Soldier application will fulfil the vision of the Sri Lankan

High-Tech Soldier: A Spatial military organizations’ with the collaboration of modern

Application for Battlefield technology.

Information Keywords: Military organizations, WebGIS, GIS, Mobile

application, GPS, GSM
LRK Kahandagamage 1#, Ranjith Premalal De Silva2
1 I. INTRODUCTION
Centre for Research and Development - Ministry of
Defence The High-Tech soldier application’s leading purpose is to
2
University of Peradeniya cater the emergency situations in the military battlefield
#
rasika@crd.lk and as well as in the country. This digital application is
intended to provide adequate information for the military
Abstract– In modern military organizations, technology is leaders and ground level personnel to use the correct
a key area of concern. The growing dominance of information in the battlefields. Further, it is an essential
technology on the battlefield has resulted in a number of requirement of extended practice in this software to
frameworks that challenge the traditional definition of a boost the knowledge of the incident reporting, monitoring
combatant in the world. "Hi-Tech Soldier” is intended to and tracking fields in the countries emergency situation.
expose a new dimension by applying the world’s most Furthermore, one of the major problem which faced by
empowering mobile, web and live tracking technology. In our armed forces can be identified as follows.
the battlefield, armed forces required relevant, real-time
information about their target area, including precise “The usage of traditional out-dated technological insights
enemy target coordinates, potential threats, near-by for our combatant in the battlefield”
friendly, neutral forces, non-combatant personnel and
facilities information in rapid way. To provide real time
information of such nature, it is an urgent task for the
success of the combatants in the battlefield. In the early
era, this is an impossible task, with the use of traditional
techniques. The “Hi-Tech Soldier” modern application
serves fast and accurate data which are required for these
operations. Further, the web solution provides better
communication among the chain of command. It
facilitates precise conversion of locational data together
with the Army grid system and World Geodetic System
and it allows troops to perform recognition activities Figure 1. Traditional Map Reading
without moving to target area. This incorporates with the
web solution and mobile application which extend the This may cause for improve the drawbacks of marking
view of user-friendliness in this High-Tech soldier maps manually with higher time consuming, high
application. Furthermore, the web-based GIS (WebGIS) communication barriers, lack of knowledge of exact
system enables users to process and generate information troops locations and lack of prior information of ground
from the ground to the map. Nevertheless, the spatial conditions as shown in Figure 1.
information can be stored in a database, from which it
can be extracted on demand. This system consists with Hence, to eliminate the above drawbacks of our armed
two types of GIS and GPS applications. First one is the forces, the High-Tech soldier application is objected to
situational reporting system and the other one is the address and transform the combatant to the digital era by
human tracking system. Although, it has a new product using the undermentioned four major insights. This allows
which is based on the Global System for Mobile using the maps in a digital way.
communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) network and GPS satellite positioning system. It
successfully provides multiple functions, such as security,
positioning, surveillance, emergency, etc... The High-Tech
Soldier application does not require technical expertise to
handle and to obtain the results of it. Even the ground
level personal can easily handle and could obtain the
details of the current battlefield. Initial training is
adequate for continue its operations of the High-Tech
soldier application. In conclusion, adopting this High-Tech
Figure 2. High-Tech Application Initial Screen

