SUMMARY OF CAPABILITIES

PLANNING AND OPTIMIZATION

Examples of Recent Applications using Swarm Intelligence

Optimizing Unmanned Air Vehicle Mission Planning

In work done for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, swarm intelligence was used to optimize mission planning for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).  Operationally realistic scenarios involving multiple UAVs, multiple targets, and multiple tasks per target were used.  An example scenario involves six UAVs, five targets, and two tasks per target (destroy target and verify).  Scenarios as complex as 12 UAVs, eleven targets, and three tasks per target were successfully demonstrated.  Because of the complexity of the problem and the multiple constraints associated with it (such as turning radius of the UAVs), it took over two days to obtain a solution using mixed integer linear programming (MILP), then state of the art for the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, for the six UAV scenario described above, and an optimized mission plan for the scenario involving 12 UAVs could not be computed.  Mission planning systems using PSO generated optimal mission plans orders of magnitude faster than MILP solutions, and in the case of the six-UAV scenario reduced the planning time for an optimal solution from two days to approximately 1.5 seconds, a reduction of four orders of magnitude.

Optimizing Electronic Warfare Resource Allocation

In a project done for the Expeditionary Electronic Warfare Division, Spectrum Warfare Systems Department, at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, swarm intelligence was used to allocate electronic warfare resources in a rapidly changing environment on a near-real-time basis.  In an operational scenario involving the allocation of multiple receiver resources against a suite of dozens of signals with varying powers, priorities, etc., the state-of-the-art system available to the Navy required nearly two hours to calculate the optimal receiver center frequencies, clearly not useful in an operational environment.  The system developed using a new and proprietary version of particle swarm optimization (PSO) optimally allocates resources in less than one second.  The U. S. Navy has filed a patent on this application, and on the new PSO version.  Phoenix Data Corporation (PDC) is acquiring rights to this patent, for which the lead inventor is Dr. Eberhart, CTO of PDC.

Electromagnetic Environment Script Generation

Electromagnetic signals over a wide frequency spectrum are frequently monitored at multiple locations in a geographic area over varying time windows.  For example, spectral data may be acquired at dozens of locations in a metropolitan area at varying times of day, both on weekdays and on weekends.  If a military operation is to be simulated for that area, it is desirable to be able to simulate the electromagnetic environment (EME) as well as the physical environment.  For example, if a training exercise at a training facility in Southern Indiana is to simulate an operational scenario in a large city (CONUS or OCONUS), it is desirable to simulate the EME that warfighters would encounter in that city.  A system was developed by Computelligence LLC, now part of Phoenix Data Corporation, to achieve the rapid generation of EME scripts from raw spectral data from multiple locations taken at various times.  The system uses PSO, with humans serving as particles within the particle swarm (Hu and Eberhart 2008).  This human-in-the-swarm methodology has reduced the time required to generate EME scripts for a training environment from months to minutes.

TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Following is a summary of key capabilities of Phoenix Data Corporation (PDC) related to training and workforce development.  The first part of the summary is divided into three areas of experience, although some overlap exists among them: university, industry, and government.  The summary concludes with a list of technical areas for which we are capable of delivering training.

University-related experience:

PDC staff members have participated in curriculum development at the university level for Electrical and Computer Engineering programs in North Carolina and Indiana, including course development, and new curriculum development requiring University Board of Trustees approval. 
As Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Eberhart of PDC guided the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, and as Department Chair, guided the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, through the American Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation processes.
PDC staff have developed and implemented evaluation methodologies to determine teaching effectiveness in the classroom.
We have organized, developed, and delivered technical tutorial sessions at major international conferences such as the IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence.
We have participated in STEM and Project Lead the Way programs in Indiana. 
We have thousands of hours of experience in classroom material preparation, delivery and evaluation.

Government-related experience:

For the State of Indiana, in Marion, Indiana PDC has a large mailroom and document processing operation providing imaging, OCR/ICR, image capture and  validation, including the ability to provide storage/retrieval/ archiving of data.  With respect to that operation, we have the following capabilities:

1. PDC trains supervisors on overall contract and task requirements.  They are trained to perform any of the individual tasks on any of the machines.
2. Supervisors receive PDC training on human relations, and on human resource policies and procedures.
3. Employees on the floor receive training on data capture and image capture from electronic and paper documents, as well as scanning, indexing, and classification of document types.
4. Employees are given PDC training on preparation of supporting documentation.
5. Employees and supervisors receive PDC training on quality assurance and performance level measurement and documentation.

