COMMENTS CONCERNING THE INFORMATION/MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A002900030012-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: October 13, 1965
• Content Type: MF

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13 October 1966;
AV'.t`ORUMTWTM VO1 : All Division and Staff Chiefs, NPIC
S B CT Comments Concerning the Information/Material
Handling Systems Program
1. May I have your immediate response in the form of
? comments concerning the subject program? As you may know
there is need for expediency to distribute these objectives
to private industry.
2. Will you provide comments to the Plans and Development
Staff before 1600, 14+ October? I will appreciate your advice
Attachment:
Development Objective
Distribution: a/s
Declass Review by NGA.
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13 October 1965
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
TVi FOtu~?4:-=ON~M T IAL HANDLING- SYSTM! (IMHS)
1? IN ODUCTION. This document conveys the background, concept and
requirement of a government sponsored research and development program
in the field of information/material handling as it relates to imagery
exploitation processes.
1.1 :.,round. Exploitation requirements for information and
materia-'sandling will greatly expand because of the increasing and
'improving acquisition materials. This, in turn, will require studies
and'development for handling and reporting the analysis of photo ima er
Investigation and development thus far has provided only limited "on_ y?
line" computor capability for the derivation of selected stored.informa-
tion. This program is intended to cover three areas of development
necessary to solve the problems arising from the increasing volume of
imagery materials which require exploitation, these being: information
handling, ma. rz nanA1 g and a resultant data link systems develop-..
ment. This program is concerned with these aspects only and does not
address. an overall system analysis concerning complete organizational
o-,-ration. For purposes of clarification as to what is understood by
Information and Materials Handling as opposed to System Analysis, the
following definations are presented:
System Analysis is a process of thorough and methodical
examination of the operations of an organization or device. It-involves
the application of scientific methodology to investigate functional
relationships for the purpose of indentifying and evaluating critical
problem areas. The objective of system analysis is to gain insight to
those aspects.of system operations which must significantly affect
total performance. System analysis is, thus, concerned with determining
which functions of an organization have the most influence on output.
Information and Material Handling is concerned with methods for
the efficient flow of essential knowledge within a system. Whereas the
exploitation process is, in itself, an information flow process. Informa-
' tion and Materials Handling as used here refers to the supporting
functions which aid and abet the conversion of information. Research
in this area is concerned with more effectively coding, storing, retrieving,-
and displaying facts.
It is anticipated that initial (FY 66) equipment development,
.if any, will be restricted to immediate short term requirements, while
the follow-on effort (FY 67 & 68) will concentrate on the expansion of
the development plan into a fully integrated i S.
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1.1.1 Information Handling. Study and development is required
to allow the photo interpreter 6o commu"_icate directly with a large-
capacity, computerized, inforrna6ion storage system in order to
determine collateral information and to up-date intelligence. This
includes the development of highly versatile data block and time-
pip readers which are keyed to the automation of both the substantive
reporting and the mensuration processes. Information should be
displayed through a high-speed electronic system which is capable
of handling images as well as printed information. .
1.1.2 Materials Handling. The predicted increased work loads
will require significant advances in the automation of materials
handling problems that exist in the areas of both collateral and
operational acquisition materials. Systems are needed for reduction
in storage requirements and for automation of the storage, retrieval,
accountability, transport, and loading processes. One of the most
significant problems is that of manual roll-film handling; materials
such as maps, charts, reports, anti previous photography are manually
handled in much the same fashion. Studies for analysis of current
.procedures, predicting :rorkloads, establishing practical levels
of automation, and recommending detailed alternative solutions are
required. As a result of these studies appropriate hardware should
be developed. It is anticipated that-control will be handled by
a central cdmputer in keeping with established procedures. One
anticipated development is an automated, roll-film, handling system
for storage, retrieval, accounting and transporting roll film
material between the storage vault and specific operational zones.
1.1.3 Data Link System. A data link system must be developed
in anticipation of the advent of real-time, image-transmitting
systems for reconnaissance acquisition. Systems of this type will
require completely new exploitation techniques and equipment, differ-
ing in basic principles from those currently in use. Studies will
be needed to define this type of exploitation. Reproduction,
storage and retrieval, viewers, and mensuration equipment must be
developed in consonance with the needs of the exploitation components;
an entire exploitation system for YPIC use must be defined and
developed. Allowances should be anticipated for the increased
complexities imposed by security requirements, the possible inclusion-
of color, and the transmission of infrared and. radar imagery on a
real-time, around-the-clock, all-weather basis. The likelihood of
fundamental advances in "image transmission technology should also
be anticipated.
1.2 Conce-,,)t. The contracted organization selected to accomplish this
research must be capable of independent management of the program. The
contracted organizations must also: (?) provide; or utilize leading
technical authorities in the field; (2) be responsive to government
requirements; (3) be aggressive and effective in achieving the objectives;
(4) furnish forthright technical guidance to the government. Representa-
tives of the Government, involved in this program, will maintain an open
mind in evaluating any new concepts whi -h-, if successfully__1,rsued,
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would add to the store of hanowledge an;. advance the state-of-the-art.
