INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: BAE Systems
Q: What is the mission of your SOCET GXP software, and in what ways does it provide unique benefits to users?
A: We believe that the distinction between image analysis, geospatial analysis, mapping and photogrammetric tasks is diminishing such that the roles of many individual domains are merging. We have listened to existing and prospective users who must learn and operate several different software packages to build and finish products. Based on feedback collected during user conferences, workshops and focus groups, we have learned that individuals are responsible for a growing number of tasks that require a wide range of skills and rapid turnaround times. And organizations are looking for cost savings across the board.
In response to these issues, we have been developing a new product architecture over the last several years that is the foundation for a comprehensive application called SOCET GXP. We are combining SOCET SET (geospatial analysis, mapping and photogrammetric tools); MATRIX (image analysis tools); VITec ELT (image analysis and mapping tools); and Common Geopositioning Services (targeting tools) into a single software product architecture that allows users to perform multiple tasks from a single user interface. Moreover, HSI/MSI and advanced geospatial intelligence capabilities have been added as well. By providing all of the required functionality in one product with a single user interface, BAE Systems empowers organizations to consolidate resources and increase productivity. SOCET GXP is flexible, easy to learn, and helps users create accurate, high-quality products quickly and efficiently.
Q: How are you working to enhance the product and related services in the future?
A: The SOCET GXP architecture is scalable and highly configurable so that customers can buy specific functionality to meet their requirements. With SOCET GXP, while a particular organization may have several configurations or software bundles in place, all of the software functions with the same underlying architecture and user interface.
We feel that, since SOCET GXP has a single user interface, we can eliminate the problem encountered by customers today, who have to use several different software packages to accomplish their tasks. Some of them use as many as six packages, often unrelated or loosely integrated, and cannot possibly be trained well enough on each one to take full advantage of its capabilities. By minimizing the number of software packages required, SOCET GXP users can streamline training, reduce integration and O&M costs, simplify licensing and customer support, and increase productivity.
Another advantage of SOCET GXP that is critical to many customers is that, like SOCET SET, it offers the same appearance, performance, user experience and software baseline for both UNIX and Windows, for ease of use among multiple workstations.
Q: Can you give us some examples of successful use of SOCET GXP in military and intelligence operations?
A: SOCET GXP is used for image exploitation and features identification. Analysts in the field create intelligence through satellite and tactical means for use in site comparisons, battle damage assessment, and to detect potential improvised explosive devises and ambush sites.
With the IEC software baselines, SOCET GXP is available now as a fully integrated application for IEC users within the NGA community. We will continue to support future versions of IEC. And because of SOCET GXP’s robust, user-friendly API, the software is gaining popularity with systems integrators such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, SAIC and General Dynamics.
SOCET GXP has also been used by many organizations for critical operations such as Hurricane Katrina recovery and evacuation, the war against terrorism and the Iraqi reconstruction period. Several unified commands, many tactical units and the CGS program have selected SOCET GXP as their software tool of choice.
Following the December 2004 tsunami in Bandah Aceh, Indonesia, for example, the Pacific Air Command Air Force Operations Support Center and air operations center at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, were contacted to staff around-the-clock emergency relief operations. The goal of their mission was to pull together a team that could provide support to the stricken area quickly.
The team used a combination of BAE Systems’ SOCET GXP SOCET SET and SOCET for ArcGIS software, along with commercial satellite imagery, to build imagery products that field operators used for tsunami relief efforts. A data set of Banda Aceh in both multispectral and panchromatic views was helpful in detecting severe destruction, while a data set of Madras, India, where the damage was less obvious, documented change detection. Using images from multiple satellites allowed operators to combine the best of all data available.
Several images depicting the coastline and inland areas were loaded into a single SOCET GXP Multiport—the viewing area in SOCET GXP that is used for manipulating and viewing multiple images, or multiple views of the same image simultaneously. The versatile Multiport displays multispectral images with sample features extracted or color-coded classification maps; panchromatic images with terrain features that are used for intelligence product creation; and a mosaic of panchromatic and color imagery acting as an overview.
Q: What is BAE Systems doing to provide onsite geospatial training to military users?
A: Our biggest customer is NGA. Recently, BAE Systems employees traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan to provide geospatial intelligence software training to field analysts. The specialists’ three-week trip was part of BAE Systems’ formal partnership with the NGA Deployable Systems (NDS) program office and upgrade team. NDS purchased BAE Systems’ SOCET GXP software to support its new, enhanced software. ♦
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