MIL-HDBK-1300A
4. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
4.1 History. The evolution of computer microprocessor technology in the early 1980s made it feasible to build numbers of systems that could interchange annotated digital imagery. By 1984, the need for a common data format became apparent, and a project to develop such a format was initiated. The original goal was to develop a co-standard that could be added to all of the existing systems and incorporated into new systems during the acquisition process. Version 1.0 of the NITF, which included only the image format, was approved in 1987 for use as a demonstration capability but not as a general implementation baseline. A formal structure was created to continue the development, validation, certification, and integration. A Defense Support Project Office (DSPO) representative was appointed to manage development and co-chair the NTB. An Intelligence Communications Architecture (INCA) Project Office representative was appointed to manage validation, certification, and testing, and to co-chair the NTB.
4.1.1 NITF 1.1. Version 1.1, an improved format, was developed, validated, and proposed as the implementation baseline. The NITF Configuration Control Board (NCCB), chaired by a representative from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence OASD(C3I) approved Version 1.1 for general implementation in March 1989. A certification test facility was established in 1990 under INCA sponsorship. In 1991, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assumed INCA's responsibilities, and the certification test facility was moved to the Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC), Ft. Huachuca, AZ. By March
1992, over thirty different system configurations had been certified as compliant with NITF Version
1.1, some with waivers.
4.1.2 NITFS. Development of an improved version of NITF began in 1988. Initially, the new version was called NITF 2.0. The key improvement over the earlier version of NITF was the inclusion of a communications support capability, to enable NITF to be transmitted over tactical circuits. The primary communications support capability was communications protocol TACO2. Additionally, improved image compression, forward error correction, and enhanced graphics algorithms began development. In 1991, NITF began conversion to a DOD standard. To mark this, the name was changed to the NITFS. NITFS now encompasses not only the NITF 2.0 file format, but also includes supporting standards for image compression, transmission protocols, and graphics. Figure 2 shows the document structure for current and anticipated NITFS documentation. This handbook is the top level document in the document structure. The supporting format and data representation standards are shown in the right branch of the tree. In the left branch are embraced protocol standards and Technical Interface Specifications (TIS), the latter providing detailed implementation guidance. In 1992, the Image Handling Standards and Guidelines document for Commercial Analyst Workstation (CAWS) adopted the NITF 2.0 file format (only) as the format for full frame National imagery to be distributed from IDEX II, System III, and Low Cost Media. Also
in 1992, development responsibility moved to the Central Imagery Office (CIO) and was
incorporated into the Defense Standardization Program under the auspices of the Defense Information
Systems Agency (DISA) in 1993.
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