2020_AGC Broad Agency Announcement_17June2020.pdf

ARMY GEOSPATIAL CENTER

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

SOLICITATION NUMBER

W5J9CQ-20-R-0008

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Federal Agency Name: Army Geospatial Center (AGC)

Funding: RDT&E

Opportunity Title: AGC Broad Agency Announcement

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: W5J9CQ-20-R-0008

Dates:

Posting Date – 17 JUNE 2020

Closing Date – 365 calendar days from the original posting date (white papers and proposals are due by 4:00pm Eastern Standard Time on the closing date)

Concise description of funding opportunity: The Army Geospatial Center (AGC) is soliciting white papers and proposals in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 35.016, Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 206.102(d)(2), and

DFARS 235.016, which provides for competitive selection of basic and applied research, advanced technology development, and advanced component development and prototypes

(hereinafter referred to as research). This announcement is general in nature and addresses multiple topic areas of research for the Systems and Acquisition Support Directorate and the

Warfighter Support Directorate. Submissions in response to this announcement shall be for areas relating to the advancement of a wide variety of geospatial topics, which are listed herein.

Accordingly, proposals selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and fully compliant with Public Law 98-369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of

1984,” DFARS 215.371-4(a)(4), and DFARS 235.006-71. This BAA is for procurement contracts

(hereinafter referred to as contracts) only, and does not include grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions.

Anticipated individual awards: Multiple awards are anticipated; AGC reserves the right to select for award all, some, one, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement.

Submission Process:Two Step Process consisting of the following: Step 1- White Paper;

Step 2 - Proposal (proposal submitted upon issuance of a formal Request for Proposal to

Offeror)

Types of instruments that may be awarded: Contracts only

Amendments: Any amendments to this BAA will be posted to the Contract Opportunities website at https://beta.sam.gov/

Agency Points of Contact (POCs):

Zachary A. Garst, Contracting Officer

Phone: (703) 428-6632

E-mail: Zachary.A.Garst@usace.army.mil

Elizabeth S. Stoddard, AGC Contracts, Business Operations Branch Chief

Phone: (703) 428-6619

E-mail: Elizabeth.S.Stoddard@usace.army.mil https://beta.sam.gov/ mailto:Zachary.A.Garst@usace.army.mil mailto:Elizabeth.S.Stoddard@usace.army.mil

PART I: FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:

The Army Geospatial Center (AGC), is soliciting proposals in accordance with FAR 35.016 relating to the advancement of the state-of-the-art and increasing knowledge or understanding in any of the geospatial research topic areas identified in this solicitation.

This announcement is open for 365 days from the original posting date. Any white papers or proposals received during that time shall only be considered for award of a contract; not any other transaction, grant, or cooperative agreement.

AGC Background

The U.S. Army Geospatial Center (AGC) is a Major Subordinate Command (MSC) under the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) located at the Humphreys Engineer Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

The AGC focus is on the Army’s Geospatial Enterprise function from policy to Warfighting, supporting the Army's Mission Command Systems by facilitating collection, management, exploitation, and dissemination of relevant geospatial information and products to every level across the operational environment.

AGC Mission

Coordinate, integrate and synchronize geospatial information requirements and standards across the

Army; Develop and field geospatial-enterprise enabled systems and capabilities to the Army and the

Department of Defense; and Provide direct geospatial support and products to Warfighters.

Roles and Responsibilities

a) Execute policy and implement standards; monitor emerging technologies; validate Army

Geospatial Enterprise (AGE) technical solutions.

b) Conduct Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDTE) aimed at increasing the agility of Mission Command through characterization and application of Geospatial Data &

Information (GI&S).

c) Provide technical, acquisition integration and logistical support to the Army acquisition community and transitional technical capabilities under Joint Capability Technology

Demonstration (JCTDs) and Quick Reaction Capabilities (QRCs), build and maintain a

Ground – Warfighter Geospatial Data Model that provides a framework for common geospatial concepts and semantics required to share data and support common geospatial application services across the Army, other services, Department of Defense (DoD) organizations, and Coalition partners.

d) Serve as the Army’s Geospatial Center of Excellence, providing direct support to

Geospatial Engineers (Geospatial Planning Cell down to Brigade Combat Team) as well as all other operating and generating forces that consume or produce geospatial information and services.

Research Topic Areas:

A. Systems and Acquisition Support Directorate

A.1. Enterprise Support Branch

Introduction:

The Enterprise Support Branch synchronizes AGC policies, priorities, programs, production requirements, strategies and technologies across the Army Acquisition Community (Program Executive

Officers/Program Managers/Product Managers) to ensure the efficient integration of Geographic

Information System (GI&S) technologies in systems acquisition. The branch also advises program management of Army acquisition programs, currently fielded systems and technology integration/demonstration programs on the integration of GI&S capabilities in a manner consistent with

Headquarters (HQDA) approved policy, regulation and guidance.