Industry-related experience:

1. PDC has designed and delivered technical workshops and symposia to major corporate clients.
2. Dr. Eberhart at PDC played a key role in the development of the joint Purdue-Naval Post Graduate School Masters program in electrical and computer engineering with a specialty in electronic warfare.

Technical Capability Areas: PDC can provide technical training in the following areas:

• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Electronic Warfare
• Database Management
• System Integration and Implementation

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

Phoenix Data Corporation delivers data and business management solutions that simplify even the most complicated of operations.  The company has established a reputation for critical speed and accuracy in paper document and backfile conversion to electronic data systems, software applications integrating new data with existing networks, call centers and help desks to facilitate communication, mail room operations and other business process solutions – all designed to create greater efficiency, productivity and cost savings.

MAILROOM AND DOCUMENT PROCESSING OPERATION

Phoenix Data Corporation’s largest current document imaging contract involves the management and operation of the Marion, Indiana Document Center providing scanning facilities for the Indiana Family Social Services Administration (FSSA).  Image processing at this facility involves the receipt of both mail and electronic documents.  Phoenix has a complete mail room and storage facility, two mail opening devices, eight Opex Scanners, and a staff of 40 people performing image processing at this site.  The eligibility documents must be received, logged, scanned, classified, indexed and then exported to an enterprise content management system.  Phoenix operates to service level objectives that require all documents to be scanned within one business day, processed the next business day, and a classification accuracy of 98%.  This ten-year contract, which started in December, 2006 will image over 22 million pages in 2011. The volume for this center will significantly increase as the eligibility modernization solution is rolled out to remaining counties in the State.   In 2012, the throughput is expected to expand to approximately 40 million pages.  Since this work includes scanning documents with personal medical and financial information, the scanning and processing operations must adhere to the strict compliance standards of HIPAA.

With respect to that operation, we have the following workforce capabilities:

1. PDC trains supervisors on overall contract and task requirements.  They are trained to perform any of the individual tasks on any of the machines.
2. Supervisors receive PDC training on human relations, and on human resource policies and procedures.
3. Employees on the floor receive training on data capture and image capture from electronic and paper documents, as well as scanning, indexing, and classification of document types.
4. Employees are given PDC training on preparation of supporting documentation.
5. Employees and supervisors receive PDC training on quality assurance and performance level measurement and documentation.

Flowchart 1 illustrates the process implemented at Marion, Indiana for the State of Indiana FSSA.

SENSITIVE DOCUMENT ARCHIVING AND RETRIEVAL

In a project for the Maritime Electronic Warfare Systems Division, Spectrum Warfare Systems Department, at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, Phoenix Data Corporation is developing and implementing a system to archive a large volume of classified documents.  The project includes the development of a detailed specification for the design and operation of a data management system which will enable the government to electronically archive Maritime EW Systems Division classified documents and magnetic media currently being stored in a secure vault and secure file cabinets in offices.  The documents include, but are not limited to, letters, memoranda, technical manuals, drawings and magnetic media.

Tasks areas included in the NSWC Crane project effort include:

1. Scanner and scanning software configuration,
2. Document preparation,
3. Image capturing on scanners,
4. Index capture,
5. Quality assurance,
6. Software development,
7. Project management, and,
8. Reporting and documentation of the project.

Attached as Flowchart 2 is the process flow for the sensitive document archiving and retrieval system being implemented at NSWC Crane.

ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT CREATION AND EDITING

Phoenix Data Corporation software engineers and programmers are experienced at creating and editing electronic documents and fillable forms a variety of formats.  Phoenix staff are currently implementing document applications in the .NET and SharePoint environments, and are familiar with HTML and XTML application development.  Phoenix has capability and experience in user interface enhancements using linked code modules written in one or more of a variety of languages, including, but not limited to, C#, Visual Basic, and Java.

Phoenix has a working knowledge of Federal IT and documentation requirements, including Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA).  Of direct relevance to this project are Subpart B, Section 1194.21 (Software Applications and Operating Systems); Subpart B, Section 1194.22 (Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications); and Subpart D (Information, Documentation, and Support).  Phoenix will implement all requirements of these sections, and other sections of Section 508, as applicable to this project.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

In programs involving U. S. military and naval forces to all levels of government to large health care organizations, Phoenix Data Corporation utilizes program and project management methodologies that are both efficient and effective.  Phoenix’s decades of combined experience in program management in business operations, information technology, and engineering helps organizations and projects run strong.  Our level of management experience and professionalism has led Phoenix to become one of the fastest growing woman-owned businesses in the country.

Flowchart 1 – Process flow of Phoenix Data Corporation operation at Marion, Indiana.

Flowchart 2 – Process flow or NSWC Crane Sensitive Document Archiving Project