LO-CO-GRAF: generating maps to support command & control/crisis management using small computers

Abstract

This thesis describes and tests a system for Low Cost Graphics (LO- CO-GRAF) which enables a small computer to generate and display high quality cartographic maps from a remote mainframe computer database. A small computer must emulate a graphics terminal while interfacing with a mainframe program which processes the necessary data. This solution has been accomplished through four smaller tasks. The tasks include communicating with the source system, emulating a graphics terminal, interfacing with a map generation program, and producing a local hardcopy of the generated map. All software and hardware required for these component parts, in addition to the use of standard methodologies, were selected for their widespread availability at Department of Defense (DOD) agencies. Research was conducted using the Health/Zenith Z-120 as the small microcomputer and the Tektronix 4010 graphics terminal was chosen to model and emulate; two separate source graphics packages were used to generate maps. Concept validation involved the use of DISSPLA, the primary graphics package used on an IBM 3033 mainframe computer at the Naval Postgraduate School, and the Briefing Aid System, a map generation program maintained on the VAX mainframe computer at University of Southern California's Information Systems Institute, which was accessed and employed via Defense Data Network (DDN)