MODIFICATION
A -- Defense Sciences Research and Technology
- Notice Date
- 3/29/2004
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA04-12
- Response Due
- 2/2/2005
- Archive Date
- 2/3/2005
- Point of Contact
- Brett Giroir, Deputy Director, DSO, Phone (571) 218-4224, Fax (571) 218-4553,
- E-Mail Address
-
bgiroir@darpa.mil
- Description
- GEOSPATIAL REPRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS, SOL BAA04-12, Addendum 2, DUE 062504, POC: DR. CAREY SCHWARTZ, DARPA/DSO, Ph: (571) 218-4536. Email: baa04-12@darpa.mil, URL: www.darpa.mil/dso. Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0412/. The Defense Sciences Office is interested in new proposals in GEOSPATIAL REPRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS (GEO*). Geo* has an emphasis on the development of mathematics and algorithms that enable parsimonious and compact representations of Geospatial Representation and Analysis coupled to end user applications such as image to digital elevation modeling, targeting, route planning, and motion mobility simulations. This new program represents a major thrust area for DSO that will comprise a multidisciplinary, multi-pronged approach with far reaching impact. Geospatial Representation and Analysis: The Department of Defense makes considerable use of geospatial information, particularly in the form of digital terrain elevation models and the variation of the earth?s gravitational field. In turn these data sets are used to support a number of functions including but not limited to route planning, mission planning, navigation, targeting, visualization, and mission rehearsal. A key observation is that both the digital terrain elevation model and the variation of the earth?s gravitational field are geometric surfaces that we are attempting to model to a specified precision and accuracy. Typically the variation of gravity is represented by a spherical harmonic expansion while digital elevation models are modeled as a post on a grid with a height attached to each post. In both cases, the nature of the representation introduces errors. The nature of the representation used to store the model introduces additional difficulties including the need to support applications with variable spatial resolution and spatial accuracy from a single common database. The nature of the representations themselves also create difficulties with regard to the operations of conflating and deflating the database as new data is obtained. This is particularly acute for gravitational field models based upon spherical harmonics that, when updated with local data, force global updates of the model. Furthermore the structure of the database impacts the techniques by which the database is searched and the time required to complete the search. The Department of Defense operates over large geographic regions implying the need for large databases. Schemes to compress the data, including lossless and lossy compression, are desirable provided they preserve the utility of the underlying data for the purposes of calculating gradients that in turn are used in visibility calculations, motion mobility models, route planning, and radar placements. A common primitive function that is difficult to enable in a precise, timely fashion is the registration of imagery obtained from a sensor to the underlying digital elevation model and the direct construction of a digital elevation model from in theater imaging sensors. This problem is difficult because the geospatial position of the sensor is not known precisely, the pointing angles of the sensor on the platform is not known precisely, and the camera model of the sensor may not be fully known. The difficulty of registering an image to an existing digital elevation model or the construction of image mosaics is further exacerbated by the use of methods that are not invariant with respect to the spatial quantization of the image, contrast and illumination, require extensive and accurate a priori knowledge, or rely on human beings to select tie points or common features in pairs of images. This leads to systems that have unpredictable run times, operator dependent errors and accuracies. The effect of errors in the underlying digital elevation model itself, errors associated with the compression and restoration of the database, as well as intermediate processes such as registration of images to the database introduce uncertainties into client applications such as targeting, route planning, visibility, and radar placements that must be quantified in order to enable improved decision making. We would like to invite white papers that are far reaching in their implications, innovative, and ambitious in their goals and implementation. We encourage the submission of white papers that address one or more of the following areas: (1) New representations for surface and geodetic data that support conflation and deflation that also lead to a 100X improvement in storage of a digital elevation model at a density of a digital elevation model with post spacing of 0.3m relative to JPEG with at a minimum of no additional loss of precision in an end user application and a desired improvement of 10x in accuracy relative to JPEG, such as targeting, route planning, or the calculation of visibility when the calculation is performed using a JPEG compressed database. At a minimum the representations and compression schemes must support lossy compression that simultaneously preserves height and gradient information and provide a strategy for preserving information as required by other end user applications; (2) Local vice global representations of geodetic data providing storage reduction of 100x relative to spherical harmonic expansions with local controllable error that support conflation and deflation without recomputation of the complete representation as new data becomes available; (3) New mathematical methods with analysis tools for automated registration of images to images that enable image stabilization, frame integration, passive moving target indication, and three dimensional model building with appropriate metrics and accuracy. The primary sensor modalities of interest are monochromatic images derived from infrared and visible sensors, video, ladar range, ladar intensity, multispectral, and hyperspectral imagery. We are discouraging efforts that will register images derived from radars. The associated analysis should provide quantified errors in terms of pixels that, if given a camera model, would enable estimation of the registration error on the ground. The methods to be developed must be capable of automatic operation and support projective transformations between the images as well meeting the requirement of provable contrast invariance and illumination invariance. At the end of the program this capability must be capable of operating at 60 Hz with images that are 512 x 512 with 12 bits/pixel; (4) New mathematical methods with analysis tools for automated registration of images to digital point position databases that will perform the registration to the left and right member at a frame rate of 30 Hz with appropriate metrics and accuracy and to geospatial representations with an accuracy equivalent