Army Geospatial Enterprise (AGE) Node

Facilitating Geospatial Interoperability

Published April 4, 2016
GRL's AGE Node is a demonstration environment for emerging Geospatial technology.

GRL's AGE Node is a demonstration environment for emerging Geospatial technology.

GRL's AGE Node is an evaluation environment for data products and services.

GRL's AGE Node is an evaluation environment for data products and services.

GRL's AGE Node is used to evaluate data interoperability gaps for Standard and Shareable Geospatial Foundation (SSGF.)

GRL's AGE Node is used to evaluate data interoperability gaps for Standard and Shareable Geospatial Foundation (SSGF.)

GRL's AGE Node provides representative Army Geospatial Enterprise environment within Common Operating Environment (COE).

GRL's AGE Node provides representative Army Geospatial Enterprise environment within Common Operating Environment (COE).

The AGE Node is a computing environment supporting the Army Geospatial Enterprise (AGE). It provides an environment for demonstrating, integrating, and evaluating Army, commercial, and open-source geospatial software applications and services, allowing research projects to be tested in a controlled manner. The AGE Node is located at the Army Geospatial Center in Alexandria, VA, with servers located at the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) in Vicksburg, MS.

What It Does

The AGE Node facilitates the transition of ERDC projects to Programs of Record (PORs) residing within the Common Operating Environment (COE) Computing Environments (CEs). By providing project developers with access to POR software, applications can be tested early and often for compatibility with the AGE architecture, increasing the likelihood of an efficient transition to the field.  Additionally, new technology and data standards can be evaluated in order to address priority gaps within the AGE and National System for Geospatial Intelligence (NSG). The ERDC is currently coordinating with the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to connect their respective laboratories to better represent joint capabilities.

AGE Node Concept

Creation of the AGE Node integrates multiple computing environments through linking representative PORs such as Nett Warrior (NW), Joint Battle Command Platform (JBC-P), Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A), and Command Post of the Future (CPOF). For a detailed list of these PORs, see the Features and Specifications section below.

AGE Node Approach

  • Facilitates the early transition of emerging technologies by utilizing PORs to understand and identify geospatial gaps
  • Establishes an environment to enable critical development of geospatial services
  • Partners with industry to enhance commercial geographic information system (GIS) technology
  • Provides a transition pathway for basic and applied research validation in support of the Warfighter
  • Develops geospatial policies and procedures, including military tactics, techniques, and procedures

Features and Specifications

The AGE Node emulates current computing environments in the field and as configured on the Research and Development Enterprise (RDE) Network, allowing for research projects and pilots to be tested in a controlled manner. The hardware can be hosted in multiple locations. The AGE Node includes the following simulated Common Operating Environments (COEs): Data Center CE, Command Post CE, Mounted CE, Mobile Handheld CE, and Sensor CE.

PORs are accessed through the UNCLASS Defense Research and Engineering Network (DREN).

  • Army POR hardware:
    • JV-5 (Blue Force Tracker)
    • XFR (Blue Force Tracker)
    • Nett Warrior Mission Planning Computer (MPC)
    • Nett Warrior End User Devices (EUD)
  • Army POR software, with physical and virtual installations:
    • Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A)
    • Global Command and Control System-Army (GCCS-A)
    • Command Post of the Future  (CPOF)
    • Tactical Ground Reporting System (TIGR)
    • Joint Battle Command Platform (JBC-P)
    • Joint Capabilities Release (JCR)
    • Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2)
    • Data Dissemination System (DDS)
    • Army Mission Planning System (AMPS)
    • Nett Warrior (NW)
  • Other software applications:
    • Esri reference architecture
    • Google reference architecture
    • Open Source (GeoServer) reference architecture
    • NRL Tile Server
    • RaptorX
    • Integrated Sensor Architecture (ISA)
    • Deployable Map of the World
    • Sage Tools
  • Infrastructure components:
    • Virtual Machine environment
    • Network Emulator
    • Remote access capability

Benefits

  • Delivers a unique environment focused on the integration and testing of geospatial applications and services
  • Provides access to a large number of fielded Army PORs for geospatial research and development
  • Integrates and evaluates cutting-edge commercial and open-source software development
  • Allows testing, evaluation, and integration of emerging geospatial data formats and standards within existing PORs
  • Reduces risk for transition of geospatial applications to PORs through early testing and evaluation

Success Story

Since 2014, the AGE Node has supported the testing and evaluation of multiple applied research and development projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Reports resulting from these efforts have provided developers with detailed feedback about integrating into Army PORs.

ERDC Points of Contact

Questions about AGE Node?

Contact: Ritch Rodebaugh or Josh Delmonico

Email: Ritchie.L.Rodebaugh@usace.army.mil or Joshua.J.Delmonico@usace.army.mil

Phone: 703-428-6014 or 703-428-7852

Updated 25 August 2020


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