Fusion of Hierarchical Identity Declaration for Naval Command and Control

Abstract : Within the context of naval warfare, commanders and their staff require access to a wide range of information to carry out their duties. This information provides them with the knowledge necessary to determine the position, identity and behavior of the enemy. This document is concerned with the fusion of identity declarations through the use of statistical analysis rooted in the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence. It proposes to hierarchically structure the declarations according to STANAG 4420 (Display Symbology and Colours for NATO Maritime Units). More specifically the aim of this document is two-fold: to explore the problem of fusing identity declarations emanating from different sources, and to offer the decision maker a quantitative analysis based on statistical methodology that can enhance his/her decision making process regarding the identity of detected objects.