Abstract:

The exponential rise of Internet usage graphically illustrates the advantage of information sharing across widely dispersed communities. Format barriers, whether digital or linguistic, have historically hampered information sharing. However, the advent of XML, Extensible Markup Language, introduces a methodology for breaking many of the digital format barriers and freeing information for timely access.
      The utility of visually referenced data systems for rapid assessment and response has been apparent since the advent of mapping. Modern GIS, Geographic Information Systems, have leveraged the spatial component inherent to almost all data resources to provide digital mapping interfaces to decision makers. Unfortunately, format barriers have hampered sharing geo-spatial interfaces across dispersed clients.
      Convergence of XML with geo-spatially referenced data resources opens new possibilities for widely dispersed communities of decision makers. SVG/XML is a recent W3C authored XML grammar for describing vector geometry interfaces for the Internet, ideally suited to dispersed GIS. Opening critical geo-spatial data to a wider community is essential to rapid assessment and response decision loops characterized by the classical OODA loop, Observe – Orient – Decide – Act. Using SVG/XML, Scalable Vector Graphic XML, to implement a web based OODA platform enhances rapid assessment and response systems in large organizations.

Introduction:

Recent world events continue to emphasize the need for critical information movement between organizational structures and between decision layers within organizations. Whether in logistical management, emergency response, or on modern battlefields, decision loops are being increasingly tightened to counter rapidly evolving threats. The classical OODA loop is inherent to all response systems. Hierarchical decision systems found in large organizations experience significant delays in decision loops due to the degree of separation between OODA loop nodes. For example, the time separation for an Action event’s result to appear in the Observation node will delay subsequent decision cycles.

Opening the OODA loop to a larger community can improve the delay impedance intrinsic to these larger hierarchical organizations. First, involving expanded communities of potential decision makers and action implementers can flatten decision pyramids. Secondly, implementing OODA platforms using XML creates opportunities for implicit feedback at all nodes of the loop.

“Interaction permits vitality and growth, while isolation leads to decay and disintegration.”  - USAF Colonel John Boyd author of OODA concept

SVG/XML is an XML grammar for describing two-dimensional graphics that includes a rich set of dynamic capabilities. SVG/ XML permits implementation of OODA platforms as Intranet/Internet applications across widely dispersed organizations. Since SVG/XML includes a complete set of event listeners, dynamic feedback across the entire decision loop is possible in a graphically rich interface. This offers many opportunities for tightening OODA loop cycles and improving assessment and response.

SVG/XML implementations of OODA platforms provide several important advantages:

·        Since XML is currently heavily used as a transport mechanism between systems, OODA platforms built on SVG/XML have access to a wide variety of heterogeneous data sources. These data sources can be scattered across the breadth of an organization.

·        XML as a development of the W3C, World Wide Web Consortium, is designed to be a foundation for the next generation Internet. OODA platforms based on SVG/XML are automatically accessible to large Intranet/Internet communities. These larger communities can flatten decision pyramids and dissolve decider actor distinctions. In Addition, the self-healing characteristics of DARPA’s original intent for the Internet are transmitted into the organization’s decision systems.

·        SVG/XML is a versatile graphics application language with dynamic event listeners that can be applied to any graphic object. The entire OODA loop can be connected with implicit feedback significantly shortening loop cycles. Dynamic connections across the entire OODA loop create a continuously updated OODA platform accessible to anyone in the decision chain.

Technical overview:

XML implementations of OODA loop platforms have only recently become possible. Although the foundation of XML has been in development over the past five years, important XML grammars have just now reached final recommendation stage. One important extension of XML is the W3C’s recent release of SVG, Scalable Vector Graphic mark up language. SVG opens a non-proprietary gate for vector graphic files essential to geo-spatial reference. For the first time vast amounts of engineering data in CAD and GIS formats can become part of the web. Unlike CAD and GIS data, SVG/XML is designed from the ground up to provide dynamic linking on any graphic object in an Intranet/Internet environment.

The Open GIS Consortium has also released an XML grammar called GML, Geographic Markup Language. GML is rapidly being adopted as a GIS transport mechanism across a wide range of proprietary GIS systems. This adoption of GML offers Internet based systems access to the vast infrastructure of legacy proprietary GIS formats.

