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Enterprise Components

The Geospatial Foundation

The Standard & Sharable Geospatial Foundation (SSGF) and the Common Operational Picture (COP) are the key components of the Army Geospatial Enterprise. The SSGF provides data and services layers to support end user requirements for 2D and 3D visualization of the COP, geospatial analytics, and map production.

Standard & Sharable Geospatial Foundation

The SSGF is a common set of authoritative geospatial data and services that helps the Army achieve common situational awareness among fighting forces. The SSGF forms the foundation on which units build their COP. As the foundation of the COP, the SSGF is relevant to all phases of operations and influences all systems, platforms, and processes that use, produce, store, manage, analyze, visualize or disseminate geospatial data that is shared within and between the warfighting functions.  It enables commanders to drive planning, make decisions, and assess military operations. A reliable geospatial foundation minimizes the size and effort required by the Army to provide geospatial data to all computing systems.

The Standard Sharable Geospatial Foundation consists of four data types (feature data, maps and charts, imagery, and elevation data) and 2 derivative data types (routing and 3D data). Each of these data types is collected and assembled from multiple sources along with information gathered in the field. The SSGF is provisioned as raw data, Open Geospatial Consortium web services, and three-dimensional globes.  As one of the Army's sixteen operational cross-cutting capabilities (CCC), it will evolve over time, reducing the number of accepted formats and increasing the use of web services. 

Standard Sharable Geospatial Foundation (SSGF). Adapted from TC 3-34.80, Army Geospatial Guide for Commanders and Planners.

It is the work of geospatial engineers to update and manage the SSGF to maintain its currency and accuracy. Engineers provide the content to experts in the field, who in turn overlay their relevant mission data. It is the interoperability standards developed within the Army Geospatial Enterprise that enable mission command systems in the field to discover, access, share, analyze and portray authoritative geospatial foundation data.

Common Operational Picture

The Common Operational Picture is a single, identical display of operational information, such as the position of allies and enemy troops, laid over authoritative, foundation geospatial data. This can include not only functional overlays, but also mission command information, and intelligence. Units share the single identical display of information across echelons and platforms to enhance situational awareness.

Similar to commercial geospatial data, the Army’s geospatial data must be managed to ensure its effectiveness. Geospatial engineers ensure that correct map editions are used and that updates are incorporated into the mission command systems so that all users are operating from a common operating picture. Incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated geospatial information contributes to information overload and can be misleading.

Common Operational Picture (COP). Adapted from TC 3-34.8080, Army Geospatial Guide for Commanders and Planners.