Air Force eyes crowd sourcing to power data analysis
By
Nick Wakeman
The Air Force wants to add the power of crowd sourcing to how it analyzes data around test and training missions.
The Air Force Air Warfare Center is looking to improve its knowledge management and data mining capabilities around the concept of crowd sourcing.
At least, that is what they are calling the requirement in a new sources sought notice.
Officially called Crowd Sourced Data Collection Support, the Air Force wants to improve how it collects and analyzes data from training and test flights. They want to improve flight mission instrumentation, data acquisition, data processing and knowledge management support.
The work will support the Air Force’s 53rd Test and Evaluation Group based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. A contractor will evaluate, upgrade, modify and operate instrumentation systems before, during and after test missions.
Some of the requirements include:
- Instrumentation support, system modifications and improvements
- Design, modifications and operations
- System design documentation updates
- Knowledge management support
In addition to work at Nellis AFB, there also will be work at a Marine Corps site in Yuma, Arizona, Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, and Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
So why is the Air Force is calling this crowd sourcing? The section on knowledge management gives a bit of a hint. The Air Force says that the knowledge management system must take in flight test mission data and pilot discrepancy reports while automating data mining and search scenarios.
Here is the crowd sourcing part: The contractor needs to enable comparative analysis and government-to-government data access for “engineers at alternate locations” who will use the knowledge management system to analyze the data.
In other words, the Air Force wants other people in other locations to also be able to analyze the data. The more analysis the better the results.
Comments are due May 20.