Semantic Interoperability Honoured Guest or Orphan at the Feast? Mr Peter Pharaoh Staff Officer, NATO HQ C3 Staff 6 th NATO CIS Symposium NATO HQ C 3 Staff

Why pay attention? Homonyms can kill…..unintentionally

OVERVIEW NATO HQ C 3 Staff A ‘Real world’ example of the ‘homonym’ issue NATO Data Management; Metadata and Semantic Interoperability explained; NC3B main initiatives in this field.

Friendly Forces Nation ‘A’ Sensor

Nation ‘B’ Shooters ‘Adversary forces’ Nation ‘B’ C2 system

NATO Data Management NATO HQ C 3 Staff Development, approval, use/reuse, and maintenance of data standards for NATO which provide semantic interoperability at the data level Plan, organise and control meta data which delivers basic rules and standard data elements (including definitions) to NATO bodies, agencies, Common Funded projects and is offered to national projects/programs Data Administration for precise definition of terms JC3IEDM produced in collaboration with the Multilateral Interoperability Programme (MIP)

Data in Context NATO HQ C 3 Staff 74, F, 8AU7, 432,741, Z A Data string, no context Data in context Target ID Target Affiliation Map overlay & grid reference Date-time Group

NATO DATA MANAGEMENT Semantic Interoperability NATO HQ C 3 Staff Agreed Terms or Data Elements Agreed Method of Exchanging the Terms Reliably Data Administration for Precise Definition of Terms Collaboration with the Multilateral Interoperability Programme (MIP) to produce the JC3IEDM 2 Components

The Product: - Aluminium Can - Drinks Liquid NATO DATA MANAGEMENT Meta-Data NATO HQ C 3 Staff Meta-Data: Label Information - Product Name - Batch Number - Contents - Weight/Volume - Manufacturer

NATO DATA MANAGEMENT Semantic Interoperability NATO HQ C 3 Staff Agreed Terms or Data Elements Agreed Method of Exchanging the Terms Reliably How we are doing this – part 1 Data Administration for Precise Definition of Terms

Data Administration NATO HQ C 3 Staff Delivers semantic interoperability at the data level-- a key enabler to NNEC Enhances system interoperability, integration and integrity by meta data standardisation Establishes a single authoritative source for Standard Data Elements (SDE) Is independent of any particular modelling method Enables meta data reuse across project boundaries Maintains SDEs under configuration control throughout their life-cycle

XML Registry MOU established in September 2006; Use of USA facility; Standard Data Element storage; 4 Name-spaces established: – NATO Data Administration; – Message Text Formats; – Tactical Data Links; – Op Intel; Planned to be operational in early 2007.

NATO DATA MANAGEMENT Semantic Interoperability NATO HQ C 3 Staff Agreed Terms or Data Elements Agreed Method of Exchanging the Terms Reliably How we are doing this – part 2 Collaboration with the Multilateral Interoperability Programme (MIP)

Multilateral Interoperability Programme 11 Full Member Nations; 15 Associate Members; 16 Nations have implemented the C2IEDM/JC3IEDM as a basis for their national information systems; MIP-NATO MOA established; STANAG 5525 covers the JC3IEDM – ratification in process. NATO HQ C 3 Staff

Multilateral Interoperability Programme – the JC3IEDM Land-based Command and Control; 98% of the Air Tasking Order implemented; Maritime Mine Warfare; All Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) elements incorporated; 15 additional Air, Maritime and Joint messages approved for incorporation by end NATO HQ C 3 Staff

Summary ‘killer homonyms’ NATO Data Management – Metadata and semantic interoperability – NATO C3 Board initiatives: Data Administration (XML Registry); Collaboration with MIP – the JC3IEDM.

? National C2IS JC3IEDM is a Key Enabler for Semantic Interoperability Data Definitions Data Structures Data Sharing JC3IEDM Semantic Interoperability Other NATO C2IS BICES

Questions?

Backup slides

NATO Data Management NATO HQ C 3 Staff Provides direction for the development, approval, use, reuse and maintenance of data standards for NATO, which will provide semantic interoperability at the data level Embraces the planning, organisation and control of meta data which delivers basic rules and standardised data elements (including definitions) to NATO bodies, agencies, Common Funded projects and offered to national projects and programmes.

Namespace Managers Tasks Responsible for the development and maintenance of the namespace Focal point of contact for all matters pertinent to the namespace Harmonise their XML components with other namespaces NATO HQ C 3 Staff