The CDB Specification provides the means for a single, versionable, simulation-rich, synthetic representation of the earth. A database that conforms to this Specification is referred to as a Common DataBase (CDB). A CDB provides for a synthetic environment repository that is plug-and-play interoperable between database authoring workstations. Moreover, a CDB can be used as a common on-line (or runtime) repository from which various simulator client-devices can simultaneously retrieve and modify, in real-time, relevant information to perform their respective runtime simulation tasks; in this case, a CDB is plug-and-play interoperable between CDB-compliant simulators. A CDB can be readily used by existing simulation client-devices (legacy Image Generators, Radar simulator, Computer Generated Forces, etc.) through a data publishing process that is performed on-demand in real-time.

The application of CDB to future simulator architectures will significantly reduce runtime-source level and algorithmic correlation errors, while reducing development, update and configuration management timelines. With the addition of the HLA/FOM and DIS protocols, the application of the CDB Specification provides a Common Environment to which inter-connected simulators share a common view of the simulated environment.

The CDB Specification is an open format Specification for the storage, access and modification of a synthetic environment database. The Specification defines the data representation, organization and storage structure of a worldwide synthetic representation of the earth as well as the conventions necessary to support all of the subsystems of a full-mission simulator. The Specification makes use of several commercial and simulation data formats endorsed by leaders of the database tools industry.

The CDB synthetic environment is a representation of the natural environment including external features such as man-made structures and systems. It encompasses the terrain relief, terrain imagery, three-dimensional (3D) models of natural and man-made cultural features, 3D models of dynamic vehicles, the ocean surface, and the ocean bottom, including features (both natural and man-made) on the ocean floor. In addition, the synthetic environment includes the specific attributes of the synthetic environment data as well as their relationships.

A CDB contains datasets organized in layers, tiles and levels-of-detail; together, these datasets represent the features of a synthetic environment for the purposes of distributed simulation applications. The organization of the synthetic environmental data in a CDB is specifically tailored for real-time applications.

-- DavidGraham - 12 Dec 2014