Improvement of speed and resources-consumption in MSS, MssDraw and MssComposer

MssDraw and MssComposer ,the applications to create military map overlays as well as to manage organization-/operation-structures and state of readiness-/means-tables , have been improved step by step in the last months. The main goal was to enhance the applications speed by using less memory.
The low consumption of memory lets the applications MSS, MssDraw and MssComposer run smoothly on the hardware used in the Army or installed on military vehicles. Furthermore the applications run also without any noticeable delays on subnotebooks of the first generation or on a windows 10 tablet with ATOM processor.

NATO uses MSS

MIR GEN used to generate MIP matching - 1

MIR GEN used to generate MIP matching - 2

MIR GEN used to generate MIP matching - 3

MIR GEN used to generate MIP matching - 4

MIR GEN used to generate MIP matching - 5

MIR GEN used to generate MIP matching - 6

The NATO Military Interoperability Program (MIP or short NATO - JC3IEDM) uses MIR GEN of gs-soft. This application bases on MSS® and thereby contains all symbols and tactical graphics defined in the international standards. The participants from the various nations use MIR GEN to link military symbols and tactical graphics from the standards MIL-STD-2525C, MIL-STD-2525B, APP-6A and APP-6B with the corresponding MIP-IDs . The final product of this work is amongst others the central data base which contains the single links between MIP ID and Symbol ID (more than 300’000 single links). Additionally, MIR GEN allows creating reports directly out of the maintained data.

The international use of MSS shows the versatile applicability the product.
You can find further information about the application MIR GEN in the documentation of the application.
Some of the documents generated with MIR GEN can be downloaded from the NATO - JC3IEDM / MIP homepage.

MssDraw switch on Touch Mode

As of MssStick version 3.1.3 it will be possible to activate the "Tablet-Version" functionality in the options window of MssDraw. This function enables the touch-optimated use of the application. MssDraw can be executed then without any problems on one of the new Windows 8 Touch-Screen PC's or a Windows 8 Tablet.
The maintenance of the maps with activated "Tablet-Version" will be processed via from further mobile devices already well known Gestures. Additionally, we enhanced the editing and placing of symbols and tactical graphics on the map.

MssStick / MssDraw - Use on Touch-Screen PC

MssStick / MssDraw - on Windows 10 Tablet

Symbol-Stacking (grouping) of Military Symbols

In the past few weeks, we have focused on two direct user feedback:

Grouping of symbols: Symbols with the same reference point can be grouped in a box. Staff-symbols with the same reference point can be joint together with a general staff-bar (see print-screen on the right).
Reference line with text-label: A text-label containing the name of the location can be added to the reference point of the reference line.

These two new features will help generating a easy to understand military map overlay.

Integration of Swiss Naval Navigation Symbols

In the past two weeks, we have set the focus on the integration of maritime symbols.

Integration of regulations 57.004: Naval navigation symbols defined in the Swiss Armed Forces regulation 57.004 have been added to the MSS Library. This enables the planning of military work on and in the water as well as the creation of an operation picture for the movement of military units on the water.
Integration of the European inland water navigation signs: In addition the most commonly used signs in the European inland water navigation have been added into the MSS Library. This will allow the creation of a joined common operation picture between civil units (police, firefighter, …) and the armed forces.

MssDraw Naval Navigation Symbols Aare in Aarau

GoogleEarth Export Naval Navigation Symbols of Aare in Aarau

Electronic documentation of military reconnaissance

Test of MssSticks for Air Force Specific Use

MssDraw is the first application that offers an easy way to represent a joint operation picture in the Swiss Armed Forces. The application enables the combination of the various military map layers from the different source systems as well as from the different staffs (combination of operational picture of air- and land forces).

As a prove of concept for the use of the MssStick in the air force we’ve integrated the obstacle map (GIS-Set of power lines, cable cars, lifts,...) into MssDraw. This could be done easily using just a few clicks.

MssDraw combines military map overlayer from air force with ground force

Military map overlay generated in MssDraw and exported to GoogleEarth

Integration of Map-Service for World Map

This week we've focused on the integration of the online map service openstreetmap.org as an additional map project into MssDraw. This proof of concept demonstrates the simplicity of adding a new or additional map service to the application.

Two different styles of maps are provided while connected to the internet; namely satellite images and street maps. We hope our users will like this new feature as it enables the generation of tactical layers in locations all over the world.

This new feature makes it possible to run the MssStick without the cost of licensing map material.

Example of Satellite Layer provided in OpenStreet Map

Operational Picture on OpenStreet Map background

GoogleEarth Export of Layer generated in MssDraw (3D View)

Example of MssDraw with integrated OpenStreetmap

Example of Military Exercise in Desert. Used maps: Satellite Layer provided in OpenStreet Map

Example of displaying observation-sectors of a tank platoon on standard OpenStreet Map WMTS maps

Example of MssDraw showing MilX-Layer with pins of specific locations on OpenStreet Map WMTS map background

Example of sector boundaries of a military exercises

Visualizing Radio connectivity between troop in MssDraw using OpenStreet Map standard WMTS maps

Example of military custom grid in MssDraw using OpenStreet Map standard WMTS maps

GoogleEarth Export of Layer generated in MssDraw

Improvement of Military Symbol Search

The MSS library in the MssStick includes today over 3'500 symbols and tactical graphics. This can make it difficult to find the correct symbol. Even with the help of the well-structured galleries in the Start-Tab it’s not easy.

The new “Search in MSS Library” function is based on direct user feedback. This new search option should enable the user to find the correct symbol or tactical graphic much easier and faster. The search option will work with the name of the symbol or tactical graphic as well as with the abbreviation in the supported languages.

This function will be part in the next MssStick version.

Integration of Civil Symbols and Graphics

Over the past year we have added the civil symbols and tactical graphics defined in the new regulations 52.002.03 (official release of regulation: 1.3.2012) into the MSS library. User feedback has helped us to identify many more symbols and graphics which we have categorized and added to the MSS library. On the right hand you can find a small selection of these symbols and tactical graphics.

The new symbols will be available in the next version of the MssStick which will be released at the end of May 2012.