Integration of terrain elevation and feature data for tomorrow's cockpits

Abstract

The major use of digital terrain and feature data has been for radar prediction, intervisibility calculations, and in some cases, a replacement for conventional paper charts. It is noted that, as additional and more accurate spatial (digital) data products become available, and new digital utilization technologies are developed, new weapon systems will become increasingly dependent on these spatial products. Spatial (digital) data products are defined as a combination of old (archival) recent, and/or real-time data. These products will improve mission performances in the areas of mission planning and optimum route selection; threat and terrain detection and obstacle avoidance; autonomous navigation; dynamic route planning; and situation awareness. These digital data products will be included as an integral part of specific weapon systems. Using the Integrated Terrain Access and Retrieval System (ITARS) as a prototype for a future information management system, some of the efforts at integrating these data into the cockpit are described. >