MapStrata Brings New Layer of Depth to Situational Awareness Published Nov. 2, 2009 By Maria Callier 711th Human Performance Wing ARLINGTON, Virginia -- A research partnership between Air Force Research Laboratory, the University of Southern California, and small business Geosemble Technologies is working to advance Air Force situational awareness through a software capability that presents vast amounts of map data in a more manageable and contextual format for in-theater commanders. Using basic research funding supplied by AFRL, Dr. Craig Knoblock and his team of fellow USC researchers developed a computerized method for aligning map features with satellite imagery. The resulting presentation format combines the visual appeal of photographs with the invaluable attributes of traditional maps. While the premise of this technology is not new, its enabling mechanics are now improved. The former method required that a person manually identify a set of control points for registering a particular map with a given satellite image. This manual process, though tedious, accommodated a wide variety of map designs, including the inherent nuances thereof. The importance of USC's lab-sponsored work lies in having discovered an automated method--one as reliable as the manual means--for addressing such differences. Dr. Knoblock's team first worked to identify the most comprehensive way conceivable for processing a map to gather (i.e., extract) needed data. Next, the researchers investigated how to correlate that extracted data to satellite images, ultimately generating a software solution that employs road vector data as the metaphorical glue binding the two formats together. The software product, MapStrata, uses the layout of extracted road intersections to locate the corresponding area on satellite imagery; it then presents these integrated, easily accessible results in a contextually relevant--and therefore meaningful--format. The success of this basic research prompted the USC cohort to create Geosemble Technologies, a spin-off company through which they were able to apply for AFRL Small Business Technology Transfer program funding and, ultimately, to license the technology for commercial use. The company is currently working to partner with a major defense contractor (thus far unnamed) in order to facilitate MapStrata's integration as a plug-in to existing AF software. Meanwhile, the researchers plan to apply STTR and future funding support towards incorporating additional MapStrata functionality, including such updates as an "export to database" feature. This AFRL-enabled technology achievement exemplifies yet another successful transfer of basic research findings to industry, the supplier of AF acquisitions. In this case, the outcome--a newly automated method for integrating maps with up-to-date aerial and satellite imagery--facilitates improved situational awareness for AF planners and, consequently, promotes better and faster decisions with substantial impact to deployed forces.