Integrating geo-spatial data systems with GML transport structures and SVG/XML presentation graphics creates a framework for visually sharing heterogeneous data structures over the Internet. These XML grammars provide the tools for implementing OODA platforms across an entire organization complete with dynamic feedback through all phases of the OODA loop.

OODA Loops:

The term “OODA loop”, Observe-Orient-Decide-Act, was authored by a maverick military theorist named John Boyd in the 1980’s. The concept has also been adapted as a business model for explaining organizational decision systems. As a decision system model it focuses attention on optimizing decision loop cycles for any competitive situation. An advantage in the decision loop frequency translates into a competitive advantage over competing organizations. Though not widely adopted by the military, it was apparently used effectively in the most recent Gulf War.

SVG/ XML can be used to implement OODA platforms with implicit feedback across all phases of the decision loop. By Implementing OODA platforms using SVG/XML, the decision process is published to a wider audience inside the organization. This in turn takes advantage of the multiplier effect commonly observed with the advent of networked systems.

  “The value of a network increases by the square of the number of its interconnections” - Metcalfe’s Law

As more clients are involved in the OODA platform, the decision system becomes increasingly robust, because the pool of potential decision makers increases. As decisions are made and actions are implemented the results are dynamically fed back into the OODA platform, available for the next decision cycle. Coupled to persistent storage, these cycles are eventually available as an organizational memory. If the reach of the network is sufficient the action implementers are also a dynamic part of the loop. Vehicles, equipment, or individuals are tracked in the OODA platform and potentially real time location is available to decision makers. At some levels the decision makers and action implementers may even merge, extending decision loops out to the edges of an organization.

XML overview

XML can be thought of as a language for describing grammars, a meta-language. One of the originators of the Internet, Tim Berners-Lee envisions a “semantic web” woven from a multitude of XML grammars, which can grow and embrace all communications, existing and as yet uninvented. It may seem bewildering to scan through current XML technologies such as XHTML, XSLT, XQuery, XPath, XForms, XLink, Xpointer, XSL, or XSchema. However, these are all tools for rationally extending the reach of Internet web infrastructure into new and as yet unexplored realms.

XML is self-describing, meaning that the structure can be inferred from the document.  This structure is based on a tree of hierarchical metadata tags. Since most real world systems are hierarchical, XML’s hierarchical tagging structure models these systems very naturally.

Heterogeneity is supported when each document instance acts as its own database. Instead of forcing information into a rigid top down model, information flows into the system allowing the model to evolve from the bottom up. Hundreds of different “schemas” or unique document structures can easily be supported in the same XML data store.

XML is also extensible. New tags, attributes, and data elements can be added to one or more document, hence the X or extensible in XML. This allows systems built around XML to support rapidly changing demands and requirements.

XML, as a meta-language, a language used to create other markup languages, also supports variable views through transformation technologies such as XSLT, XML Stylesheet Language Translation. Documents can be transformed between various XML schemas or into HTML, providing extremely flexible support for rapidly proliferating client hardware. XML documents transformed with XSLT or server side filters into a variety of presentation formats are accessible to a wide range of clients from workstations to PDA phones.

SVG overview

SVG is an XML grammar for describing two-dimensional graphics. It includes elements for vector shape features, raster images, animation, and text; all specified in a W3C authorized public Data Type Definition or DTD. This XML grammar or tag language can be processed with standard XML tools such as validating parsers, editors, and browsers. Released Sept of 2001 as a final W3C recommendation, SVG 1.0 is supported by several browsers but still requires a plugin for current versions of MS IE. SVG represents a fundamental extension of the Internet allowing vector design files full access to the Internet.

Graphics described as vectors have a distinct advantage over current Internet image technology. The raster PNG, JPEG, TIFF, NTIFS images are collections of pixels with no connecting intelligence. Even with advances in compression, raster requires relatively large files. These types of image formats must transmit all the space around a line as well as the line itself. Vector graphic formats, on the other hand, are simply collections of mathematical endpoints in Cartesian space. Since only the end points, along with some miscellaneous attributes, need to cross the Internet, downloads can be considerably shortened. While Internet bandwidth is at a premium this is still important, but even more important for bandwidth is the scalability inherent to vector lines. Once on the client browser, vectors are scalable without return trips to the server. Zooming in to look at vector detail does not degrade in the same way that raster images degrade. While raster images visibly pixellate almost immediately, the equation of a line is the same from point to point whether viewed from outer space or microscopically. SVG enabled browsers allow the user to interactively control his view with zoom and pan functions.

