SIMDIS is a software toolset developed by Code 5770 at the
US Naval Research Laboratory
The United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. It was founded in 1923 and conducts basic scientific research, applied research, technological ...
(NRL). The software provides
2D and
3D interactive graphical and video displays of live and postprocessed simulation, test, and
operational
An operational definition specifies concrete, replicable procedures designed to represent a construct. In the words of American psychologist S.S. Stevens (1935), "An operation is the performance which we execute in order to make known a concept." F ...
data. SIMDIS is a
portmanteau
A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words[Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...](_blank)
,
Linux
Linux ( or ) is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution, which ...
, and
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun for short) was an American technology company that sold computers, computer components, software, and information technology services and created the Java programming language, the Solaris operating system, ZFS, the ...
workstations with hardware-accelerated 3D graphics and provides identical execution and "look and feel" for all supported platforms.
SIMDIS provides either a 2D or a 3D display of the normally "seen" data such as platform position and orientation, as well as the "unseen" data such as the interactions of sensor systems with targets, countermeasures, and the environment. It includes custom tools for interactively analyzing and displaying data for equipment modes,
spatial grid
In the context of a spatial index, a grid or mesh is a regular tessellation of a manifold or 2-D surface that divides it into a series of contiguous cells, which can then be assigned unique identifiers and used for spatial indexing purposes. A ...
s, ranges, angles, antenna patterns, line of sight and
RF propagation. Capability for viewing time synchronized data from either a standalone workstation or multiple networked workstations is also provided.
To meet the needs of range operators, simulation users, analysts, and decision makers SIMDIS provides multiple modes of operation including live display, interactive playback, and scripted multimedia modes. It also provides capability for manipulation of post-processed data and integration with charts, graphs, pictures, audio and video for use in the development and delivery of 3-D visual presentations.
SIMDIS binaries are released under U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Distribution Statement A, meaning the binaries are approved for public release with unlimited distribution.
SIMDIS has been independently accredited and certified by
Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) and
Joint Forces Command
The United Kingdom's Strategic Command (StratCom), previously known as Joint Forces Command (JFC), manages allocated joint capabilities from the three armed services.
History
Background
In August 2010 the then Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, a ...
(JFCOM). It has also been approved for use on the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (
NMCI
The Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) is a United States Department of the Navy program which was designed to provide the vast majority of information technology services for the entire Department, including the United States Navy and Marine Corps ...
).
Operational use
SIMDIS provides support for analysis and display of test and training mission data to more than 4000 users. At the Naval Research Laboratory and other sites, SIMDIS has been used for numerous simulation, test and training applications, analyzing disparate test data in a common frame of reference. SIMDIS is currently an operational display system for the
Missile Defense Agency
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is the section of the United States government's Department of Defense responsible for developing a layered defense against ballistic missiles. It had its origins in the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) which ...
(MDA), the
Naval Undersea Warfare Center
The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) is the United States Navy's full-spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support center for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, and offensive and defensive weapons ...
(NUWC), the
Pacific Missile Range Facility
The Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands is a U.S. naval facility and airport located five nautical miles (9 km) northwest of the central business district of Kekaha, in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States.
PMRF is the world's larg ...
(PMRF), the
Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE), and the
Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program’s (CTEIP) Test and
Test and Training Enabling Architecture
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
(TENA). In addition to the Defense community, SIMDIS has also gained acceptance in various other U.S. government organizations and in the foreign community.
The SIMDIS SDK
The SIMDIS
Software Development Kit
A software development kit (SDK) is a collection of software development tools in one installable package. They facilitate the creation of applications by having a compiler, debugger and sometimes a software framework. They are normally specific to ...
(SDK) is a
C++
C++ (pronounced "C plus plus") is a high-level general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language, or "C with Classes". The language has expanded significan ...
framework providing functionality to create 3D scenes consisting of objects whose position and state change with time that are placed relative to a geographic map.
The SIMDIS SDK is the underlying application framework supporting SIMDIS.
Around 2017, SIMDIS released its SDK on
GitHub
GitHub, Inc. () is an Internet hosting service for software development and version control using Git. It provides the distributed version control of Git plus access control, bug tracking, software feature requests, task management, continuous ...
.
Cost
Since SIMDIS requires no additional
COTS products or license fees, the
Range Commanders Council
Range may refer to:
Geography
* Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra)
** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands
* Range, a term used to i ...
(RCC) currently lists SIMDIS as a cost savings/avoidance program for the US Department of Defense.
See also
*
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is an organization within the United States Department of the Navy responsible for the science and technology programs of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Established by Congress in 1946, its mission is to plan ...
(ONR), a sponsor of SIMDIS development
*
Interactive Scenario Builder
Interactive Scenario Builder (Builder) is a modeling and simulation, three-dimensional application developed by the Advanced Tactical Environmental Simulation Team (ATEST) at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) that aids in understanding radio fre ...
References
External links
SIMDIS WebsiteSIMDIS SDK2005 NRL Review Article2002 NRL Review ArticleDefense / Military Virtual Terrain Projects
{{USGovernment, url=https://simdis.nrl.navy.mil, agency=United States Navy
3D graphics software
C++ software
Cross-platform software
GIS software
Government software
Military simulation
Simulation software
Virtual globes