Battlefield Visualization and Database Creation System Using One Meter Terrain

Abstract

Integration of battlefield simulation systems in operational scenarios requires the accurate calculation of concealment, cover, and detectability to properly enhance the soldier's performance and effectiveness on the battlefield. Measurement and visualization of tactical battlefield features requires the generation of metrically accurate terrain databases at high resolution over large areas. Systems capable of generating and utilizing such data have been expensive and slow. A low cost PC based system has been designed to address the generation and utilization of one-meter resolution terrain in large area, tactical battlefield simulations. The architecture and development is designed to incrementally approach the performance of human vision systems. Technical features described include an efficient all integer based ray trace algorithm, which allows video realistic battlefield visualization from girded sensor derived data, a multi-theme variable resolution ground descriptor database, real time rendering table to accommodate season, lighting and sensor variations and tools for rapid in field data correction and updating. The system is called Perspective View Nascent Technologies (PVNT). The package has been developed as a research project by the Naval Postgraduate School, TRADOC, OTC Ft. Hood and Nascent Systems Inc. It's major advantages are that it runs on a Laptop PC, contains an extremely efficient ray trace algorithm, performs real time rendering, handles complex surface features for low angle oblique views, and is freely available to DOD users.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA491770

Entities

People

  • Nikolaus Baer
  • Todd R. Campbell
  • Wolfgang Baer

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Photography
  • Algorithms
  • Cameras
  • Computer Programs
  • Computer Vision
  • Computers
  • Databases
  • Geometry
  • High Resolution
  • Image Recognition
  • Measurement
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Simulations
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Three Dimensional
  • Visualizations

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Database Systems and Applications
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.