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AGI Analysis on Virtual Globes

Click for larger view For engineers, virtual globes such as Virtual Earth and Google Earth offer an alternative venue for displaying and publishing geospatial content for use in situational awareness and geospatial intelligence operations. AGI software enables high-fidelity analysis of time-dynamic assets that can be displayed in virtual globes by utilizing architecture developed with extensibility options that allow users a wide range of flexibility in sharing analysis results. By providing access to AGI's objects and data providers, engineers can report data that can be easily reformatted for virtual globes and other application APIs. AGI's validated and verified technology complements virtual globes by exporting analysis for critical mission information such as access times between mission assets, sensor footprints and fields of view, coverage calculations based on custom figures of merit, defined areas of interest, and detailed routes for land, sea, air, space, and missile assets within the operating picture.

  • Overview


  • Click for larger view AGI software leverages analytic modeling and simulation to create, analyze, and visualize new content based on real-world environments and constraints. Since it is highly adaptable, AGI technology can push out analysis to other platforms, such as virtual globes, providing users with the ability to display complex mission analyses that include:

    Access time calculations

    Access calculations tell users when and where mission assets can see one another; whether it is for a satellite overflight mission of a target area, a communications link analysis between a UAV, a satellite, and a ground control segment; or any other type of multi-body inter-visibility relationship that affects your mission. Access calculations can take into account complex "visibility" constraints, which include physical (terrain, body masking), geometric (range, angle, etc.), sensor field of view, weather, jamming interference, and user-defined obscuration.

    Sensor collection

    Sensor objects allow users to model conic, rectangular, SAR, and custom fields of view for asset payloads or constraints. Mission planners can use this functionality to optimize collection opportunities and perform scheduling while taking into account environmental effects such as terrain and body obscuration. Sensors can be defined as fixed in axis, target pointing, and scanning, and can directly interact with access calculations to dynamically show when an object or area is within a sensor's field of view.

    Coverage calculations

    Coverage calculations analyze an unlimited number of problems, such as how the failure of one satellite in a constellation will affect overall coverage; what areas are obstructed from satellite communications by the local terrain; where and when coverage gaps exist; and when opportunities for simultaneous data collection by multiple satellites are available. After coverage areas and assets (satellites, ground stations, etc.) are defined, coverage contours are characterized by user-selected figures of merit, which include N asset satisfaction, Dilution of Precision, and more, and are then displayed graphically.

    Complex routes

    Users can view routes for land, air, and sea assets while visualizing missile trajectories and satellite orbits from LEO to GEO. Routes can be imported from external files or created using complex propagation models, such as Aircraft Mission Modeler and the High-Fidelity Orbit Propagator for satellites.

  • Utilities


  • These free AGI developed utilities display geospatial results and time-dynamic analytical information in virtual globes. The data export utilities are available for download on the right side of this page. Example data pulled from several STK scenarios are provided below.

    Sample KMZ Files

    GIS Analysis

    In response to the earthquake off the coast of Peru, South America on 8/15/2007, a timely damage assessment mission is ordered with available assets, including imaging satellites and reconnaissance aircraft. Planning for the mission includes computing satellite overflight times and aircraft route designs for optimal coverage of the affected region in STK. Terrain effects on GPS navigation accuracy, which will play a part during the mission, is also analyzed. The STK analysis in this KMZ file is available in both static and dynamic formats.

    Open KMZ in Google Earth
    (12.5 MB)

    Download KMZ
    (12.3 MB)

    Navigation Coverage

    This scenario demonstrates STK's ability to compute navigation accuracy for GNSS operations. An F-18 dependent on GPS for navigation is on a training mission in the northeastern United States. Access to one of the four best GPS satellites currently in view of the F-18 is calculated, while static Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) coverage is being computed for CONUS in order to show regional dynamic navigation accuracy for the GPS constellation during the mission.

    Open KMZ in Google Earth
    (762 KB)

    Download KMZ
    (797 KB)

    Satellite Overflight

    This KML sample data was created from an STK scenario that depicts a LEO satellite and its nadir sensor swath as it flies over the United States. The satellite sensor has access to two ground facilities in different intervals during the scenario run time. Pass coverage has been computed to show the regions in the U.S. where the sensor passes over during the course of the mission.

    Open KMZ in Google Earth
    (2.19 MB)

    Download KMZ
    (2.19 MB)

    Webinar Data

    The following data was used in the Virtual Globe webinar presentation and includes visual cues that span the entire scope of STK analysis available for display in virtual globe applications.

    Open KMZ in Google Earth
    (5.23 MB)

    Download KMZ
    (5.23 MB)
    Utilities Download


    KML Utility
    The following utility converts your STK analysis into KML data. By opening the tool in STK’s HTML window, users can select from the objects present in a loaded STK scenario and output KML files for display in:

    • Google Earth
    • NASA World Wind
    • Esri's ArcGIS Explorer
    • Other KML-compliant virtual globe readers

    Download Zip
    (89.5 KB)

    Microsoft Virtual Earth KML Reader
    Microsoft Virtual Earth can read in data through its open API. With the KML Export Utility and Reader both open in STK, users can export STK data and then open that data in the Virtual Earth Reader. For more information, view the ReadMe file included in the utility download.

    Download Zip
    (4.88 KB)

    Click for larger view

  • Webinars


  • The following webinar resources are available for download below:

    Recorded event: Visualizing STK Analyses in Google Earth and other Virtual Globes
    Date of event: Thursday, May 24, 2007
    Presenter Info: David Massa, AGI Product Manager
    Duration: 45 minutes
    Description: Software users interested in sharing analyses through free 3D visualization environments now have a wide range of options available such as Google Earth, NASA World Wind, Esri ArcGIS Explorer, Microsoft Virtual Earth, and AGI Viewer. David Massa of AGI's Product Management team describes how AGI technology can be used to author content served to virtual globes. In addition to describing the ability to generate data for the future of thin clients, David illustrates how AGI technology can be used to:

    • Create satellite orbits and vehicle routes,
    • Model sensors for dynamic platforms,
    • Perform line-of-sight calculations between objects, and
    • Calculate sensor coverage.
    Downloads: Recorded Webinar (integrated slide show & audio with Q&A)
    Webinar Video (Zip)
    Webinar PowerPoint Only
    Getting Started with STK Video Tutorial

  • User Applications

  • Videos


  • Discover how STK analysis can be exported to KML data and read into KML-compliant virtual globes using a free sample HTML utility developed by AGI. The video also shows how to set up the HTML utility in STK and steps through the utility's source code in order to detail how STK's API was used to access our data providers to author the analytical content.

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