Research Areas:

Army Geospatial Enterprise Operations (AGC-01).

The object of this topic is to conduct research on the technology, architecture and processes to support enterprise geospatial operations within the Army, from the individual platform to the theater level, and including support from outside theater. It also considers the efficient integration of GI&S technologies into weapons systems across and within computing environments.

Geospatial Standards (AGC-02).

The object of this topic is to conduct research on the appropriate standards to support geospatial information collaboration, content discovery, content delivery and visualization among Army mission command networks and systems. This research considers creators, consumers and managers of GI&S;

and considers the needs of systems ranging from high-powered-to workstations and servers-to handhelds and embedded applications-to disconnected and disadvantaged users. It also takes into account Army data communications limitations, especially at the tactical level scanning and cartographic support equipment, techniques and management. It includes the metadata standards required to support data sharing and discovery services.

Geospatial Applications and Services (AGC-03).

The object of this research topic is to identify and define applications and services needed to support the

AGE. These would include geospatially enabled applications to be implemented on multiple Army systems/platforms which improve Army capabilities, enhance geospatial synchronization, enhance the capabilities of systems using geospatial data, decrease bandwidth requirements, or otherwise improve the functioning of the AGE.

Data Model Development (AGC-04).

The object of this research topic is to support development of Army-wide geospatial data model(s) that supports enterprise-wide geospatial services, and analyze the relation of that model to other Army and

National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) models and data standards. It also includes research into the implementation of a geospatial data model in Army systems and programs.

Test and Certification (AGC-05).

The object of this research topic is to identify the experimentation, test, validation and certification strategies to directly support the Army Acquisition Community in ensuring the efficient integration of

GI&S technologies and standards into Army acquisitions systems at the appropriate milestones defined by DoD Directive 5000 series. The research considers testing geospatial applications in both distributed and standalone environments.

Army Geospatial Enterprise Migration (AGC-06)

The object of this research topic is to support the evolution of the Army Geospatial Enterprise (AGE) to address emerging technologies, standards and changes to Army, Joint, and Coalition Operations.

Prototypes and experiments should address enterprise migration strategies that include the requirements of a Standard and Sharable Geospatial Foundation (SSGF) and Mission Command Essential

Capabilities. The research identifies migration issues for existing Army systems as well as novel implementation of technology to demonstrate AGE capabilities. Research areas include Open Geospatial

Consortium Standards, Open Source Geospatial Software, 2-D and 3-D visualization software, globes, geospatial portfolio management and integration of multiple software packages. The research includes prototypes supporting geospatial applications in both distributed and standalone environments.

Geospatial Modeling & Simulation (AGC-07)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and engineering development into the production of digital terrain databases used in Modeling & Simulation (M&S). The research will consider processes for verifying and validating digital terrain databases and the processes used to develop these databases.

The processes will undergo verification and validation on sample digital terrain databases.

Geospatial Experimentation (AGC-08)

The object of this research topic is to identify and define policies, procedures, instrumentation, and technologies required to conduct geospatial experimentation, to verify implementation of geospatial standards and profiles, and to measure performance parameters of mission command systems that utilize Geospatial Information.

Cloud Computing (AGC-09)

The object of this research topic is to explore various models of cloud computing in a geospatial enterprise and carry out experimentation pilot projects as necessary to validate the models. Research areas would include the optimal architecture to support cloud computing in a geospatial enterprise, the benefits and challenges of cloud computing at various nodes of the enterprise, how various geospatial data types would be stored, indexed, and served in the cloud, and challenges for low-bandwidth and periodically disconnected users, geospatial visualization, geospatial processing, content management, providing analytics as a service, and geospatial data as a service via cloud computing. Additional areas could include security issues in the cloud environment, crowd-sourced data in the cloud, data validation, data synchronization, data backup, maintaining the currency of and adding to geospatial data in a deployed cloud, and the use of existing DoD, Army, Commercial and Federal Cloud Computing services versus standing up a geospatial cloud capability.

Disconnected Intermittent Low-Bandwidth (DIL) (AGC -10)

The object of this research topic is to explore various methods/models of providing geospatial data and services to support the AGE under DIL network conditions. This work can take the form of pilot projects, demonstrations and integration of new Software (SW) technology into existing Army

Hardware (HW), development of new HW SW to support this computing environment. Subject areas for this research would be security concerns, providing data back to the AGE, development of crowd sourcing methodologies, data synchronization when devices are connected, fast effective ways to load and manage data in android environments as well as loading multiple devices at one time. Beneficial outcomes of this research would reduce load times, increase data management efficiency and enable delivery of data back to higher Army echelons.

