USERS' MANUAL FOR SYSTEMATIC TRACK RECONSTRUCTION (STR) COMPUTER PROGRAM,

Abstract : The Systematic Track Reconstruction (STR) computer program was prepared as a part of the Fleet ASW Data Analysis Program (FADAP). It provides a means for resolving navigational conflicts which can arise from inconsistent data. Each unit involved in an ASW exercise records its position on a Dead Reckoning Trace (DRT) and also its contacts with other ships. In the past, navigational conflicts have been resolved by 'eyeballing' the set of ship tracks. The report describes a mathematically consistent method for obtaining the most probable estimate of actual positions from these conflicting records. Physically, the mathematics correspond to sliding the DRTs with respect to one another, rotating them, and stretching them so that a statistical compromise is obtained from the conflicting reports of ship position. As a compromise, therefore, reconstruction tracks may differ from actual ship movements. The computer program determines a confidence level for each reconstructed track which is a measure of the probability that the actual course differs from the reconstructed track. (Author)