The connecting intelligence of vectors is important for another reason. Because graphic features are mathematically aggregated, entire features can be attributed. The hierarchical tag attributes of SVG/XML allow features to be grouped in arbitrary complexity with attribute inheritance down the tree. Since attributes can include dynamic linkage intricate parametric models can be created. In other words changes in one feature can trigger changes to additional linked features. Add a server to arbitrate these dynamic changes and the parametric links can extend around the world.

A standard XML DOM tree represents SVG internally. A DOM or Document Object Model is a hierarchical tree of objects in memory. This provides a high level of interactive functionality at the client level. Individual elements can be connected to additional SVG, XHTML documents, or even server side applications through event attributes or xlink:href anchors. In addition, JavaScript provides a full range of event listeners and endless customization possibilities tied to the DOM tree.

While primarily a vector grammar, SVG also provides hybrid raster capabilities for standard image formats such as PNG and JPG. SVG vector features can be overlaid on raster images making hybrid raster/vector displays possible. Raster, however, is not just a static bystander in the SVG specification. The SVG specification provides a full range of filter effects including custom convolution kernels. These filters can be applied to raster images and dynamically altered using SMIL animation timing events.

SVG is also compatible with the full range of XML specifications that are just now becoming available to the Internet. XPath, XPointer, XQuery, XForm, XHTML, XSLT, and GML are only some of the XML technologies, which provide basic infrastructure for a rapidly expanding semantic web. As part of this XML infrastructure, SVG stands firmly centered in the flow of current Internet technologies. SMIL, Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language, is one of these XML standards, which allows SVG to coexist with media rich audiovisuals as well as animation. For example rollover mouse events on SVG diagrams can be used to trigger streaming audio or video.

OODA platform implementation using XML:

By taking advantage of current XML technologies, Geotechnologies, Inc has implemented a simple to use OODA platform and demonstrated a variety of feedback capabilities. The current implementation was built using widely available non-proprietary technologies wherever possible.

·        The hardware consists of a generic COTS Intel Pentium based server connected to the Internet as a co-location host with highspeed access to the Internet backbone. The use of non-proprietary technologies uncouples hardware from the system which means performance can easily be scaled in hardware.

·        The OODA platform has been implemented on both Windows 2000 and Linux OSs. Again the OS is not a factor in the implementation and alternative OSs may provide different scaling advantages.

·        In addition to the OS, the OODA platform makes use of the Apache httpd server, the Apache Tomcat servlet container, and the latest Java SDK 1.4. Internal server databases used the popular MySQL engine but any SQL RDBMS can be used.

·        On the client, Adobe’s SVG viewer plugin for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser was adopted as the most popular available browser. The Adobe SVG viewer is widely distributed as part of Acrobat Reader. As SVG matures additional viewers may become more popular and SVG viewing may eventually be absorbed into the browser. As an open w3c specification SVG is not dependent on a vendor specific browser or viewer.

·        The XML document store was kept as simple as possible and utilizes the native file system hierarchy of the OS. A wide variety of document store technologies can be incorporated. The OODA platform has also been demonstrated using a native XML database and a popular geo-spatial database. Since the OODA platform is based on Internet enabled technologies documents can be utilized from widely dispersed servers with URL access.

It is difficult to convey the dynamic nature of an SVG/XML implementation of an OODA platform. A series of static figures can provide snapshot views but the actual platform is dynamic at multiple levels. The client view is controlled by the user who can change location, zoom and pan to area of interests, turn on and off layers, request additional overlays from the server, and query data records from any place on the Intranet/Internet. At the same time the server platform is receiving updates from other users, which are then reflected in subsequent views. Whiteboard activated projects allow participating users to communicate by drawing onto each others views and moving user identified pointers to high light a feature.

