Elements of FTI’s Decision Analysis products can be used to support a broad scope of work
Program Management, Logistics, Engineering, Training, Test and Evaluation, Readiness, Maintenance, Acquisition Support, Affordability, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Data Analysis, Metric Processing and more…
Integrated Cost As an Independent Variable (I-CAIV®)
FTI’s I-CAIV® software prioritizes readiness initiatives and accomplishes performance vs cost tradeoffs to help the program manager make informed decisions.
The I-CAIV® process and decision support tool address the challenges of alternative assessment through the application of sound decision-making principles combined with proven assessment methods such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Quality Functional Deployment (QFD). The integration of automated decision criteria prioritization and alternative value quantification, participant input rationale capture and archival, and the ability to perform excursion (“what if”) analysis provides an assessment framework that facilitates comprehensive alternative assessments.
I-CAIV® provides the ability to quantify, assess, and compare the merits of various alternatives (architectures, systems, courses of action, etc.) in multiple, user-defined Dimensions such as utility, performance, cost, risk, and schedule impact. Data display and report generation capabilities and combine alternative results in each Dimension to present and interactive multi-dimensional decision space.
I-CAIV® supports decision making within a DoD culture and is tailorable to the product life cycle—from early Lab assessments to justification of weapon system sustainment priorities. It produces quantification of utility, risk, or other user-selected factors based on the alternative’s performance against prioritized decision criteria or measures.
Linking Outputs to Outcomes Model (LOOM)
FTI’s LOOM provides a multi-dimensional virtual canvas to support full-cycle assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation, of complex initiatives.
An OSD Phase II Small Business Innovative Research program has developed the Linking Outputs to Outcomes Model (LOOM). The LOOM tool provides military and civilian analysts a multi-dimensional canvas to support rigorous, full-cycle assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation, using existing assessment and planning processes.
The LOOM tool enables users to address and visually map the answers to three questions: What is the current situation (situational analysis/conflict analysis)? What is the desired future state (goals)? How will you get there (plan to achieve the goals)? LOOM uses a visual canvas to map the linkages between outputs (activities),
intermediate outcomes, and high-level goals (effects.) It supports users in making explicit their assumptions about the effects of planned activities and to logically map the trajectory between the current situation and desired goals.
The LOOM methodology enables military and civilian analysts to (1) digest the results of situational or conflict analyses; (2) identify high-level goals; (3) make explicit and test assumptions; (4) identify resource needs; (5) identify indicators with which to monitor progress; (6) streamline data collection; (7) document and evaluate functional dependencies; and (8) anticipate and mitigate risks; and (9) adjust implementation strategies to strengthen results.
LOOM is being used in support of the NATO Training Mission –Afghanistan’s (NTM-A) efforts to plan for and assess efforts to build capacity of the Ministry of Interior and Afghan National Police by facilitating on-the-ground planning workshops. The LOOM infrastructure is also applicable to planning and analysis conducted by COCOMs, Army Civil Affairs, USAID, State, and other military and civilian actors.
Logistics Composite Model Analysis Toolkit (LCOM ATK)
Investigates reliability, maintainability, availability, and logistics suitability factors to support sustainment planning and trade studies.
For many years, the Logistics Composite Model (LCOM) Analysis Toolkit (ATK) has been the analytical tool that has provided analysts, planners and managers valuable insight into the logistics requirements and performance of Air Force weapon systems. This logistics modeling and simulation capability provides important operations and support information enabling logistics planners and analysts to design and to improve weapon systems, and their support effectively.
The LCOM ATK tools are managed and distributed by AFLCMC/EZJS with support from FTI. In the latest version, FTI developed an LCOM ATK Integrated Suite that is a single, seamless user interface for all the data conversion programs, graphical input interface, simulation engine, post-processors, output tool and other utilities incorporated in the LCOM simulation system. This integrated suite provides a user-friendly, repeatable, structured, and integrated decision-making process. Updates have been made to the Simulation Playback Viewer for this utility to streamline input data and improve performance and display. LCOM ATK 5.0 introduces the Model Builder, which replaces the Forms Editor in the Graphical Network Editor (GNE), provides the ability to import and export LCOM databases in comma-separated value (CSV) format, and provides the capability to generate networks (Form 30’s) using network templates and CSV formatted tables.