Geospatial Architecture (AGC-11)

The object of this topic is to conduct research topic and engineering to develop architectures supporting the exchange of Geospatial Information using file-based exchange and web services across all echelons from the National to Tactical level. These architectures must support the exchange, distribution, discovery, and processing of faster, feature, and elevation data for all computing environments in both a connected and disconnected environment. Additional areas of research could include cross domain architectures, connected and disconnected access to data, software application architectures, and data architectures. Research must consider multiple platforms, echelons, security issues, and both raster and vector data.

Geospatial Data Center Architectures (AGC-12)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and engineering to design architectures supporting geospatial big data repositories (SIPR, NIPR and JWICS) and experiment with workflows and procedures for efficient distribution of geospatial data from a data center through all echelons to a soldier with a handheld. The architectures should include approaches and considerations for updating geospatial data in a data center, synchronization of data centers with tactical units and NGA (including

NSG partners); and exposing Geospatial Authoritative Data Sources (ADS) and non- authoritative data sources. The architecture research should include support for 2D, 3D and 4D capabilities. Research geospatial analytic services that could be rapidly delivered from a data center to all Computing

Environments (CEs). Identify emerging Big Data technologies that could be utilized in lieu of enterprise level service servers to support storage of massive data sets.

Geospatial Content Management Methods (AGC-13)

The object of this topic is to conduct research on geospatial content management tools, techniques and procedures for Army users, identify techniques and technologies for cross domain access to geospatial data – utilizing a build once paradigm and/or propose new and novel geospatial data Quality

Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) and validation tools/techniques and procedures for Big Data.

Research novel methods for copying, moving, distributing and managing large geospatial data sets, rating data for appropriateness of use and completeness, and providing commanders tools to rapidly build mission ready data sets for distribution. The scope of the research includes support to the full spectrum of operations, operating and generating force as well as humanitarian assistance.

A.2. Imagery Systems Branch

The Imagery Systems Branch (ISB) conducts advanced and engineering development in the areas of geospatial intelligence including tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination and provides support for fielding, operations and maintenance of space-related, ground-based Army Tactical

Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP) systems. The ISB serves as the AGC interface to the

Army TENCAP Office. The ISB provides engineering and program management support, consultation to Product Director (PD) Army TENCAP and other Army organizations, to include identification of emerging technologies and new concepts that have potential application to Army/TENCAP systems implementations and interfaces with elements of the National Intelligence Community dealing with geospatial intelligence systems and architectures.

Advanced and Engineering Development (AGC-14)

The object of this topic is to conduct research on geospatial intelligence systems and architectures along with development of support systems for their fielding, operations and maintenance.

Emerging Concepts and New Technologies (AGC-15)

The object of this topic is to conduct research, development and systems engineering of technologies that facilitate primary data acquisition, exploitation & dissemination of Geospatial Intelligence

(GEOINT) by tactical Army warfighters in potentially austere and bandwidth limited environments.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, Non-Traditional Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance

(ISR) Pseudo Satellite (Air/Space) applications (collection, computing & networking), ISR automation

(including tasking and exploitation), machine learning applications for multi-INT exploitation systems

(including Big Data), and Modular Architectures (open-IT, Microservices).

A.3. Systems Applications and Integration Branch

The Systems Applications and Integration Branch (SAIB) conducts research and development in the areas of Artificial intelligence techniques (machine learning, machine reasoning, pattern recognition, natural language processing), big data, Human Geography, Decision Support Systems (DSS), complex systems dynamics, environmental security, digital image acquisition, and intelligence data exploitation architectures in support of the Army to include the Army Futures Command/Cross Functional Support

Teams, DoD, Joint Information Environment, Electronic Warfare (EW), Space and mission command networks and systems, i.e., Communications, Computers, Command and Control Intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs.

SAIB develops and demonstrates capabilities to support improvements in the Army’s DoD ability to conduct supporting joint operations relevant to the shaping, deterring, seize initiative, dominate, stabilize, and enabling civil authority mission domains. SAIB is focused on future innovation and concepts for capability development needs and opportunities. We seek to develop, refine, engineer, and produce developed solutions that are relevant to the Common Operating Environment. SAIB continues to develop and demonstrate innovation, acquisition support, prototype technology development, and training support for Joint Staff Directorates, Office of Secretary of Defense Directorates, and Special

Operations Command with focus on Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions, Counter-terrorism, Counterinsurgency Operations (COIN), Stability and Support Operations and depth and simultaneous attack operations

SAIB integrates and demonstrates technologies prototyping required to better manage, develop, demonstrate and evaluate multi-domain and joint emerging and operational capabilities that address

DoD priorities and promote the use and benefits of rapid prototyping throughout the DoD. SAIB continues to conduct proof-of-principle prototyping required to validate the technical feasibility of an envisioned capability and explores its operational value with high levels of confidence in delivering on the technical and operational promise for the warfighter.