Because elements in the local view can be tied to events on the OODA platform live changes can be reflected locally that indicate location changes of real objects or sensor monitors. One example of this is AVL services, Automatic Vehicle Location, utilizing GPS records brokered at the OODA platform server. Events are bi-directional which makes it possible to both monitor and control remote sensors using an SVG interface.

The following series of snapshot views attempt to capture the client view of an OODA platform.

Figure 1 – OODA platform opened in a client browser window

SVG/XML is well suited to the display of geo-spatial data and a hierarchical map paradigm is used for the display and interaction of information. Navigation is provided by clicking into a map area of interest or by selecting a previous project. Projects may be public or private, read-only or read-write, or even whiteboard active. Both the control tab menu and the map view frame are created with SVG/XML and are therefore capable of dynamic event interactions from the client. In addition the SVG/XML is data driven at the server side, which means that changes at the server are reflected in the local view simultaneously across all clients anywhere in the world. Tab menus are connected to the server application and reflect resources as they are dynamically altered at the server.

Figure 2 – OODA platform with additional data resources selected by the user

Additional information can be added to a selected area from server databases of geo-referenced data. Available overlays in SVG/XML format can also be merged. Map layer visibility is user controlled. Turning off layers exposes additional event functions in underlying layers. Users are in control of the amount of information in the view.

All features in the view are capable of being labeled. To avoid view clutter, labels are only displayed as the user mouse rolls over a feature illustrating the dynamic capability that SVG/XML event listeners provide.

Data resources are made available to the OODA platform by uploading to the data store on the server. Additional servers can be accessed using server tools such as J2EE Java servlets. Resources can be vector maps, imagery, or databases with geo-referenced records.

Figure 3 – OODA platform zoomed to an area of interest with additional graphics

Because the client view is made up of vectors enhanced with raster imagery, zoom and pan capability is available in the local view. Additional graphic elements can be added to the view and edited as desired. Once submitted these additional features are available to other users of the platform.

Figure 4 – OODA platform with high resolution box

Hybrid vector raster capability is part of the SVG/XML specification. By coupling the view to server side functions arbitrary size imagery can be utilized in the local view. Low resolution imagery for orientation is displayed by default, but enhanced full resolution imagery for an area of interest can be requested from the server. Complex image analysis functions are handled by the server, while SVG/XML provides an interactive interface for defining the location and area of interest.

Figure 5 – OODA platform with merged high resolution imagery and vector details

Figure 6 – image analysis is available in the client view

In addition to graphic and raster elements the SVG/XML specification provides a set of filter effects that can be applied at the client. Figure 6 shows an inversion filter chained with a custom convolution kernel for edge enhancement. The SVG slider tool on the left is linked to the contrast filter of the high resolution area of interest in the imagery view on the right.

Figure 7 – OODA graphic elements are connected to arbitrary data records

Figure 7 illustrates the ability to graphically select elements and open a traditional database record from the server. The database may be at the OODA platform server or anywhere in the Intranet as long as URL access is provided. The data in the record can be revised and updated by clients or read-only. Once a change has been made it is reflected in subsequent views.

The ability to connect graphic elements with database records provides a useful visual window to datasets with geo-reference fields. This linkage can also go two ways. Scaler fields within data records can be displayed in thematic mapping to aid in analysis.  Thematic mapping is a common practice for rapidly discovering proximity relations of selected attributes.

Figure 8 – OODA Platform thematic view

Figure 9 –OODA platform for WO entry and monitoring

The flexibility of SVG/XML provides a wide range of interface options. In Figure 9, work order status is monitored from a server database. Assignments are made by dragging vehicle symbols over the desired WO location. This is an example of a simple feedback loop at the decision phase. Once a decision is made it is available to action implementers. As a vehicle then responds, its location is tracked at the server and updated in the observation view.

Figure 10 –OODA platform for sensor monitoring

Remote sensor monitoring and control is an example of closely integrated OODA loops.

Figure 11 – OODA platform overview

An OODA platform is a tool for communicating the various phases of decision processes across a large organization. Using SVG/XML event linkage, the degree of separation between each phase can be reduced and decision cycles tightened. SVG/XML technology offers an important enhancement opportunity for the implementation of OODA platforms in Internet/Intranet environments.