Migration of a SEDRIS Application for Dismounted 

Infantry Simulation 

by Andrew M. Neiderer 

ARL-TR-3009 July 2003 

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
NOTICES 

Disclaimers 

The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless 

so designated by other authorized documents. 

Citation of manufacturer’s or trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the 

use thereof. 

Destroy this report when it is no longer needed. Do not return it to the originator. 
Army Research Laboratory 

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5067 

ARL-TR-3009 July 2003 

Migration of a SEDRIS Application for Dismounted 

Infantry Simulation 

Andrew M. Neiderer 

Computational and Information Sciences Directorate, ARL 

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
ii

Report Documentation Page Form Approved 

OMB No. 0704-0188

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection 

of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-

0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any 

penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 

1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)

July 2003 

2. REPORT TYPE 

Final 

3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 

December 2002 – April 2003 

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 

5b. GRANT NUMBER 

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 

Migration of a SEDRIS Application for Dismounted Infantry Simulation 

5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 

5d. PROJECT NUMBER 

3TEDNC 

5e. TASK NUMBER 

6. AUTHOR(S) 

Andrew M. Neiderer 

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 

U.S. Army Research Laboratory 

ATTN: AMSRL-CI-CT 

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5067 

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION 

 REPORT NUMBER 

ARL-TR-3009 

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) 

11. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT 

 NUMBER(S) 

12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 

14. ABSTRACT 

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory Dismounted Infantry Simulator has been updated for Synthetic Environment Data 

Representation and Interchange Specification (SEDRIS) 3.1.1 transmittal generation. Specifically, the SEDRIS 3.0.3 write 

application for a munition/structure interaction, as computed by DISim, is now compliant with the 3.1.1 specification. 

SEDRIS defines a comprehensive standard for the representation and distribution of environmental data. Our initial effort 

only involved two of the five components of the SEDRIS technology—the Data Representation Model and the Application 

Programming Interface. The other three components will be added directly, if needed, since translation would not be 

necessary. It is our intent to not only present a unique solution but to also identify potential areas of concern for a general 

3.0.3 to 3.1.1 migration. 

15. SUBJECT TERMS

SEDRIS, Data Representation Model, transmittal generation, distributed simulation programming 

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 

19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON

Andrew M. Neiderer 

a. REPORT 

UNCLASSIFIED 

b. ABSTRACT 

UNCLASSIFIED

c. THIS PAGE 

UNCLASSIFIED

17. LIMITATION 

OF ABSTRACT 

UL 

18. NUMBER 

OF PAGES 

 46 

19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code) 

410-278-3203 

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98) 

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18
iii

Contents 

List of Tables iv

1. Introduction 1

2. Migration of STF_Fracture 1

3. Conclusion and Future Efforts 4

4. References 5

Appendix A. Tree Representation of STF_Fracture Transmittal 7

Appendix B. 3.0.3 STF_Fracture Class 9

Appendix C. 3.1.1 STF_Fracture Class 25
iv

List of Tables 

Table 1. Transmittal root and top level objects of STF_Fracture...................................................2 

Table 2. Changes to model library of STF_Fracture. .....................................................................3 

Table 3. Changes to image library of STF_Fracture.......................................................................3 
1

1. Introduction 

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Dismounted Infantry Simulator (DISim) is a 

training system for military operations on urban terrain (1). One particular application of DISim 

is the real-time computation and display of an urban structure fractured by a munition (2) and 

subsequent distribution of resultant rubble (3). The DISim approximation is empirically based, 

taking into account only the geometry of the situation; but a physical solution is being considered 

when real-time display is not compromised. An example of its utility could be when a soldier 

affixes an explosive on a building and then detonates it for tactical entry to the building interior. 

Simulation of such a perforation is computed by the DISim Hole Library, which is written in the 

object-oriented language C++. The resultant geometry and corresponding attribute data for the 

effected structure(s) are placed in Synthetic Environment Data Representation and Interchange 

Specification (SEDRIS) transmittal(s); the C++ language bindings of the application 

programming interface (API) are used for transmittal generation. SEDRIS transmittal formatted 

(STF) data is then available to compliant read APIs on a network of computers. 

ARL recently decided to update DISim for the latest SEDRIS technology (from 3.0.3 to 3.1.1), 

after several suggestions from the SEDRIS mailing list. Many on that list, which is primarily 

monitored by SEDRIS associates, believe 3.1.1 is not only more stable but also offers a much 

more consistent interface. Their web site (4) provides both guidance and software to promote 

migration. This includes a Perl script for global string replacement with exact matching. There 

are restrictions, however, when running the name_change.pl script as documented by a 

README file at the same web site. Still our application had to be manually edited for full 3.1.1 

compliancy. 

