronado
End User Terminals
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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• Development began in 1994 and is ongoing
• Object-oriented digital mapping database written
  in Smalltalk and stored in a GemStone OO database
  management system (ODBMS)
• Capable of importing NIMAs VPF products and
  converting the data into an object format for
  display, query, and updating purposes
• Capable of handling NIMAs RPF and TPS products,
  as well as multimedia (audio, video, GIF, JPEG).

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Basic System Design
Java Client Map Applet accessible on the internet
Smalltalk Server Map Application resident on a
web server
Map display
Feature Selection
Attribute Query
Geometrical Query
CORBA
Area of Interest
db, lib, feat lists
VisiBroker
GemORB
Users selection(s)
Set of features
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Urban Warrior AWEGIDB Support
Fusion Cell
IMMACCS
USS Coronado
Intel Activity
Global Information Database System (GIDB)

• Download Mission Specific Data Sets (MSDSs) from
  NIMA via SIPRNET converted to object format for
  use in Urban Warrior AWE
• Supports near real time NIMA VPF object updates
  via SIPRNET

• Upload Vector Product Format (VPF) objects with
  attribute information to SharedNet Object
  Instance Store (OIS) so mapping data is
  accessible by other IMMACCS Systems
• Supports spatial queries from InCon EUTs

SIPRNET
Shared Net
NIMA Production Maryland
End User Terminals (EUTs)
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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• Accesses and displays NIMA products via a common
  object-oriented interface.
• Provides automatic selection of available
  products including multimedia products like still
  photos, video clips, and audio based on your
  specified geographical area of interest.
• Runs without special purpose software (Netscape
  4.5 browser is all that is required). CORBA
  compliant.
• Creates custom map generation with user selected
  features via Netscape.
• Views 3-D rendering and virtual touring with
  appropriate data.

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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• Your Netscape 4.5 browser and the Internet is all
  you need to answer the key question, What
  information does NIMA have for this area of
  interest?

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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• When the user specifies any Area of Interest
  (AOI) the GIDB will automatically check for all
  standard products, photos, audio, or video clips
  that relate to this geographical region and
  present a list to the user for selection. Note
  All information is coming from a single
  integrated database.

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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• NIMA Vector Product Format (VPF), Raster Product
  Format (RPF) or Text Product Standard (TPS)
  products can be converted to a common
  object-oriented database structure. This allows
  the user to easily mix and match products to
  generate a display graphic that is uniquely
  suited to his needs.
• Only VPF is implemented on the web currently
  other product types are under development.

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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• With the appropriate data set, 3-D rendering and
  virtual touring is easily accomplished via use of
  the Netscape VMRL plug in, COSMO, available from
  cosmosoftware.com. This standard gives the user
  the low cost, power, and flexibility of commonly
  used internet packages.

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Database, Library, and Feature Selection Screen
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Simple Query Screen
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Attribute-Level Query
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Geometrical Query
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Geospatial Information Database (GIDB)

• GIDB can pass the AOI region description to
  commonly used web search engines like Yahoo to
  find other information available on the web
  related to the specified geographical area.

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Near-Real-Time DNC/VPF Updating from NIMA
SIPRNET
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GIDB Top 10 Capabilities

• Upload NIMA VPF Objects to Shared Net using CORBA
• Spatial Query via Web browser and stand-alone
  mode
• Internet/SIPRNET access with a conversational
  mode
• Display and query VPF data by area of interest
• Respond to spatial query for INCON client using
  CORBA

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GIDB Top 10 Capabilities

• Efficient/dynamic update of NIMA data as a local
  client or between GIDB systems via SIPRNET/
  Internet
• Object-oriented to Relational VPF (VPF Export)
• 3-D Rendering as an integrated function of the
  GIDB
• Multimedia integration of audio, video, etc. into
  GIDB by AOI
• Demonstration of Internet/ SIPRNET queries based
  on AOI

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Conclusions for Vector Mapping/Air Community

• Object Component Architecture Modular for Complex
  Problems
• OO Approach supportive of Multi-Data
  Types/Integration
• Could provide new capabilities in Updating/Battle
  Damage Assessment-type situations
• Allows Querying to be driven to combat-level
• Active Database benefits for on-the-fly
  visualization which could support human factors
  exploitation of display
• Will allow advances in usage of Intelligent
  Agents to ease information overload
• Could allow connection of any military asset to
  any level of data producer/command and control
  level

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ECOC
NRL's GIDB
USS Coronado
End User Terminals