SAIB integrates and demonstrates technologies to improve the representation of realistic synthetic environments in Army and Joint Simulations. Provides technical administrative and program management support as required, to execute the space intelligence and geospatial programs assigned by

AGC, the Army, other customers and DoD. Conducts research and development in surveying and mapping to include the Global Positioning System (GPS), hydrographic surveys, and dam and lock measurement. Uses remote sensing as well as field and laboratory research to study spectral reflectance, luminescence and emittance for civil and military applications. SAIB develops, applies and fields the use of geospatial services, data, advanced analytics, storage mechanisms and Geospatial Intelligence

(GEOINT) technologies for the warfighter needs. Executes Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations

(JCTDs) within the mission space of AGC and missions assigned from other DoD customers. The emphasis is on research to develop new techniques, operational procedures, leverage disruptive technologies, and equipment for Geospatial Information, Geo-Analytics, in support of Army and Joint forces. SAIB places special emphasis on executing Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations for

USACE Civil Works, Military applications, Environmental Security, Environmental Restoration and

Military Construction applications; and transfers new technology in multiple engineering and science disciplines to Warfighters, other Government agencies, USACE districts and divisions through reimbursable consulting, training and standards development.

Artificial intelligence techniques (AGC-16)

SAIB conducts research and development in Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques (machine learning, machine reasoning, pattern recognition, natural language processing) and systems. These AI systems are widely accepted as a technology offering an alternative way to tackle complex and dynamic problems in urban studies; and is necessary to increase the understanding of how innovative

AI approaches will enhance warfighter awareness in urban and land dynamics modeling processes for applied research and prototype development.

(AGC-16.1) The objective of this topic will be to support the SAIB in the integration of AI derived applications and techniques in urban land dynamics domain as well as the emerging challenges they face to develop innovative Artificial intelligence techniques (machine learning, machine reasoning, pattern recognition, natural language processing) in order to examine source data and extract from the ontological models that best represent the decision domain and support requirements.

AGC- 16.2) The objective of this topic will be to enhanced capabilities to collect large volumes of geographic data (big data), development of new methods and tools that can intelligently and automatically transform geographic data representation, query processing, spatial analysis, and data visualization levering Artificial intelligence techniques (machine learning, machine reasoning, pattern recognition, natural language processing).

(AGC- 16.3) The objective of this topic will be to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques

(machine learning, machine reasoning, pattern recognition, natural language processing) required to enhance technical capabilities to extract, exploit, and visualize the implied and tacit knowledge stored within a large data repository of structured and unstructured content. This topic seeks to improve the warfighters ability to “VISUALIZE and DESCRIBE” the Operational Environment with critical understanding about emerging trends and relationships within the data store. The particular elements of this research should consider intelligence framework required to extract, analyze, and visualize entities and their relationships from the unstructured data, then fuse and visually display structured data

(geospatial, temporal, and traditional database attributes) with unstructured data (free text narratives) in a User Defined Operational Picture (UDOP), (AGC- 16.4) The objective of this topic will be to integrate applications of AI techniques in Ecosystem dynamics domain as well as the emerging challenges they face to develop innovative Artificial intelligence techniques (machine learning, machine reasoning, pattern recognition, natural language processing) in order to examine source data and extract from the new developed Water

Security and other resiliency focused ontology models that best represent the anticipatory analytics required for Water, Food, and Energy emergent vulnerability mapping.

(AGC- 16.5) The objective of this topic will be to develop and integrate geospatial decision-support tools with hybrid AI systems to develop more holistic approaches to map and understand global trends that will affect Rapid Integrated Strategic Assessments, DoD strategic decision making, and Office of the Secretary of Defense planning policy.

(AGC- 16.6) The objective of this topic will be to develop and integrate AI capabilities focused on leveraging open source intelligence for early indicators and warnings to highlight and prioritize geographical areas of National Security interest deemed most at risk or in crisis and in need of security cooperation, foreign internal defense, and/or crisis repose. SAIB seeks to integrate AI applications to support both situational understanding and force allocation decisions for the Global Force Management

Allocation Plan (GFMAP) and Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) requests for forces.

(AGC- 16.7) The focus of this topic will be to conduct research and development of future 4D Data

Visualizations, future Virtual Reality Applications for Terrain Analysis and Mission Command operational design and planning. This research topic will also include the innovation of techniques to visualize in 4D social media analytics for improving warfighters understanding of the cognitive aspects of the human security environment.