It is our hope that this report will assist in 3.0.3 to 3.1.1 migration of SEDRIS applications. We 

only address the Data Representation Model and the API for interchange of the environmental 

data. Our application did not use the other components—namely, the Spatial Reference Model, 

the Environmental Data Coding Specification, and the STF. Those who are just learning 

SEDRIS may want to go directly to the 3.1.1 specification. 

2. Migration of STF_Fracture 

Appendix A depicts the format of an STF_Fracture transmittal. The actual C++ class for the 

3.0.3 write API (Appendix B) has been modified for 3.1.1 transmittal generation (Appendix C). 

Both versions are included in the appendices for a line-by-line comparison. The overall design 

of the class has stayed the same, but the representation (member data) and the interface (member 
2

functions) had to be changed. Data types, class fields, and constants were either renamed or 

removed as necessary. 

The STF_Fracture interface has been divided into three tables. Table 1 consists of methods for 

instantiating an STF_Fracture object, including the transmittal root and the following top-level 

objects: description, point of contact, access, data quality, keywords, absolute time point, 

citation, rocess, and transmittal summary. All text strings, which are simply defined as a 

sequence of ASCII characters, were updated as shown. Sometimes this was an entire class name 

(e.g., SE_OBJECT renamed to SE_Object), and other times only the field name had to be 

changed (e.g., string_value renamed to characters). Table 2 lists string values that were changed 

when constructing containers of geometric and attribute data. Each geometric primitive, which 

is a triangle in our simulation environment, has a mapping function pointing to data in the image 

library. The addImage() method in Table 3 is needed for placing texture data in this library. 

Note that multiple occurrences of identical replacements are not repeated in successive tables. 

This was done to minimize entries in these three tables. 

Table 1. Transmittal root and top level objects of STF_Fracture. 

Method Name 3.0.3 String 3.1.1 String 

create() SE_CREATE 

SE_SUCCESS 

SE_AC_MODE_CREATE 

SE_STAT_CODE_SUCCESS 

createDescription() SE_OBJECT 

SE_FIELDS 

SE_TRANSMITTAL_ROOT_TOKEN 

string_length 

string_value 

SE_SUCCESS 

SE_DESCRIPTION_TOKEN 

SE_POINT_OF_CONTACT_TOKEN 

SE_ACCESS_TOKEN 

SE_DATA_QUALITY_TOKEN 

SE_KEYWORDS_TOKEN 

SE_ABSOLUTE_TIME_POINT_TOKEN 

SE_CITATION_TOKEN 

SE_PROCESS_TOKEN 

SE_TRANSMITTAL_SUMMARY_TOKEN 

SE_Object 

SE_Fields 

SE_DRM_CLS_TRANSMITTAL_ROOT 

length 

characters 

SE_STAT_CODE_SUCCESS 

SE_DRM_CLS_DESCRIPTION 

SE_DRM_CLS_POINT_OF_CONTACT 

SE_DRM_CLS_ACCESS 

SE_DRM_CLS_DATA_QUALITY 

SE_DRM_CLS_KEYWORDS 

SE_DRM_CLS_ABSOLUTE_TIME_POINT 

SE_DRM_CLS_CITATION 

SE_DRM_CLS_PROCESS 

SE_DRM_CLS_TRANSMITTAL_SUMMARY 

The approach taken was to examine the core header file sedris.h for actual changes to the API. 

Although this may not have been the most efficient approach for simple changes, it did result in a 

better understanding of the new definition. The alternative is using the previously mentioned 

script. 

The application programmer will probably have little difficulty in strict string replacement for a 

particular case. However, actual logic changes require a more thorough understanding of 

SEDRIS technology. In our particular application, there were two main areas of concern. First, 

it was determined that the SE_AddToTransmittal() function had to be removed in 3.1.1. This
3

Table 2. Changes to model library of STF_Fracture. 

