“It’s Our Spark”
BISim has used IT2EC to launch a new cloud-capable simulation product called Mantle ETM [Enterprise Terrain Management], developed in conjunction with BISim subsidiary, TerraSim. The company has been working on the COTS-based product for the past three years to deliver simulated terrain for training, mission rehearsal and terrain analysis.
Mantle ETM can deliver a cloud-capable visualisation solution or stand-alone server/desktop delivery, and is based on the work BISim has been doing with the US Army for its Synthetic Training Environment (STE) programme.
“One of Mantle ETM’s use cases is taking geospatial terrain data from almost any source and providing a high fidelity, procedurally improved base globe to multiple simulations or visualisation runtimes. This essentially makes it an important tool for creating a Digital Twin of anywhere on Earth,” explained Earl Laamanen, TerraSim’s Technical Director.
Making accurate terrain replications for high-fidelity simulation has always been difficult and challenging for visualisation specialists. This is because searching out good source data, building correlated terrain for multiple runtime requirements, synchronising data between different simulation clients, storing the vast amount of source data, using classified and other restricted data, and editing data ‘on the fly’ have always been difficult challenges to overcome. Historically, these challenges have resulted in separate specialist teams building terrain data disconnected from the point-of-need of users together with the high costs and long lead times to obtain the required finished terrain.
“The answer is to get the database to the user as quickly as possible and Mantle ETM simplifies this task,” Pete Morrison, BISim’s Chief Commercial Officer told MilTech during the show in London. “Enterprise-wide terrain handling for simulation and visualization by providing users with a cloud-capable terrain server that can be integrated with existing terrain capabilities, in the format that they need and can use immediately is the answer to so many current and future simulation requirements.”
As well as Mantle ETM, BISim was also on a high after being selected for the UK MoD’s Defence Visual Simulation 2 (DVS 2) requirement, announced just before the commencement of the show. (See MON coverage of the announcement here). This five-year managed service contract runs until 2027 and sees BISim carry on the work initially delivered on DVS 1.
Now owned by BAE Systems, Morrison is pleased with BISim’s relationship with its new owners, despite the challenges presented by other serious games-based companies. “As far as BAE Systems is concerned, they have been true to their word and kept us as an independently managed company,” he said. “The benefit has been that our IR&D budget has increased and we can now look at other projects such as cloud delivery of VBS4. As to competition, yes it has increased but its also important for us as it keeps us moving forward to innovate and to develop new solutions. It’s our spark,” he told MilTech.