Object 1 - Master Map – Contains the main map of the
system.
Object 2 - Situation Reporting System – Mobile application
is used to send the images to the system from end user.
The situation image can be taken by the end user and
send through the system to the operation room.
According to the data (lat, lon), the location will view in
the map
Object 3 - Tracking System – The tracking will function by
mobiles and through an application the location will track
and view in the map accordingly.
Object 4 - Str Return – This will give the return of the
count of persons and ammunition
Object 5- Veh Return – This will give the return of the
vehicles details.
Figure 3. High-Tech Application Dashboard
The main dashboard of the High-Tech application has
shown in the Figure 3. Above five objectives have fulfilled
with this dashboard functions.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Below literature has reviewed in the High-Tech
application development.
The technological insights have been described in the
current world (Kalle & Seymour 1999).
USA - “Land Warrior” (LW) is an advanced technology
among the field of technology that has moved into the
fighting soldiers. That there is no secret with the fact that
researchers of U.S. military users are using most of the
world's top most advanced modern futuristic
technologies. The LW requirement was approved in 1993.
Canada – “soldier of tomorrow” program initiated back
considering since 1988. Officially that was called by the
Canadian forces as “integrated soldiers system project”
(issp), is unique considering with USA land warrior,
because it focuses on considering human factors of soldier
Singapore - The Singapore began their solider
modernization project in 2002, calling it “Advanced
Combat Man System” (ACMS) & technology development
program
United Kingdom - “The Future Integrated Soldiers
Technology” (FIST) is the UK modernized solider program.
UK is the biggest & perhaps the most ambitious
organization “NATO” ally to pursue hi-tech soldier
modernization program
Italy - That Italian military has implemented complex
system “Soldato Futuro” soldier modernization war
program; this involves in two phases, first phase consists
of 12-month technology demonstration phase and the
second phase that consists of a 15- month operational
test & evaluation phase
3. METHODOLOGY
This computing engine has three major segments, namely;
On-going operation segment, planning future operations
segment and analysis and prediction segment. Figure 4
shows the system architecture diagram.
Figure 4. Methodology
The methodology of the High-Tech soldier application
elaborated as follows. The high secure architecture has
been used for the implementation of this High-Tech
soldier application.
The IoT requires well placed sensors that transmit
information wirelessly back to the cloud or other storage
medium. That information is either used for real time
analysis or later to optimize and automate processes. In
this methodology, an effort will be made to show in which
this vision has already been achieved around the globe
using wireless technology. To develop this application
mainly used technologies are Global Position System
(GPS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Mobile technology
and WebGIS.
A. System Architecture
When developed national level cloud base centralized
application to share within the servicers it has to have
four core elements:
 Physical components: It comprises product’s
mechanical and electronic parts. Mobile app, Situation
reporting system, Communication equipment
 Smart components: It comprises Tracking devices,
Weather sensors, Health monitoring, microprocessors,
data storage, controls, software and, typically, an
embedded WebGis system and enhanced user
interface.
 Connectivity components: It comprises GPS, GSM, sola
power, antennae, battery and protocols enabling
wired or wireless connections with the product.
 Consideration components: It comprises reliability,
security, availability, usability, scalability and end user
acceptance
B. System Components
To develop Geo database or spatial database need well
designed as per user requirement or project requirement.
In database design can divided in to three areas. First one
is conceptual design of database model or analysed
required data and information. Second one is logical
design, data processing of spatial, statistical and attributes
data. Client can communicate WebMap server through
standard web protocol.
This application mainly works with web browser in order
to view and interact with GIS data, the browser needs to
be extended by using an adequate Plug-In, Java applet or
both. In this WebGIS application, the web server is also
communicating with the server-side GIS component. This
is adding spatial analysis functionality to the system.
Following are the key consideration for development
process;
 Server – System capable to host in cloud or personal
server.
 Encryption – Encrypts data transfer between user and
the server by using sheared key
 Computerization Engine – Main frame of the system
 Clients – Clients been categorized in to different user
levels with authentications.
 Administrator – Empowered with all the facilities
available with the server.
 Publisher – Possible to publish the maps and
layers.
 User – Only be possible to view the maps and
restricted to do any edits.
Considering GIS operations, all the factors need for
developed next generation competitive application, it is
obvious fulfilled military need of Command and Control
Information Systems (C2IS). The following list contains the
GIS operations valuable for this WebGIS application,
 Map digitising
 Data Bulk/batch loading
 Assignment attributes to
 Data conversion  
 Data validation
 Data visualisation
 Feature symbolisation
 Feature filtering
 Geoatabase management 
 Rectification of layers
 Georeferencing
 Data processing (Proximity analysis (buffer,
distance calculation. Spatial joins or overlay
operations, Network analysis, Raster analyses)
 Drone Mapping
 Terrain modelling (3D modelling)
 Output (Map production /reports, summary
statistics, Generate text report from attribute
database)
This application has two servers and work separately but
sharing data in single platform. These two servers we
called Geodatabase and WebMap Server. Figure 5 shows
the some of the Key component or tool available to this
system
Figure 5 Geodatabase and WebMap Server
Master Map – Military used 1:50,000 MGM of Sri Lanka
for their operations and training. It is a challenge to move
soldiers from traditional cartography to digital
cartography, but future solider or Commander need more
information about ground and enemy. To overcome this
situation this map server work with Google map engine
and overlay 1:50,000 MGM map over it using spatial
algorithm developed spatially to this map engine.
 Figure 6. Layer Analysis
Layer Analysis – This will provide the drawing facility for
the users to draw the military related symbols and details
(Points, Lines, Polygons) as per Figure 6. In the battlefield,
this is immensely important to draw the testing by using
this feature.
Figure 7. 1:50,000 Maps
There are 92 map sheets cover the whole Sri Lanka with
1:50,000 maps. User can load the maps and these maps
will overlay on top of Google map with geo-reference and
user can on/off the layer or change map opacity level as
per Figure 7.
Figure 8. Proximity Analysis
Proximity analysis feature of the High-Tech soldier
application is an analytical technique used to determine
the relationship between a selected point and its
neighbours. Using this tool, user can find nearby features
according to the distance as per Figure 8. For example,
user can find nearby incidents, schools, hospital, etc…
Figure 9 show the resulting window of the analysis.
Figure 9. Location View in the Dashboard
The High-Tech soldier application features of grid
conversion will enable the army grid to Lat, Lon and Lat,
Lon to army grid vice versa. Further, this has allowed
users to display the selected location military grid
reference and WGS 84 Latitude and Longitude in the
format of decimal degrees. Other than the grid convertion
user can get the zooming level of the map and the map
scale as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10. Location View in the Dashboard
The situation reporting system is combination of Mobile
app and WebGIS application. User can login to the mobile
application using username and password, own location
will pick automatically with Google address. This data will
transceiver through mobile data to backend and will
popup location automatically with the details. Figure 11
shows the control box of the reporting system
Figure 11. Situation Reporting Selection
Figure 12. Strep Image

