Transforming data and metadata into actionable intelligence and information within the maritime domain

Abstract

At present, the Navy is unable to provide a robust, routable network that provides real-time actionable intelligence between boarding operations and intelligence analysts. Actionable intelligence is the means of obtaining concrete knowledge that permits an individual to take action based on known information. The lack of a robust routable network creates a lag in operational responsiveness to potential threats identified within the Maritime Environment. In response to current shortfalls, improved Extended Maritime Interdiction Operations (EMIO) seeks to support the Secretary of the Navy's vision to streamline and improve operations and exploitation of boarding data. However, there has been no clear indication as to how the implementation of these technologies will affect command and control or current operations. This thesis examines the impact of improved EMIO technology designed to bridge together data with intelligence collected during EMIO and improve maritime domain decision making in terms of speed and quality and thus improve end user's situational awareness. We follow the construct of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) to frame our analysis and to provide focus in our data collection. We also examine the changes to the present EMIO process by developing and implementing an organizational simulation using POWER 2.0. Our results indicate that when improved Spiral-1 EMIO technologies, which significantly decrease the amount of time it takes to fuse collected boarding data into intelligence systems, are combined with a redesign of the EMIO organization, a qualitative improvement toward accomplishing the overall process can be achieved. The current process requires 35 hours. Yet, with the revised technological and proposed organizational changes, the same process can be achieved in 5 hours, thus achieving the Navy Secretary's vision to streamline and improve maritime operations.