Designing a data fusion system using a top-down approach

While there are multiple reference models for data fusion, there are no formal processes in which to design a complete fusion system. Even though high-level fusion, i.e., impact and threat assessment, is included in the various models, the majority of data fusion research has focused on low-level data fusion such as sensing and correlation. More importantly, low-level fusion technologies have been designed without detailed consideration of threat and impact assessment requirements. On the other hand, high-level designs are restricted by the available data from low-level systems. This disconnected practice has presented tremendous challenges for designing an effective overall fusion system that would truly enhance situation awareness. This paper proposes a top-down fusion system design process in which the elements needed for situation awareness will drive the design requirements for environment/terrain models, impact and threat assessment, event correlation and tracking, observable definitions, and sensing. The discussion will be complemented with examples from the cyber security domain.