Original Date: 05/23/1994
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Range Information Display Center (RIDC) was developed at Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport to help reduce the costs of traveling to range sites to observe torpedo testing. Since range locations such as Nanoose in British Columbia, Canada are remote, the labor costs for traveling to the range event were substantial. In addition, testing frequently occurred early in the day or late in the afternoon, placing travel constraints on the attendees. Average trip costs were $871 per person to observe a one hour ranging event, with an estimated indirect cost of $312 per person, based on previous records.

The RIDC system was developed by soliciting customer inputs during the initial design stage and using the teaming concept during test and evaluation. Meetings and questionnaires throughout the process aided in providing a cost effective system. Commercial off-the-shelf hardware was used to restrain design costs.

The microwave communication link is owned and maintained by Keyport and provides secure encrypted video, audio, and digital data from the range sites to the RIDC. In addition to monitoring in-water testing from the three northwest range sites, playback capabilities are also provided for detailed analysis of recorded data. Display sources include a variety of video, secure range communications, graphics range plot, and underwater sound. Video display is accomplished by four large-screen monitors and a 100-inch rear-projection screen. Audio of secure range communications, torpedo sonar, and underwater sound is also provided.

The RIDC improves range personnel productivity, as well as reduces the number of government and contractor test evaluators required to travel to observe the testing. Using the RIDC, program and project decision makers can observe ranging, and ranging results are more quickly provided to Keyport to direct analysts to a specific area of interest when the torpedo returns. In addition, range operators can more fully concentrate on operating the range, and suppliers can become familiar with how their products are used in the process. The RIDC also helps to customize the presentation of range information and significantly reduces the time lag for review of weapon test data for possible ranging system changes.

Significant savings in travel time and expenses have been realized by using the RIDC system at Keyport. Instead of two, three, or four days to observe a range event, the customer now receives a phone call 15 minutes before the shot, walks to the RIDC, and returns to his work area in less than an hour. The RIDC has proven to be a valuable asset in providing an efficient means to observe range activities without the usual costs associated with visiting the various sites.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.