Virtual Battlespace Scenario Encoding for Reuse

Abstract

This is the first phase of a two-phase project to develop and apply an XML data structure for capturing Virtual Battlespace (VBS2) scenario content. The work involves systems analysis and data modeling using XML technologies. Phase 1 (FY13) will focus on learning XML, XML schemas, and the Extensible Stylesheet Language for Transformations (XSLT), in addition to gaining familiarization with the VBS2 data structures and MSDL. The work will produce an initial XML schema describing VBS2 scenario data content. This project largely will be performed by two Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) graduate students (one Marine, one Army) in the Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation (MOVES) curriculum, with assistance from research faculty for technical instruction, consultation, software development, and laboratory support. The students will address specific and cross-cutting issues of their respective services to maximize benefits to scenario interchange and resource reuse across both services, while also investigating acquisition policy issues for future affordability and open competition. Phase 2 (FY14) will extend and enrich the initial schema, and develop software to parse scenario data to translate from VBS2 to XML and vice versa.