Advanced geospatial semantic web services (AGC-17)

The objective of this topic is to conducts research and development in Geospatial web services leveraging innovative geospatial web services, semantic web services, Web Service Modeling Ontology

(WSMO), and AI planning with spatial data and processing capability over the internet. SAIB integrates research efforts seeking the combination of geospatial web services and generating composite web services out of atomic services in order to provide Joint and interagency users with a higher level of functionality.

(AGC-17.1) The objective of this topic will be to conduct research and development of future capabilities for automatic composition of geospatial web services that rely on semantic web services technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) planning techniques to generate composite geospatial web services leveraging innovative Web Service Modelling Ontologies (WSMO) as the underlying semantic web service framework.

(AGC-17.2) The objective of this topic will be to conduct research and development into the geospatial technologies capable of to export and developing tools for the automatic transfer of data, processed information, and analysis from operational Intelligence, GEOINT and OSINT systems into the Semantic

Knowledge Management Systems.

(AGC- 17.3) The object of this topic will be to conduct research and development of future Army Cloud

Computing Enterprise Transformation required for geospatial web services and generating composite web services out of atomic services in order to provide Joint and interagency users with a higher level of functionality.

Imagery Exploitation (AGC-18)

The objective of this topic is to conduct RDT&E in the areas of imagery exploitation, digital image acquisition, processing and dissemination and intelligence data exploitation architectures in support of

Army/DoD space and Intelligence Electronic Warfare (IEW) programs and to conduct RDT&E in the areas of imagery collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination (CPED) process to include all dimensions including but not limited to two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) capability improvements.

Mission Command Networks, Systems and ISR (AGC-19)

The objective of this topic is to conduct research and development supporting improvements in the

Army’s/DoD’s ability to support mission command networks and systems with Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, strike planning, weapons delivery and battle damage assessments in support of precession strike, early entry Advance Operating Forces, Special

Operations Forces (SOF) missions, Counter-terrorism, Counterinsurgency Operations (COIN), and

Stability Operations. Providing and integrating technologies including, but not limited to, high resolution terrain collection, biometric, electro optical, radar and hyperspectral sensors, collection management, other related non-imagery based Intelligence sensor development.

Joint Operational Technologies & Integration (AGC-20)

The objective of this topic is to conduct research into developing and maintaining methodologies, techniques, tactics and procedures (TTPs) and integration of C4ISR technologies for Warfighter (for all

US Armed Services) use in: Counter Intelligence and Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT), Geographic

Intelligence (GEOINT); sciences and technologies related to Human geography and cultural information; Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), and Continuity of Operations (COOP); Biometric sciences and application; link analysis; analyses of various types; Information technology improvements in secure networks and multi-level security and dissemination; Humanitarian aid and SOF missions, counter-terrorism, COIN, stability and support operations technologies. This research topic is also used to develop methodologies and technologies for the collection, storing, analysis and dissemination of natural resources, specifically in the areas of Natural Resources Intelligence (NARINT) or environmental security.

Civil Military Operations (AGC-21)

The objective of this topic is to conduct RDT&E to support advanced Knowledge Management Systems

(KMS), big data with machine learning capabilities designed to optimize computing systems for data-intensive environments improving decision making capabilities and how CMO organizations 'see', 'hear', 'read', 'understand', 'reason', 'interpret', 'learn' and 'recommend' from existing reports. This topic will include the networking science and graphing of high volumes of unstructured data, visualization, dissemination and decision support capabilities for understanding the human aspects of the Civil-

Military Operations (CMO). This also includes the geospatial analysis, and modeling for CMO resource allocation; social media analysis in support of measuring the operational impact of CMO; dissemination of geospatial and human geography CMO data products to interagency, intergovernmental organizations

(IGOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs); development of a CMO ontology for knowledge management and inference; and subject matter expert support for disaster mitigation, preparedness, relief and recovery operations capabilities.

Joint Information Environment (AGC-22)

The objective of this topic is to conduct research and development required to prototype, test, evaluate, experiment with the collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination (CPED) of data required for the Joint Information Environment. This topic will also include the research, development, testing, and new modalities for training necessary for implementation, transition, and sustainment of prototype tools, new techniques, tactics, and procedures required to conduct strategic and operational level offensive and defensive information, public affairs, psychological, and civil affairs operations. This topic will include physical, informational, and cognitive aspects of the Joint Information Environment.

