Capability/Service
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
September 2008
www.erdc.usace.army.mil
Developing Capabilities for
Map Server
Combat Terrain Information Systems (CTIS) is the Project Management Office
responsible for the acquisition of tactical terrain analysis capabilities for the U.S.
Army. Project Director, CTIS develops and fields Map Server capabilities that support
dissemination of a common geospatial data set to provide a Common Topographic
Operating Environment for the Army Battle Command Systems community and other
Army geospatial data users.
The Map Server has three primary sources of data: the National Geospatial
Intelligence Agency (NGA), commercial data providers, and data derived by Army
Terrain Teams. NGA provides digital elevation, feature, and image data. Commercial
data consists mainly of vectors, high-resolution imagery, and video formats. Terrain
Teams provide both digital
data and Tactical Decision
Aids (TDAs) generated on the
Digital Topographic Support
System (DTSS). Map Server
provides a web-based, user-
friendly interface that allows
clients to pull these separate
geospatial data and product
types down to their systems.
Map Server then uses state-of-
the-art commercial software
packages to store, manage,
and exchange this data
between itself and systems
using the Commercial Joint
Mapping Toolkit (CJMTK).
The Map Server is a component of the DTSS-Light (DTSS-L) and DTSS-Base
(DTSS-B) systems, which are designed to meet the geospatial data needs at various
Army echelons. The Map Server:
1. Provides geospatial information (electronic map background images, digital elevation
data, feature data, imagery, and geospatial analysis) to Army systems
2. Provides the capability to receive, validate, store, and organize geospatial data,
including both NGA data and data in common commercial formats
3. Provides, maintains, and manages the Geospatial data from Theater through Brigade
levels
4. Provides database management for al