to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency proposed definitions of DTED 4, 5, or 6 or 3m, 1m, or 0.3m respectively The primary sensors of interest are monochromatic images derived from infrared and visible sensors, video, ladar range, ladar intensity, multispectral, and hyperspectral imagery. We are discouraging efforts that will register images derived from radars. Authors of white papers may make the following assumptions in order to guide the development of their effort. The image will be composed of pixels that correspond to 0.5m, 1m and 5m on the ground in an orthographic representation; the image is either 256 x 256 pixels or 512 x 512 pixels; and that the footprint of the image on the ground is initially known to within 0.5 km. The algorithm and associated analysis should provide quantified errors in terms of pixels so that if a camera model is supplied, the algorithm would enable estimation of the registration error on the ground and produce sub pixel registration accuracy. The methods to be developed must be capable of automatic operation and support projective transformations between the image and the reference database as well as meeting the requirement of provable contrast invariance and illumination invariance. At the end of the program this capability must be capable of operating at 60 Hz with images that are 512 x 512 with 12 bits/pixel; (5) New representations for rapid storage retrieval that enable techniques that would allow ?Image Search and Retrieval by Image? in the absence of text annotation of the images where one of the images has been subjected to a perspective or projective transform as well as contrast or illumination changes relative to the stored database. At the end of the program this capability should be capable of operating at 60 Hz with images that are 512 x 512 with 12 bits/pixel; (6) New representations for rapid storage and retrieval that would enable rapid search and retrieval of lines of iso-height as well as enable queries for heights between specified bounds that are compatible with multi-resolution methods and require only a single pass through the stored database. The algorithms to be developed must be compatible with a concept of operations that includes a single database supporting multiple users each of which has a different resolution requirement. For the purposes of algorithm development, authors may assume an initial database with a post spacing 0.3m supporting clients with operational requirements equivalent to a digital elevation model with post spacing of 30m, 10m, 3m, 1m, or 0.3m. WHITE PAPER REQUIREMENTS. White papers may include any combinations of the above areas. We strongly discourage white papers that focus on the design of new sensors or data collection efforts. We encourage the formation of interdisciplinary teams integrated toward solutions to these challenging problems. It is essential that the preparation of white papers include the following areas: (1) A clear statement of the envisioned utility of the proposed research and development. We are looking for revolutionary applications and goals that could be enabled if the proposed work is completed successfully. While distinct goals for the execution of the proposal are required, the vision presented may extend past the performance period; (2) A concise statement of the research challenges, approach, and potential anticipated solutions to the challenges that will be addressed. This should include explicit timelines for which progress toward the goals can be determined and measured. Intermediate milestones of approximately 18 month periods with demonstrable metrics of performance must be included for the proposed work; (3) A cost estimation for resources required for the proposed timeline; (4) The white paper should consider phases of development as the challenges are met. White papers must be received by 1600 ET April 28, 2004. Please put the phrase Geospatial Representation and Analysis in the title of the white paper. If the authors of white papers choose not to submit electronically, U.S. mail may be used. White papers will not be accepted by way of facsimile transmissions. Authors of white papers will be notified by May 21, 2004, if a full proposal will be requested. Full proposals must be submitted no later than 1600 ET June 25, 2004. To facilitate the submission of white papers, a website http://www.sainc.com/dso0412/ has been set up. For more detailed instructions on submitting white papers, please refer to the instructions for BAA04-12 found at the website http://www.darpa.mil/baa/baa04-12P1.htm. Not withstanding the disposition of white papers, DARPA will accept full proposals for this addendum. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS. Each proposal should: 1) explicitly address tests, demonstrations, and other research activities planned in the area(s) of interest described above, 2) include at least two specific and quantitative 18-month scientific and/or technical objectives for each scientific/technical area of interest addressed in the proposal that clearly demonstrate the research is on track for meeting the ultimate program goals, 3) include clearly delineated intellectual property arrangements and transition paths, and 4) include identification and assessment of critical scientific and/or technical barriers to the program objectives and plausible approaches to develop solutions or overcome their limiting effects. Upon award, specific deliverables and appropriate level demonstrations of the science and/or technology elements will be required periodically and a final demonstration of the deliverable system is required at the end of the program. Proposed Phase 1 efforts should not exceed 18 months, but consideration should be given to possible continuation of the effort into Phase 2. If multiple awards are made, down-selection may occur annually based on technical progress and achievements. Proposals with cost share should clearly identify the specific tasks to be cost shared in the technical proposal and separately break out the corresponding costs in the cost proposal. The number of awards will be dependent on the suitability of proposals received and availability of funds. Full proposals shall consist of two volumes: technical and cost. The technical and cost volumes shall conform to the guidelines in DARPA (DSO) BAA 04-12 of February 2, 2004. To receive consideration under this addendum PROPOSALS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 1600 ET June 25, 2004, to the address shown below. Proposals received after that date will be considered under the open BAA but not this addendum. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS. Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA04-12. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original CBD announcement, BAA 04-12 of February 2, 2004. GENERAL INFORMATION: In all correspondence, reference BAA04-12, Addendum 2. Technical Point of Contact. Dr. Carey Schwartz, DARPA/DSO; Phone: (571) 218-4536; Fax: (571) 218-4553. Original Point of Contact. Brett Giroir, Deputy Director, Defense Sciences Office, Phone 571-218-4224, Fax 571-218-4553.
- Record
- SN00556171-W 20040331/040329212334 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |