The Dismounted Infantry Virtual After Action Review System (DIVAARS) is a product of the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) and the University of Central Florida Institute for Simulation and Training (IST). It was originally developed as part of the Virtual Environments for Dismounted Soldier Simulation, Training, and Mission Rehearsal Science and Technology Objective (STO) and has been extended for use in the Embedded Training for Dismounted Soldiers STO and the Virtual-Integrated MOUT Training System.
The DIVAARS software runs on a PC connected to a network of individual simulators and captures and records all exercise data (including voice communication). The AAR Leader can "tag" events during the exercise (for use during the AAR session itself). During the AAR, snippets of the exercise are replayed (typically using the tags although any part of the exercise may be replayed) and a number of visual augmentations are provided.
Capabilities:
DIVAARS capabilities include:
- Primarily plan view display with multiple viewpoints
- “Point-and-click” interface
- “DVD-like” replay system
- Jump to marked event
- Jump to selected time
- Jump to marked viewpoint
- Variable speed play, pause, etc.
- Graphics enhancements
- Movement tracks
- Field of view cones
- Individual entity IDs
- Selection of building floors for viewing
- Digital recording & synchronization of audio communications
- Tabular & graphic data presentation
Purpose:
It is designed to meet two needs. The first is to provide trainees with a common understanding of what happened during an exercise and why it happened, so that they can identify ways to improve their performance. Determining what happened during an exercise is particularly difficult in a built-up environment, where buildings and other structures break up the visual field and limit the portion of the battlefield that can be observed by any one person. The second need is to facilitate data analysis, in order to support training feedback and research and development.
Advantages:
DIVAARS is compatible with other dismounted simulation products that support the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) and High-Level Architecture (HLA) standards (such as the SVS and Dismounted Infantry Semi-Automated Forces, DISAF). In addition, it is compatible with game-based training systems that support DIS or HLA (such as G-DIS and VBS2). During an exercise, the AAR leader can move freely through the simulated environment in a stealth mode, teleport to pre-selected viewpoints, mark events (times) and viewpoints for use during the AAR, zoom in and out, capture “snapshots” for later viewing, and toggle on and off information such as traces of movement paths and individual identifiers. Individual floors of multi-story buildings can be selected for viewing. During the AAR, the operator can do all of those things and in addition, can change viewing speed and location, and jump forward or backward to marked events or times. An enhanced top down view is the primary view and organizing structure in either viewing mode. A variety of exercise data can be shown in either tabular or graphic form.
The AAR System uses our VESS software, which provides libraries for development of Virtual Environments (VE), and our GEMINI system that provides multiple protocol support. Using VESS and GEMINI simplified and expedited the development of the AAR system and allows the AAR system to run on various platforms.
Getting DIVAARS:
This web page allows you to download the system itself for you to try or use (with account approval). Some common support items are also available (such as the Operator's Manual).
If you have questions about DIVAARS, please contact us!
