Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/274231
e eXecutiVe INTERVIEW www.vanguardcanada.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014 33 Q We have seen widespread uptake of GIS and geospatial applications in a relatively short period. What's driving that? Pierre Bilodeau: GIS is no longer just a tool for specialists who require a high degree of training. It now includes Web-enabled tools with simple applications that staff offi cers at headquarters and soldiers can leverage in the fi eld. As well, the technology is now pervasive and can be used on any platform including server, desktop, mobile, Web and cloud. With the ability to deploy GIS in a cloud-based environment, you can now access geospatial ap- plications from your smartphone or any mobile device in the fi eld. The cloud extends GIS tools and services across the enterprise and makes it accessible to users on any device, anywhere, at any time. Q What has been the impact of commercial mobility applications? I can download a street view of my neighborhood and overlay information about services. What's the military equivalent? Garnet Hunter: In the military context, you can now collect, analyze and manage any type of information using GIS. The tech- nology has evolved to consume real-time information, as well as fi lter this information based on specifi ed parameters. It can also automatically send alerts through several mechanisms (e.g., SMS and email). Today, users can integrate social media, such as Twit- ter, Facebook and Flickr, and conduct sophisticated analytics that may include advanced algorithms written in scientifi c languages such as MatLab. PB: The mobile environment is changing the way that the mili- tary conducts operations. Essentially, the soldier has become an- other collection platform or sensor. On the battlefi eld, he's able to collect data in real time, update the information based on the sensor he is using (e.g., video, camera or binoculars), geo-refer- ence the information, and send it back to headquarters. From headquarters, commanders can see what the dismounted soldier is doing and seeing. For example, instead of gathering reconnais- sance information, writing a report and bringing it back to head- quarters, with GIS, everyone in the force is now able to see that information in real time on a dynamic map. This enables informed decision-making. This type of data collector application already exists in other sectors and can signifi cantly enhance military op- erations. Q The backdrop to all this is greater speed of decision-making. Are we seeing evidence of that yet? PB: We're seeing the Army move towards this model for com- mand and control with GIS technology. With its Land Command Support System Life Extension (LCSS LE) project, the Army is moving from its current client server-based solution to a Web- based environment. This will allow them to easily share informa- tion across the enterprise. It will enable more effi cient data col- lection, sharing and analysis, as well as enhanced decision making using the most current information. When everybody in the orga- nization can provide input and share information in a collabora- tive environment, then decision making will be much faster. Q This is dependent on an open architecture. How far along is that and is it widely recognized? GH: Traditionally, GIS data required specialized skills and powerful computers. As a result, IT departments viewed GIS as a niche capabil- ity and non-enterprise solution. Esri's ArcGIS platform is built on IT standards and supports enterprise level security (e.g., PKI and SAML). It provides a Web-based solution that can easily be added to enterprise networks. Currently, services built on the ArcGIS solution are available on the Defence Wide Area Network (DWAN). These services can be integrated with other enterprise systems such as National Defence's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system DRIMIS. Many provinces have recognized the value of incorporating GIS into their enterprise networks. As well, we continue to see Web-based GIS built on IT standards evolving into an essential component of many organizations' enterprise infrastructure. PB: Over the years, Esri has supported and adopted open data standards developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium. The ArcGIS platform is able to integrate various data formats and in- terface with other business information systems. Notably, NATO selected the ArcGIS platform as its core GIS software because of its support for standard data formats and application interfaces. Q How is this playing out in the Joint environment? Are service silos changing? GH: Our customers have told us that they will no longer accept black-box solutions that only support a single environment be- cause it's not affordable, sustainable or maintainable to support multiple Command and Control systems that are not interopera- ble. They're looking for cross-platform solutions that support the joint fi ghting environment. If a soldier needs to talk to an aircraft on the battlefi eld, he should no longer be limited by the solution that fi ts only the Army's requirements. Succeeding in the modern battle space requires joint integration – you need one version of the truth. Esri's strength has been in supporting operations in the land environment. Within the next two to fi ve years, we will fully enable the joint environment. PB: The CAF Chief Force Development (CFD) has clearly in- dicated that silos will be removed in future development projects. The current data silos are all environment-specifi c, but CFD has recognized that they are all interconnected in support of a joint fi ghting environment. The Army will be the fi rst environment moving to this network-centric model. Q This is now more than visualization of real-time data, it's also an historical record of the landscape. GH: Everything takes place in the landscape of a map, nautical chart, in the air or space. When you're in an operational theatre, each report returned and every type of vehicle movement (blue force tracking) is recorded and becomes a historical record. All of these events are date and time-stamped and can be reviewed. Every event that has ever happened within one kilometre of a lo- cation can be viewed. This is a very powerful tool for intelligence and operational planners. The maps, charts and imagery are the