FTI can provide skilled, highly knowledgeable analysts to conduct assessments on any type system using the highly-credible LCOM ATK simulation or to customize the model for specialized analyses for operations and support planning for new or modified systems. FTI has recently applied the model to support issues related to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the B-52, the Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and for Army PEO Aviation.
Integrated Cost Estimation Tool (ICE™)
FTI’s ICE™ Estimates Return on Investment (ROI) of future systems, modifications, enhancements, and the cost difference between one alternative and another.
Top Pentagon officials have emphasized that a system’s acquisition cost should be as important as its performance. Each system program; therefore, needs a credible capability, using community-accepted tools and data, to assess the costs of implementing the program — including the return on investment (ROI) generated by savings resulting from replacing current components that have high operating and support costs.
FTIs Integrated Cost Estimation® (ICE) tool brings together the financial management communities’ best cost-estimating models and databases into an integrated environment with a user-friendly graphical user interface to guide the user through the cost-estimating process.
ICE enables program managers, engineers, and researchers to develop a basic life cycle cost (LCC) estimate in a short time using the community-accepted cost models, tools and data without having to learn the details of the various, complex cost estimating models. The ease of use and quick turnaround of results enables analysts to examine multiple design options to help ensure new systems or modifications to existing systems are cost-effective.
Metric Progress Analysis Engine (MPAE™)
FTIs MPAE™ tool enables effective metrics tracking and reporting to assess progress against established goals.
FTI’s MPAE™ provides capability to track progress and understand trends to identify relationships between parameters. Hypothesis testing determines statistical validity of correlations. It displays cost, maintenance, and readiness data in one application. FTI’s proven decision analysis infrastructure and algorithms support the correlation analysis and parameterized trend analysis to provide insights into cross-sector relationships and dependencies.
MPAE™ has been applied to NATO Training Mission –Afghanistan (NTM-A) to assess the progress of the Ministry of Interior Afghan National Police Development effort. The tool has also been applied to Army PEO Aviation maintenance metrics, Air Force Reaper reliability, availability & maintenance metrics, and Navy AN/SPY-1 radar obsolescence trending and prediction.
MPAE™ tool is well suited for metrics tracking and reporting of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) datasets:
- Evaluate effectiveness and identify areas for improvement of Casualty Report (CASREP) generation
- Evaluate current state and effect of possible improvements on 3M Analysis and Reporting processes
- Display of progress toward Deport Maintenance Management Too (DMMT) update
Readiness Assessment Engine (RAE)
FTI’s RAE applies an efficient, cost-effective beginning-to-end process to plan, perform, and document Multiple Readiness Assessments types.
Developing and fielding reliable, high-quality systems, produced on schedule and within cost is extremely important to our country and our warfighters.
FTI’s RAE helps facilitate best-value acquisition decisions at key milestones during the Acquisition Life Cycle. RAE is a decision aid that provides a fast, versatile, and effective means to assess the status and maturity of a Program’s vendor’s policy and procedures for manufacturing processes to produce or sustainment processes to maintain a system. It is an aid to assess, report and track an acquisition program’s readiness, compliance, and alignment with major acquisition decision points and program reviews.
RAE facilitates multiple types of standard and custom assessments such as Product Assurance (PA), Technology and Manufacturing Readiness, Production Readiness, and custom organizational assessment procedures. It provides flexible tailoring of assessment questions and enables importing new or different types of assessments using an Excel template. The RAE provides semi-automatic generation of reports in tailorable formats in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
NormNet® Prognostic Health Management (PHM)
NormNet® PHM technology alerts you to future failures in complex systems before an actual service interruption occurs.
Combating unplanned outages, increasing system availability and reducing the cost of operations is being achieved by maintenance strategies such as CBM that shift time-based scheduled maintenance to preventive and predictive approaches based on evidence of need. These strategies are projected to reduce Total Ownership Cost while enhancing system operations. However, their effective implementation requires the ability to continuously monitor the performance of the system, detect abnormal conditions, diagnose failing components, predict mission impact and recommend remedial action in time to avoid negative mission impact or catastrophic failure.
NormNet® PHM technology provides early warning of future system failures – reducing unplanned outages, increasing availability and reducing maintenance cost.
