Rapid Terrain Visualization Software: Meeting the Need for Contingency Data Sets

Author: Kenneth R. Bergman
Organization: Joint Precision Strike Demonstration Project Office

10401 TOTTEN ROAD SUITE 325
FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-5823
USA

Phone: 703-428-6440
Fax: 703-428-8176
bergman@tec.army.mil

The Rapid Terrain Visualization program will demonstrate rapid production of high-resolution digital topographic data using airborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IFSAR) and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors on a de Havilland-7 aircraft. In a parallel effort using ground-based workstations, feature data is generated from multispectral imagery, IFSAR, and LIDAR data, with conflation of overlapping coverages. U.S. Army topographic specialists and joint users will extract and export feature data in ARC coverages, standard NIMA formats, or simulation terrain data formats. RTV software will greatly accelerate production of terrain data in the field to rapidly respond to contingencies and natural disasters.