Military Communications and Information Technology: A Trusted ...

Chapter 3: Information Technology for Interoperability and Decision...
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ample of a dependency tree graph analytical plug-in for SIMS LL tool is included
in current version of the tool.
The effectiveness of using the SIMS LL tool for the purposes of the analysis
of lesson learnt related data, depends on the quantity and quality of the available
source data for the LL process. The higher amount of input data (e.g. incidents,
human terrain data) for the SIMS LL process might increase the total number
of observations, and as a consequence the number of recommendations incresase
as well, while the better quality of the input data (e.g. in terms of number of possible
correlations, and completeness) might improve the observation and recommendation
accuracy.
The SIMS LL tool is a multiplatform standalone pure Java client application.
The Java Swing components together with external Flamingo and Substance packages
were used for implementing SIMS LL tool graphical user interface (GUI). In order
to ease future development and tool upgrades, common design patterns were used
while implementation (e.g. MVC). The tool is intended to be used together with
PostgreSQL database as a data storage. However, the SIMS LL tool is open for the integration
with other database types or even web-services technologies.
V. The potential of the tool in mission planning, execution
and training
The SIMS project results are delivered in the form of a prototype which is far
from being an operational tool guaranteeing reliability in the real world. Nevertheless
SIMS LL tool currently could be used for historical data analysis and for training
purposes – as an application used to collect and analyse information available from
the past operations, missions.
The main area of operation of the SIMS LL tool:
• for debriefing purposes or Post Action Review, the tool provides the officers
responsible for the LL the possibility to fill in data from the mission
together with their comments and observations.
• in the analysis stage the tool allows to:
✓ browse the contents of the knowledge database using filters (filters are
predefined, but users can configure them as well),
✓ browse information on the analysed missions and other historic missions,
✓ search missions and similar events (e.g. associated with the same area
or type)
✓ correlate events (e.g. incidents) and other information from the knowledge
database and create observations from them, based on their similarity
(e.g. the participation of soldiers in firing at a distance that is shorter
than the one covered by the standard used during mission training, or a new
kind of threat, like IEDs placed in a new location – behind the posters.
✓ visualise the correlations between the objects (e.g. incidents, observations),