Defence – Creating a data structure to effectively capture complex battle management systems data

PROBLEM

Our Defence Client is responsible for providing strategic and technical intelligence advice. The database they use is updated constantly, as new system information becomes available and when new system types are introduced from various Battle Management Systems (BMS). They required a framework to enable this database to store data from various BMS. This meant defining not just the BMS itself but also the communication networks on which the BMS relies, the data that is transferred to / received from the BMS, along with consideration of the data structure at each of the strategic, operational and tactical layers.

APPROACH

BMS vary from area of application to position in the command line. A strategic-level BMS for an Air Force, for example, will have very different functions, characteristics and interfaces than a tactical platform-integrated BMS within an Army. To generate a structure that both captures all the useful attributes such as physical, information and functional characteristics, a model-based approach was taken. A common attribute and functional architecture for BMS systems was derived and related to the physical and information architecture, and attributes of the BMS. This formed the framework for characterising specific hardware and software elements from contemporary BMS, captured in a structured information model.

SOLUTION

Shoal provided our client with a data structure to effectively capture various Battle Management Systems. This data structure was generated using a relational database model, which ensured that each parameter was captured in a traceable format and easily structured and restructured. This approach also enables a seamless database update, when required.