Note for definition: (The physical dimension includes the connective infrastructure that supports the transmission, reception, and storage of information. The informational dimension contains the content

(or data) itself. It refers to the content and flow of information, such as text or images, or data that staffs can collect, process, store, disseminate, and display. The informational dimension provides the necessary link between the physical and cognitive dimensions. The cognitive dimension refers to the minds of those who are affected by and act upon information. This dimension focuses on the societal, cultural, religious, and historical contexts that influence the perceptions of those producing the information and of the targets and audiences receiving the information. In this dimension, decision makers and target audiences are most prone to influence and perception management. From a military standpoint, information enables decision making, leadership, and combat power; it is also key to seizing, gaining, and retaining the initiative, and to consolidating gains in an OE. Army commanders conduct information operations to affect the information environment. (See FM 3-13 for doctrine in the information environment and the various information-related capabilities available to commanders).

Army and Joint Simulations (AGC-23)

The objective of this topic is to integrate and demonstrate technologies to improve the representation of realistic synthetic environments in Army and Joint simulations to include related military installations, monuments, and memorials.

Database Development (AGC-24)

The object of this topic is to provide technical expertise and research to USACE HQ, districts, divisions, other Army and DoD customers in the definition and evolving of geospatial data standards, plans, policies and uses. In this research area, AGC identifies, develops, analyzes, reviews and evaluates applications and technologies that manipulate and process varying levels of topographic and hydrographic geospatial information. AGC seeks new or existing data base manipulation techniques, application methods and procedures to manage information on, but not limited to, USACE projects, dams, river charts, harbors, C4ISR and other information of interest to the USACE Districts, Divisions, Military Engineers and National emergency with defense and civil objectives. Investigations include, but are not limited to, the use of information from new terrain sensors such as Interferometric Synthetic

Aperture Radar (IFSAR) and LIDAR to populate databases. Activities also include data dissemination approaches and system development using web-based GIS and map applications.

Technology Implementation (AGC-25)

Development of Strategic Multilayer Strategy for the Operational and Strategic Adoption and implementation of innovative technical solutions (GOTS/COTS) for the Department of Defense.

The objective of this topic is to conduct research and development required to prototype, test, evaluate, experiment with the operational and strategic adoption and implementation of innovative geospatially related COTS and or GOTS technical solutions for decision making. This topic will also include the research, development, testing, and new modalities for doctrine, organization, training, and policy inclusions necessary for implementation, transition, and sustainment of prototype tools, new techniques, tactics, and procedures required to conduct strategic and operational level offensive and defensive strategies. This topic will include physical, informational, and cognitive aspects of the Technology

Adoption Model (TAM) to establish the relationships between the level of technology acceptance and users factors which include perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward using, and actual usage behavior at the highest level of operational or strategic use.

DoD Communities of Practice (CoP) and Communities of Interest (CoI) are an aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect, process, analyze, produce, disseminate, or act on information.

These CoPs and CoIs are a heterogeneous global environment where humans and automated systems observe, orient, decide, and act on data, information, and knowledge. With the power and function of information as a conduit for influence on decision-making and command and control, the adoption and full implementation of technical solutions is a key component of the commander’s operational environment. Characterized by ubiquitous on-demand media and interpersonal hyper-connectivity, today’s geospatially relevant technical solutions enables collaboration and information sharing on an unprecedented scale. Within the current and future data rich environments, the United States can expect challenges across three interrelated dimensions: the physical, composed of command and control systems, and the supporting infrastructure that enables individuals and organizations to create information-related effects; the informational, composed of the content itself, including the manner by which it is collected, processed, analyzed, stored, disseminated, and protected; and the cognitive, composed of the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of those who transmit, receive, respond to, or act upon information. Effects in the physical and informational dimensions of the data rich environments ultimately register an impact in the human cognitive dimension, making it the central object of DoD’s decision making cycles. The results of this research objective will be to provide multiple inputs from academic, industry, and USG provisioning a multilayer strategy and planning support necessary for the operational and strategic adoption critical to the implementation of innovative technical solutions

(GOTS/COTS) for Commands with complex operational imperatives requiring multi-agency, multi-disciplinary solutions to include core Services/Agency entities across the USG. Further results from this research objective will be geared toward accelerating the OODA-loop and deploy new capabilities within adversaries innovation-information-cycle, increased mission effectiveness, reduced blue-on-blue, shared situational awareness, and provisioning an efficiency in DoD responsive capability delivery & reduced IT costs

Gray Zone Challenge: (AGC-26)

The objective of this topic is to conduct research and development required to study, prototype, test, evaluate, experiment with the operational and strategic geospatially related solutions for identifying, mapping, and making decisions within a Gray Zone. This topic will also include the research, development, testing, and new modalities for (DOTMLPF-P) Doctrine development, Organization changes, Training required, Material (technical solutions) requirements, Leadership impacts, Personnel requirements for professional and military education, Facilities, and Policy inclusions necessary for implementation, transition, and sustainment of prototype tools, new techniques, tactics, and procedures required to identify, map, and conduct strategic and operational level offensive and defensive strategies within Gray Zones. This topic will include physical, informational, and cognitive aspects required to establish the technical approach and implementation for DoD and National Military Strategy objectives as inputs to the military component of interagency responses to gray zone conflicts.