Method Name 3.0.3 String 3.1.1 String 

createModelLib() SE_OBJECT 

SE_FIELDS 

SE_MODEL_LIBRARY_TOKEN 

SE_MODEL_TOKEN 

string_length 

string_value 

SE_GEOMETRY MODEL_TOKEN 

SE_UNION_OF_PRIMITIVE_GEOMETRY_TOKEN 

SE_Object 

SE_Fields 

SE_DRM_CLS_MODEL_LIBRARY 

SE_DRM_CLS_MODEL 

length 

characters 

SE_DRM_CLS_GEOMETRY_MODEL 

SE_DRM_CLS_UNION_OF_PRIMITIVE_GEOMETRY 

addPolygons() SE_POLYGON_TOKEN 

SE_IMAGE_MAPPING_FUNCTION_TOKEN 

SE_REPLACE_IMAGE 

SE_REPEAT_IMAGE 

SE_PLANAR_IMAGE_PROJECTION 

SE_VERTEX_TOKEN 

SE_LSR_LOCATION_3D_TOKEN 

LSR_Location_3D.x 

LSR_Location_3D.y 

LSR_Location_3D.z 

SE_RGB_COLOR_TOKEN 

SE_TEXTURE_COORDINATE_TOKEN 

SE_DRM_CLS_POLYGON 

SE_DRM_CLS_IMAGE_MAPPING_FUNCTION 

SE_IMG_MAPNG_METH_REPLACE 

SE_IMG_WRAP_REPEAT 

SE_IMG_PROJ_TYP_PLANAR 

SE_DRM_CLS_VERTEX 

SE_DRM_CLS_LSR_LOCATION_3D 

LSR_Location_3D.coordinate.x 

LSR_Location_3D.coordinate.y 

LSR_Location_3D.coordinate.z 

SE_DRM_CLS\_RGB_COLOUR 

SE_DRM_CLS_TEXTURE_COORDINATE 

Table 3. Changes to image library of STF_Fracture. 

Method Name 3.0.3 String 3.1.1 String 

createImageLib() SE_FIELDS 

SE_IMAGE_LIBRARY_TOKEN 

SE_Fields 

SE_DRM_CLS_IMAGE_LIBRARY 

addImage() SE_OBJECT 

SE_IMAGE_TOKEN 

string_length 

string_value 

color_model 

SE_RGB_MODEL 

mip_fields_array 

SE_IMAGE_MIP_FIELDS 

SE_IMAGE_SCAN_RU 

SE_IMAGE_SCAN_Z_NO_Z 

SE_UNSIGNED_INTEGER 

SE_IMAGE_SIGNATURE_LUMINANCE 

bits_of_first_color_coord 

bits_of_second_color_coord 

bits_of_third_color_coord 

max_value_of_first_color_coord 

max_value_of_second_color_coord 

max_value_of_third_color_coord 

SE_IMAGE_SIGNATURE_123COLOR 

SE_Object 

SE_DRM_CLS_IMAGE 

length 

characters 

colour_model 

SE_CLR_MDL_RGB 

mip_extents_array 

SE_Image_MIP_Extents 

SE_IMG_SCAN_DIR_RIGHT_UP 

SE_IMG_SCAN_DIR_Z_NONE 

SE_IMG_COMP_TYP_UNSIGNED_INTEGER 

SE_IMG_SIG_LUMINANCE 

bits_of_colour_coordinate_1 

bits_of_colour_coordinate_2 

bits_of_colour_coordinate_3 

max_value_of_colour_coordinate_1 

max_value_of_colour_coordinate_2 

max_value_of_colour_coordinate_3 

SE_IMG_SIG_123COLOUR 

impacted lines 56–59 of the original STF_Fracture.C (Appendix B). The operation is now 

absorbed when the object is created. 

Also, the 3.1.1 specification states that the implementation identifier argument of 

SE_CreateObject() needs to be replaced by the SE_Transmittal pointer. Secondly, two fields of 

the image mapping function were removed—the id and presentation_domain fields. SEDRIS 

3.1.1 guides state that this can be done safely.
4

3. Conclusion and Future Efforts 

This report presented details for translating the STF_Fracture class of DISim from SEDRIS 3.0.3 

to a 3.1.1 implementation. The exact string replacements were given in the three tables. In 

addition, logic changes were identified, and appropriate methods were modified. 

We are now in the process of validating the generated transmittals for full compliancy. 

“Side-by-Side” (SbS) by Acusoft, Inc., will be used for graphical display of resultant transmittals 

(5). However, the latest version (SbS 2.5) must be used to view 3.1.1 transmittals. 

