Situation Awareness is required whenever decision making needs to be based on data from a wide range of independent sources.
The data needs to be sensed, communicated to a central location and then fused into a common representation (usually graphical). This will then enable decision-makers to decide and initiate action based on their interpretation of the situation.
The fused information picture needs to be based on good visualisation principles to ensure that large amounts of data do not overload the decision makers.
We have an in depth expertise in optimised communications for sensors. Whether dealing with streaming sensors (e.g. Indoor Positioning Systems) or event-based monitoring sensors (e.g. perimeter control ground sensor systems), we have experience in designing, prototyping and supporting tailored solutions to support customers’ business objectives.
When parties other than the decision-makers need access to a part of the information picture, their security clearance or access rights will not usually allow them to see the full detail. As a result the information needs to be layered with each layer protected as a separate security object. In general the security layers will not map onto the geographical or sensor type groupings in which the data arrives. To solve this problem, we have developed a new form of Situation Awareness by fusing web mashups with its own object-based security technology (OBSCURE) to create what we call Secure Situation Awareness.
In cases where the decision-makers are not all co-located it may be necessary to share the information between multiple sites. TRT (UK) has developed a variety of tools, including nuVa, to solve this problem. nuVa can also help to maximise the productivity of a group of distributed workers.
For this form of Collaborative Situation Awareness, Information Transformation technologies are required. These ensure that the data can be restructured for remote users and limited in bandwidth so that it doesn’t overload their role or equipment.
Although the obvious applications for Situation Awareness are in crisis situations involving large numbers of personnel. It can also be used in the day to day operation of large industrial installations, buildings facilities and major public events.