IARPA releases formal solicitation for 3D displays to help geographical intelligence analysts

WASHINGTON, 3 July 2011. The U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) in Washington is asking industry to develop holographic 3D displays to help geographical intelligence analysts process massive quantities of dynamic 3D data for prolonged periods without fatigue, and without special 3D glasses. IARPA released a broad agency announcement (IARPA-BAA-11-06) Friday for the Synthetic Holographic Observation (SHO) program to enable intelligence analysts to view 3D intelligence imagery for long periods without fatigue.IARPA, the research arm of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, is asking industry to create low-profile, brilliant, power-efficient, high-resolution, and full-color synthetic holographic 3D displays that present dynamic 3D data with no flicker, no color break-up, and simultaneously viewable by several analysts with the unaided eye. IARPA conducted industry-day briefings on the SHO program last April.Geo-intelligence analysts work with 3D data, which come from a wide variety of sources including light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), stereo from imagery, and digital terrain models. This 3D geographical information often fuses with multispectral imagery to represent geographic regions and situations of interest, IARPA officials say.

Current 3D viewing technologies, however, are inadequate to enable analysts enable to work interactively and collaboratively with 3D data in fast-paced operational settings for prolonged periods. Shortcomings involve the artificial rendering of depth and perspective, which often leads to fatigue and disorientation among analysts.

The SHO program will consider human factors to enable comfortable sustained viewing that is natural to the senses, IARPA officials say. The program also will develop powerful software to enable analysts to work naturally in 3D without the drawbacks of today's systems.

IARPA has set up a special Website for SHO program information at www.iarpa.gov/solicitations_sho.html. Companies interested in bidding should respond no later than 2 Sept. 2011. For questions or concerns, contact IARPA's Karl Roenigk by e-mail at [email protected], by fax at 301-851-7673, or by post at IARPA, Incisive Analysis Office, ATTN: IARPA-BAA-11-06, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, Washington, DC 20511.

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3387f1151a13aa8ec0d2bc39bf88335e.