Future research will include the evaluation of existing technologies for synthetic environment 

representation in a Web environment. Possibilities are extensible markup language applications, 

such as extensible 3D (X3D), and the extensible modeling and simulation framework (XMSF), 

which allows for easy interaction over a highly distributed network. SEDRIS provides a 

thorough description of synthetic environments, but simulators on a network must have a read 

API to understand these transmittals. While XMSF may not be a replacement for SEDRIS, it 

could provide an extension for easier interoperation of simulation applications.
5

4. References 

1. Thomas, M. A. Dismounted Infantry Visualization Research: The Dismounted Infantry 

Simulation (DISim); ARL-TN-193; U.S. Army Research Laboratory: Aberdeen Proving 

Ground, MD, 2002. 

2. Neiderer, A. M.; Thomas, M. A.; Pearson, R. A Fracturing of Polygonal Objects; 

ARL-TR-1649; U.S. Army Research Laboratory: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 1998. 

3. Neiderer, A. M.; Thomas, M. A.; Hansen, C. E. Distribution of Fragments Resulting From 

Polygonal Object Fracture; ARL-TN-182; U.S. Army Research Laboratory: Aberdeen 

Proving Ground, MD, 2001. 

4. SEDRIS Home Page. http://www.sedris.org (accessed May 2003) 

5. Neiderer, A. M. SEDRIS Transmittal Generation for a Dismounted Infantry Simulator; 

ARL-TR-2801; U.S. Army Research Laboratory: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 2002. 

6. Carswell, J.; Campos, J.; Cox, R. The SEDRIS Transmittal Format; Science Applications 

International Corporation: Orlando, FL, 1999. 
6

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. 
7

Appendix A. Tree Representation of STF_Fracture Transmittal 

The following diagram organizes a Synthetic Environment Data Representation and Interchange 

Specification (SEDRIS) transmittal in hierarchical format. A SEDRIS transmittal is generated 

for each munition/structure fracture in the Dismounted Infantry Simulator. 
8
9

Appendix B. 3.0.3 STF_Fracture Class 

The C++ class STF_Fracture encapsulates both data and functions for a Synthetic Environment 

Data Representation and Interchange Specification 3.0.3 transmittal of a Dismounted Infantry 

Simulator fracture. The member data and method interfaces are given in the header file 

STF_Fracture.H; methods are subsequently defined in the source file STF_Fracture.C. Note that 

a default constructor and destructor are also defined in STF_Fracture.H. 

 

 The following pages in this appendix appear in their original form, without editorial change. 
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Appendix C. 3.1.1 STF_Fracture Class 

The C++ class for Synthetic Environment Data Representation and Interchange Specification 

3.1.1 transmittal generation of urban structure fracture is now given. This class is similiar to that 

in Appendix B but differs due to 3.1.1 requirements. 

 

 The following pages in this appendix appear in their original form, without editorial change. 
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
NO. OF NO. OF 

COPIES ORGANIZATION COPIES ORGANIZATION

1

 2 DEFENSE TECHNICAL 

 INFORMATION CENTER 

 DTIC OCA 

 8725 JOHN J KINGMAN RD 

 STE 0944 

 FT BELVOIR VA 22060-6218 

 1 COMMANDING GENERAL 

 US ARMY MATERIEL CMD 

 AMCRDA TF 

 5001 EISENHOWER AVE 

 ALEXANDRIA VA 22333-0001 

 1 INST FOR ADVNCD TCHNLGY 

 THE UNIV OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN 

 3925 W BRAKER LN STE 400 

 AUSTIN TX 78759-5316 

 1 US MILITARY ACADEMY 

 MATH SCI CTR EXCELLENCE 

 MADN MATH 

 THAYER HALL 

 WEST POINT NY 10996-1786 

 1 DIRECTOR 

 US ARMY RESEARCH LAB 

 AMSRL D 

 DR D SMITH 

 2800 POWDER MILL RD 

 ADELPHI MD 20783-1197 

 1 DIRECTOR 

 US ARMY RESEARCH LAB 

 AMSRL CS IS R 

 2800 POWDER MILL RD 

 ADELPHI MD 20783-1197 

 3 DIRECTOR 

 US ARMY RESEARCH LAB 

 AMSRL CI OK TL 

 2800 POWDER MILL RD 

 ADELPHI MD 20783-1197 

 3 DIRECTOR 

 US ARMY RESEARCH LAB 

 AMSRL CS IS T 

 2800 POWDER MILL RD 

 ADELPHI MD 20783-1197 

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

 2 DIR USARL 

 AMSRL CI LP (BLDG 305) 

 AMSRL CI OK TP (BLDG 4600) 
NO. OF 

COPIES ORGANIZATION

2

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND

 6 DIR USARL 

 AMSRL CI CT 

 P JONES 

 M THOMAS 

 A NEIDERER (4 CPS)