Project: JMPS
The development and improvement of the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) network planning tool.
Overview
The Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) is a software application used by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and various other military organizations to plan and manage military missions. JMPS is designed to support joint and coalition mission planning and execution across various branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.
The objective of this project is to enhance and develop a new version of the network planning capability for the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) used by the United States Air Force and Navy.
The existing JMPS has been in use for nearly 20 years and is considered outdated. The current software architecture is inefficient and results in suboptimal flight planning times. JMPS is continually updated and improved to meet the evolving needs of military mission planning. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that military operations are well-coordinated, efficient, and effective.
The Network Planner is a component of JMPS that focuses on planning and managing the communication and network aspects of military missions. It involves ensuring that communication and data exchange among various military assets are reliable, secure, and efficient.
Objective
The goal of this project is to modernize and improve the network planning system in JMPS to make it more efficient, user-friendly, and capable of accommodating the changing requirements and technologies in the field of mission planning.
In this project, my role is to address the outdated software architecture and potentially enhance the user experience (UX) for mission planners and other users involved in flight planning.
The project requires collaboration between various team members, including developers, human factors engineers, UX designers, and project managers. The stakeholders, including the Air Force, Tapestry, and Boeing, are interested in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the flight planning process.
My Role
My role as a UX Researcher & Designer…
I ensure that the software is user-friendly and efficient.
Conduct user research and interviews with the actual end-users (military personnel, mission planners).
Create user personas and user journeys to map out the typical planning processes and identify areas for improvement
Incorporate principles of human-centered design.
Design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that facilitate faster, more efficient mission planning.
My Role
My role as a Human Factors Engineer (HFE)…
I focus on optimizing the human-computer interaction aspect of the project.
Apply principles of human factors engineering to enhance the usability and safety of the system.
Conduct usability testing and analysis to ensure that the system is user-friendly and minimizes errors.
Ensure that augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) implementation meets human factors guidelines for visual displays and interactions.
Research methods I use for this project include…
SME Interviews: Gathering insights from subject matter experts.
User Testing: Testing the usability of the software with potential users.
User Journeys: Understanding the paths users take within the system.
Literature: Reviewing existing research and literature on relevant topics.
Solution
Solutions in the development of the core network planning component for the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS)…
Network Topology Planning: Designing the network topology to ensure that communication paths are optimized and resilient. This involves determining the placement and configuration of communication assets, such as radio relay stations and satellite links.
Bandwidth Allocation: Allocating network bandwidth based on the communication requirements of different mission elements. Prioritizing critical data and ensuring that sufficient bandwidth is available for real-time communication.
Redundancy and Resilience: Planning for redundancy and network resilience to ensure that communication remains operational even in the presence of failures, such as equipment malfunctions or enemy interference.
Security: Implementing encryption and other security measures to protect sensitive military communication from interception or tampering by adversaries.
Spectrum Management: Managing the electromagnetic spectrum to avoid interference between various communication systems and to operate within regulatory guidelines.
Satellite Communication: Planning for satellite communication links, including selecting the right satellites, frequencies, and protocols for the mission's needs.
Line of Sight (LOS) Analysis: Analyzing the terrain and environment to ensure that there is an unobstructed line of sight for communication between assets. Tools for terrain analysis and LOS calculations are essential for this purpose.
Data Exchange Standards: Ensuring that different mission assets can exchange data effectively by adhering to standardized data exchange formats and protocols.
Interoperability: Ensuring that communication systems used by different military branches and coalition partners are interoperable, so that data can be exchanged seamlessly.
Frequency Management: Managing radio frequencies and channels to avoid interference and maintain communication integrity. This might involve coordinating with other military units and agencies to prevent frequency clashes.
Communication Planning for Mobility: Planning for communication in scenarios where mission elements are mobile, such as during a fast-paced operation or in a dynamic battlefield environment.
Cybersecurity: Protecting the network from cyber threats, including hacking attempts and malware. This is crucial for safeguarding sensitive mission data.
Scalability: Ensuring that the network can scale to accommodate additional assets or changing mission requirements.
Communication Infrastructure Deployment: Planning the deployment of communication infrastructure, including radio towers, communication relay stations, and mobile communication units.