Organizations engaged in these technic .l developments are encouraged to
present new ideas which they believe advance the program. It is
the intention of the Government to per-._t freedom for imagination and
creativity.
1.3 Scope. The program will be planned on the basis of a three year
term. This paper defines only broad objectives; proposals in response to
them should contain an evaluation of the significance as related to cost
and time. Careful utilization of reputable industrial management will.
be required, as well as obtaining max:Lnum efficiency in all technological
aspects..
2. ADM-LNISTRATION. The Government will retain ultimate control of the
program. Objectives, costs, priorities, sub-contractors and consultants'
involved in the program come under the purview of the Government--and
approval must be obtained before these factors are employed.
'2.1 Projects. Each project under this program will be divided into
major accomplishment/cost phases to facilitate government review and
control.
2.2 Contract Information.
2.2.1 The contractor is expected to provide competent and
cooperative administrative service; he will be vested
with certain authority to control the direction and
degree of technical effo ti+tliTil-the uo~;;~ds-nhe .
estimated costs.
2.2.2 The contractor shall be responsible for the work per-
lormance of his sub-contractors.
2.2.3 The Contracting Officer of the Government will designate
a Technical Representative to authorize specific develop-
ment efforts of the contractor. Such authorization
shall be given in the form of written work orders
either in its original form or to confirm an oral
authorization.
2.2.1+ Certain written progress reports will be required on a
regular basis by the Technical Representative to
include status of projects, money expended, and money
required to complete the projects. In addition, the---,
contractor will be expected to---previde_the__?echnical
Representative with written reports concerning research
and development efforts when deemed advisable by the
Government as well as verbal elaborations as may be
desired by the Technical Representative or Contracting
Officer.
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3. TECHNICAL Rr"Q-,UTFE'yIi NTS. ? The preliminary investigative areas of this
program are defined as: l) a study effort to define information
handli:.- problems of :_on-computor and computor oriented data bases as
applies to the NPIC, including Real-time, batch processing, and off-line
application i.e., closed circuit T.V., automated report writing, computor
contro"llod information storage, retrieval and handling equipment; (2) a
study effort to define requirements for efficient handling of photographic,
and collateral materials in natural and/or cut forms; and (3) a study
effort of exploitation techniques for imagery and collateral information
transmission on a Real-time basis (rata link)
Those investigations should consist of, but not be limited to: an
analysis of the in-house existing and planned methods of information
material handling and transmission; the combining of existing and planned
techniques and equipment with present or advanced state-of-the-art; and
result in the presentation of an integrated develcpment._plan fora
highly automated S. !,.ore. specifically, the technical requirements
for carrying out this program within the context of the broad objectives
stated above can be broken down into three phases: analysis, concept
and design.
3.1 Analysis. Determine current and known future input and output
parameters from the aspect of:
a. Physical Properties
b. Information Content
c.. Data Rates -
d. Volume
e. Data Sources
Q Correlation between different inputs and outputs
g. Real-Time Requirements
Primary consideration in .this analysis should include b
t
t b
u
no
e
limited to equipment-both operational and planned; materials-collateral,
roll film, cut film and chips; methods - analysis, query, reporting,
etc.; interface-equipment and methods; requirements-current and practical
future; and timeliness.
3.2. Concept. Determine complete concept parameters required to
satisfy the results of the analysis (3.1), considering:
a. interpretation/Analysis
b. Viewing/Display
c. Storage/Retrieval
d. Computation
e. Data Conversion
f. Reporting
A. Management/control
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 In addition, an operational flour concept necessary to convert the
inputs to the specific output.-, shall be de z;enfained considering: inputs
to each operation; modes. of operation; interrelationship between opera-
tions; and output of each operation.
3.3 Design. From results of the analysis phase (3.1) and determination
of the concepts (3.2) a design will be .formulated which will select the
best techniques and equipments to accomplish the operational procedures,
considering such criteria as:
a.
Cost effectiveness of
b..
Accuracy of operation
c.
Speed of operation
CL.
e.
f
g.
h.
Compatibility with
Simplicity
Reliability
Flexibility
Maintenance
component operations
i.
Manning requirements and training
J?
Groirth Potential
k.
Availability (equipment)
1.
Modifications (equipment)
m.
Configuration
3.4. Other requirements are:
3.4.1 Provide consultation to the Government in the information
and materials handling field as we1Ts reiat-f:3 rata li'. -systems..
3.4.2 Contribute to the establishment of the future research
goals. .
3."'.3 Awareness of all commercial and other research organiza-
tions working in this field. Possession of current and historical
knowledge in order to preclude duplication of effort and to maintain
awareness of the state-of-the-art.
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