NormNet® uses data that you already collect. It does not require changes to your sensors, data sources or operational procedures. System abnormal behaviors and future problems are identified by detecting small variances from predicted normal behavior. NormNet® was designed for the dynamic environment of a USAF fighter aircraft. It can process input from multiple sensors in real-time while detecting small variances from expected performance with a low rate of false alarms.
With NormNet® PHM technology, an operations staff can:
- Identify problems and schedule a planned response before an unexpected system failure or catastrophic event.
- Improve system availability while reducing costs
- Enable CBM by permitting maintenance to take place based on actual equipment performance characteristics.
Integrated Sustainment and Wargaming Analysis Toolkit (ISWAT)
FTI’s ISWAT software is currently comprised of two major components: The ISWAT Configuration Tool and the ISWAT Web Application.
ISWAT Configuration Tool is used to initialize a wargame. Through the Configuration Tool, the wargame facilitator/planner establishes the Area of Responsibility (AOR), an initial pool of resources, and the baseline flying schedule or mission plan. The mission plan defines the weapon systems (aircraft), weapons loadout, weapons expenditure factors, the takeoff and landing location and the frequency of flights. The Configuration Tool also captures attacks or other injects to the scenario generated either by the adjudication cell or game control. Injects allow the facilitator/planner to impact the wargame to account for enemy actions, weather, human error, etc.
ISWAT Web Application is used to visualize past, current, and projected air and sustainment operations; as well as logistics resources availability and usage. This simple to- use and visually robust web application are used by all Blue Team players to see the overall state and status of the wargame as it is played out. When needed, Subject Matter Experts (SME), or the facilitator/planner, can drill-down to more detailed levels to identify shortfalls and make necessary adjustments to the mission plan and/or the quantities and the location of logistics resources such as fuel, munitions, spares, and other items of interest.
Extensible Load-Adaptive Processing System (ELAPS®)
FTI’s ELAPS® software provides an automated data processing solution.
The ELAPS® software suite design increases the efficiency of high volume data processing by addressing the core requirements of automation, scalability, and extensibility. At the center of the ELAPS® architecture are distributed independent processing services. Extensibility is achieved through the implementation of customized workflows assembled by linking discrete, independently developed, plug-ins together to create highly flexible data processing chains.
The ELAPS® services are uniquely designed to respond to available data in a load-adaptive manner, shown to reduce processing times by 2x to 10x over what can be achieved with statically designed systems. The automated data processing enacted by the ELAPS® software can dramatically reduce the time from data acquisition to analysis and evaluation by eliminating many manual processes. The result is near-immediate access to the information present in generated data, with no need for users to process raw data files directly.
ELAPS® suite can be applied to repetitive multi-step processing of large datasets for such uses as:
- Electro-optical infrared (EOIR) wide field of view imagery
- System-of-systems test for Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)
- Decoding and calibrating fleet-wide flight recorder data
- Acoustic data filtering and anomaly detection
- Health and status telemetry
Integrated Sensor Analysis Tool (I-SAT®)
FTI’s I-SAT® processes and automated tools enable analysts to quickly calibrate and characterize multi mega-pixel, multi spectral, instruments.
IAs the technology behind the production of large array focal planes becomes more advanced and production costs decrease, the need for fast and accurate visualization and analysis software becomes essential to demonstrate performance. Drawing on 35+ years of experience, FTI has designed a comprehensive sensor data visualization and analysis software package that is mission-tested in the arenas of requirements sell-off, customer presentation, and active test support.
FTIs Integrated Sensor Analysis Toolkit (I-SAT®) software is an optimized data visualization, sensor calibration, and performance evaluation package delivering the ability to efficiently perform sensor characterization tasks, including characterization of focus, response uniformity, and pixel non-linearity as well as calculation of calibration coefficients. Full, interactive control over display color scales; pan/zoom options; spatial, temporal, spectral line plots; and histograms make the I-SAT® package a dynamic and essential analysis tool. Many core functions including loading, focus determination, and radiometric correction are parallelized for optimum speed with multi-core processors. FTIs new 64-bit application enables visualization and calibration of gigapixel focal planes. The I-SAT® package can be integrated with FTI’s data management solutions, eliminating searching for files and automating the management of analysis products.
I-SAT® software is designed for characterization, calibration, and performance evaluation of large electro-optical datasets:
- Wide field of view multispectral imagery from aerial or on-orbit sensors
- Hyper-temporal imagery framesets
- Radiometric calibration data collects from ground testing of electro-optical sensors
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