Defining the Gray Zone Challenge

Gray zone security challenges, existing short of a formal state of war, present novel complications for

U.S. policy and interests in the 21st Century. We have well-developed vocabularies, doctrines, and mental models to describe war and peace, but the numerous gray zone challenges in between defy easy categorization. For purposes of this paper, gray zone challenges are defined as competitive interactions among and within state and non-state actors that fall between the traditional war and peace duality.

They are characterized by ambiguity about the nature of conflict, opacity of the parties involved or uncertainty about the relevant policy and legal frameworks.

Gray zone challenges can be understood as a pooling of diverse conflicts exhibiting common characteristics. Notably, combining these challenges does not imply a single solution, since each situation contains unique actors and aspects. It is also significant that there is not just one technical solution, one data source, nor one DoD warfighter information capable or available to the commanders and staffs to VISUALIZE and DESCRIBE the Operational Environment or operational framework relevant to the Gray Zone space. Overall, gray zone challenges rise above normal information systems capabilities to visualize and describe everyday peacetime geo-political competition, assess multiple perspective, and map the ambiguous nature of events, objectives, tertiary effects.

Recommended Reading for this topic include:.

1. First is to study the Assessing Revolution and Insurgent Strategies Project at this link. The 46 case studies as well as the human factors and legal research provide a foundation for study of the phenomena that take place in the gray zone. Below are the selected or representative cases of the 5 types of revolutions categorized from 1962-2009.

2. George Kennan and his 1948 concept of political warfare.

3. Sam Sarkesian (Unconventional Conflicts in a New Security Era: Lessons from Malaya and

Vietnam) on unconventional conflicts:

Asymmetric conflicts: For the US these conflicts will be limited and not considered a threat to its survival or a matter of vital national interests; however, for the indigenous adversaries they are a matter of survival. Conflicts with Political-Social Milieu Center of Gravity: The center of gravity will not be the armed forces of adversaries as Clausewitz would argue but more in the political and social realms as Sun

Tzu espouses.

B. Warfighter Support Directorate (WSD)

B.1. Terrain Analysis Branch

The Terrain Analysis Branch (TAB) is the Department of the Army's (DA) primary agent for terrain analysis. As such, WSD meets high-priority DA validated requirements from Army components of

Unified Combatant Commands for terrain analysis including urban, tactical and country-scale assured mobility products and services. WSD oversees the Warfighter Support and Production Directorate’s modernization efforts, assesses, develops, integrates, and trains solutions and improvements to the collection, management, production, and dissemination of products and services. WSD evaluates, develops and integrates hardware, software and techniques into the Directorate’s information and production systems and provides miscellaneous cartographic and publishing technical services to all

WGSP’s projects and programs.

Terrain Analysis (AGC-27)

The object of this topic is to conduct research into terrain analysis techniques and standards, and their application to development of urban and mobility/counter mobility products and services. This includes tactical terrain analysis research for the detailed analysis of complex tactical terrain objects/features

(i.e., manmade objects of interest, micro-natural terrain, and varied obstacles/impediments to mobility) to the DoD, DA and USACE.

Modernization of Warfighter Support Directorate. (AGC-28)

The object of this topic is to conduct research on advanced methods of collection, management, production and dissemination of geospatial and imagery information.

Cartographic Technical Services (AGC-29)

The object of this topic is to conduct research on advanced electronic publishing, editing, printing, scanning and cartographic support equipment, techniques and management.

B.2. Geospatial Data Branch

The Geospatial Data Branch (GDB) collects, maintains, manages and disseminates geospatial information and imagery from multiple sources, to support analyses at the AGC and elsewhere within

Army. GDB also serves as the Acquisition Monitor for the Army's Commercial and Civil Imagery

Programs.

Geospatial Information (AGC-30)

The object of this topic is to conduct research into improved methods of maintenance, management and dissemination of geospatial information and imagery from multiple sources.

Acquisition Monitoring (AGC-31)

The object of this topic is to conduct research into improved means of monitoring imagery acquisition for purposes of serving the Army’s Commercial Imagery Programs. Research includes improved methods of integrating new information with existing data systems in support of DoD, DA and USACE planning, training and operations.

Cultural Mapping (AGC-32)

The object of this topic is to conduct research studies in regional cultural mapping. Research includes development of advanced methods of identifying cultural influences on land use, migration patterns and responses to environmental events.

Historical Photo Analyses (AGC-33)

The object of this topic is to conduct research into Historical Photo Analyses of DoD remediation sites to determine focus areas and to provide significant cost avoidance in the restoration effort. This technology provides Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) to DoD, DA and USACE planning, training and operations.

