Tactical Graphics Description Language

Abstract

Military tactical graphics are used to visualize and plan various command and control features on a tactical map. MIL-STD-2525 and APP-6 series standards make definition of tactical graphics. Since hundreds of complex tactical graphics are defined in standards, a sophisticated design approach is needed in order to achieve a successful software library implementation. A domain specific language named TGDL (Tactical Graphic Description Language) is proposed in this work and implemented on a desktop and web map software to define tactical graphics. This paper introduces TGDL and design approach to implement tactical graphics as a software library. TGDL effectiveness is also analyzed by using tools and metrics.

Appendix A: Instruction set for TGDL

Item	Description
First line	Name of tactical graphic
Second Line	Description
PT1 0.0 0.0	First control point position
PT2 -0.25 0.0	Second control point position
D PI 2	Accumulate distance between PI and P2
B PI 2	Accumulate bearing between PI and P2
C PI 2	Accumulate center of PI and P2
T Text	Add text to accumulated point
ARP11.00	Add reckoned position from PI to distance*1.0 and angle 0
N	Add null point, ends a geometry and starts new one in same type
A	Add accumulated position
API	Add PI
L	Add line
SL	Add spline
LA	Add anticipated Line String
CRA	Add anticipated corridor
CR	Add corridor
CW 0.5	Corridor width is 0.5
P	Add polygon
Rl 2.0 45.0	Accumulate intersection between last accumulated point and last added line
CON P3 1 2	P3 should be perpendicular to PI and P2
CON P3 1 2	P3 should be perpendicular to PI and P2
LSOl	Line start offset is 1
D PN 12	Distance of last pointto PI and P2 line
R P1 1.0 0	Accumulates reckoned position from PI
CL Text	Add text to center of line
LT Text	Sets legtext string for line
TS X10	Text style 10 pixel X offset
TS Y10	Text style 10 pixel Y offset
TS OXL/R/C	Text style X orientation to left/right/center
$Parameter	Defines parameter
TR	Rotated text
LZ 0.04 0.5 1 10 2 0 20	Zigzag line string. 0.04 is zigzag scale according to polygon size. Next aarameters are points based on aattern starting coordinates.
LZF	Zigzag filled line string.
PZ	Zigzag polygon.
SEC $AM $AM1 $AN2 $AN3	Sector, radius 1, radius 2, angle 1, angle 2
//	Comment
INFO	Not displayed on MAP, only for information
1 Reflcon S45	Use Reflcon with size 45 point