The situation report view of the WebGIS application has
shown in the Figure 12 and after clicking the icon it will
pop-up with details.
One of the key features of this application is the tracking
app, this application connected with mobile tracking app
or Human tracking device. Commanders can view real
time movement in the map or can view in street view
window. In figure 13, shows the tracking window.
Figure 13. Tracking Window
In military used 1:50,000 maps for operation requirement,
but now a day commanders need more information about
the ground before they moved to the ground. In this
situation Drone mapping technology came to battlefield.
Using drones users can develop centimetre resolution
maps, these maps need a platform to do analysis.
Figure 14. Drone Image Loader
The drone image uploading has shown in Figure 14 and
has facilitated to upload the drone images for the system.
Figure 15. KML Loader
Further, KML uploading has shown in Figure 15 is a key
functions of this High-Tech soldier application. Google
Earth data can easily upload to the High-Tech soldier
application by using this feature tool.
Finding location of the address is utmost requirement in
military operation. This system used reverse Geocoding
technic to address this issue. User can enter the address
to the system and systems will generate the coordinate of
the location. Figure 16 show the Registration form of this
application
Figure 16. Registration Form
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Most of the time before going to the operations need to
analysis the weather attributes and developed weather
overlay. This application strength with weather applets.
Figure 17 shows the weather overlay of this application.
Figure 17 Weather Application
The strength report of the armed forces can obtain very
accurately and easily in real time by using this application
as per the Figure 18.
Figure 18. Strength Report
The ultimate outcome of this modern technological
military application could elaborate with the detail
relevance of its functions. It allows commanders to read
the battle functions while stay in their operation room.
Hence, it enabled the remote operation of the battlefield.
High – Tech soldier has the possible of get connected with
anywhere of the world. This is because of the cloud based
solution has implemented through this High-Tech soldier
application. The system has designed as highly user
friendly manner and the web/mobile solution can easily
adopt by the military personals.
Further, this application is functioning in any mobile
service provider’s coverage area. It allows the
coordination with the GSM technology as well. This High-
Tech soldier application is collaborated with the web-
based GIS (WebGIS) technology and enabled users to
process and generates its information from the ground to
the map. Nevertheless, the High-Tech soldier application
is using Global System for Mobile communications (GSM),
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network and GPS
satellite positioning system as new insight of its functions.
5. CONCLUSION
The result of this development is to find new way to
unfold the battle using new technology. This application
could provide enormous benefits for the Sri Lanka military
ongoing operations, mission planning and trainings. The
IPB is an invention of modern technology and facilitate
with the collaboration of navy and air force. This gives
immense benefits to the three forces while in the
battlefield environment. Also in the digital era, the
connectivity is the main measurement of success in any
modern program. The application also having the
infrastructure of extended network features within the
second of responded interface capability.
Currently, the army military persons are using
this high-tech soldier application on the emergency
situations of the country. Even in the joint operations or
disaster situation is highly effective. Apart from the
aforesaid main objective functions, other objectives also
fulfilled by this application. The High-Tech soldier web
based solution and android mobile application have
corporate with the GIS technology to cater the national
requirement in an effective manner.
In conclusion, the High-Tech soldier application has
proved admirable success in future endeavours of the
military battlefields by using the modern technology
insights as locally.
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Abbreviation
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The CRD (Centre for Research and Development) and the
Director General Brig (Dr) STS De Silva (Rted) has
immensely supported for this research and warmly thank
to the Kotalawala Defence University to giving us the
opportunity for the publication of the research outcomes
to the community.