GovWire

ExaInformatics has used Centre for Defence Enterprise funding to develop a system which could help formulate strategic, operational and tactical plans in military deployment scenarios. It uses openly available data from the internet to add to the MODs data gathering efforts to support operations in the field.

Creation of this knowledge required the invention of a common standard to identify and link sources of data with means to how they can be validated. Using risk algorithms to validate the data the company established a method to create quick knowledge that can be gathered at different stages of a deployment relevant to new fields of operation.

The project has developed a Knowledge Cube standard for the transfer of goals, sources of data to monitor the goals, and validation criteria for this data.

It could allow the MOD to reduce what sources of data are used to those absolutely necessary and in which contexts during specific deployment phases. Multiple cubes can be created and they can be updated on a regular basis using on the ground and external higher level knowledge.

A demonstration took advantage of a focused use of open data to deploy the use case scenario on an embedded portable device. This device provided the data analysis and visualisation along with integration in a portable low powered box which didnt need a connection to the internet. This enables the MOD to populate the device with knowledge, data and sources of data in situ (i.e. from sensors) and go out on tactical operations without the reliance on a network connection.

Tom Kirkham, CTO, ExaInformatics says:

The support and guidance from CDE has enabled us to better shape our project to MOD requirements and has helped us open the door to target external MODs which we expect to be a key customer for our KANDO platform.

Based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, ExaInformatics are a new spin-out company from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and have expertise in the development of tools and standards to handle new and emerging data from a wide variety of experiments in often complex scientific domains.

About CDE

CDE funds novel, high-risk, high-potential-benefit research. We work with the broadest possible range of science and technology providers, including academia and small companies, to develop cost-effective capabilities for UK armed forces and national security.

CDE is part of Dstl.

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