Research includes methods of improving support to DoD, DA and USACE environmental remediation and compliance efforts.

B.3. Tactical Source Branch

The mission of the Tactical Source Branch (TSB) is to rapidly collect, process, exploit and disseminate high-resolution geospatial data to support Change Detection, ISR and tailored mapping to support the military decision making process and identify, test and deploy Quick Reaction Capabilities (QRC) to support Operational Needs Statements (ONS) related to high-resolution geospatial intelligence/information. Also, to assess state-of-the-art technologies/capabilities for high-resolution geospatial intelligence/information and enhance as required. Provide end-to-end support (tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, dissemination and storage) of high-resolution geospatial information for the Warfighter and to conduct RDT&E to advance geospatial information systems.

Database Development (AGC- 34)

The object of this topic is to identify, develop, analyze, review and evaluate applications and technologies that manipulate and process varying levels of geospatial information. AGC seeks new or existing database techniques, methods and procedures to manage geospatial information.

Advanced Airborne Sensors (AGC-35)

The object of this topic is to evaluate airborne sensors that can quickly and accurately obtain high-resolution data from high altitudes. Data to investigate includes, but is not limited to, EO, IR, LIDAR and thermal data. Of particular interest are scanning EO sensors and long focal length frame sensors.

Rendering and Display (AGC-36)

The object of this topic is to develop new capabilities and techniques for multidimensional (i.e, 2D, 3D and temporal) rendering and displaying of geospatial information.

Integration and Exploitation (AGC-37)

The object of this topic is to develop techniques for integration and exploitation of geospatial information to produce computer generated images and future map representations.

Battlefield Terrain and Environment (AGC-38)

The object of this topic is to develop new geo-spatial information evaluation and reasoning capabilities to provide the Warfighter with improved situational awareness.

Data Manipulation (AGC-39)

The object of this topic is to develop techniques and methodologies for storing, retrieving, manipulating, translating and disseminating geospatial information for use in a broad range of military and civil applications. The output data must have populated attribution fields (i.e, metadata) and be portable to the broad range of military and civil application software. Techniques are needed for managing, comparing, and fusing data from multiple sources. Input data can be vector data, elevation data, intelligence data, imagery, or a combination of the above.

Geospatial Information Exploitation (AGC-40)

The object of this topic is to conduct RDT&E in the areas of geospatial information exploitation, management and dissemination to provide the Warfighter with improved intelligence, mission command and targeting. Geospatial data is acquired via direct remote measurement and/or estimation through modeling approaches with emphasis placed on exploitation/integration using existing commercial off the shelf technology. RDT&E includes the application of future smart sensors that process and interpret collected data onboard before providing end user data.

Data Generation (AGC-41)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and/or develop techniques to perform automated/semi-automated extraction of terrain data from remotely sensed imagery, maps, or from direct measurement.

Techniques can be based on single or multiple sources. If using multiple sources, fusion issues should be addressed.

Geospatial Communications (AGC-42)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and development on techniques, equipment, and systems for communicating geospatial information among sensors, peers, networks, spatial data bases, and enterprise geographic information systems. There is a need to develop solutions that work on currently fielded or soon-to-be deployed Army tactical networks, across multiple security levels. Research is needed to develop new methods for displaying dynamic data crossing tactical networks and for graphical user interfaces for controlling sensors and their data across networks.

Data Representation (AGC-43)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and development of techniques and methodologies for representing, compressing, or decompressing terrain data. Input can be existing data products or remotely sensed data.

Image Registration (AGC-44)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and development of techniques to compare imagery and/or remotely sensed terrain data from multiple sources in order to improve spatial registration.

Photogrammetric Processing Software Tools (AGC-46)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and development into photogrammetric processing software tools and techniques for tactical sensors.

Visualization (AGC-45)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and development on techniques, equipment and systems for visualizing geospatial information. Research will establish design principles and practices for the display of 2D, 3D and temporal data in hardcopy and digital environments. Research will include the investigation of simulation and animation techniques. Physical modeling techniques, as well as digital visualizations, will be evaluated.

Advanced Registration (AGC-46)

The object of this topic is to conduct research and development into techniques and processes for image-to-image registration with data that may have inaccurate metadata. An example is the registration of frame images lacking accurate interior and/or exterior orientation information.

Photogrammetric Techniques for Large Data Sets (AGC-47)

The object of this topic is to research its photogrammetric techniques (such as bundle block adjustment, orthomosaic creation, radiometric correction, automated tie-point calculation) for projects with large numbers of high-resolution frames. Large number of frames is considered to be in the 5000-50000 range.

Geospatial Intelligence…