NSWC Corona hosts premiere Digital Transformation in Metrology workshop

NSWC Corona hosts premiere Digital Transformation in Metrology workshop

By Joaquin Vasquez-Duran, Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona Division hosted a landmark international workshop on digital integration within the metrology community on May 18-19. This hybrid event brought together over 80 experts from the Department of War, other U.S. federal agencies, industry, and partner nations - to forge a path towards a shared, secure, and standardized international digital infrastructure for measurement data.

Metrology, or the scientific study of measurement, ensures measurements are consistent, reliable, and accurate across the international system of units - including length, mass, temperature, electric current, time, and more. In a military context, metrology is critical to ensuring the proper performance of weapons, radar, and navigation systems and enabling the warfighter to trust that their equipment will work exactly as intended.

As the modern battlefield demands closer and more instantaneous interoperability between DoW branches, industry, and allies, operating independently on isolated legacy systems is no longer an option for measurement scientists in the defense space.

"We need to make on-the-spot decisions to ensure mission success," said Pamela Fiordilino, scientist at NSWC Corona. "If we cannot do that quickly, and proactively, and dynamically, it could delay our response. And for us, that is critical."

Metrology's modernization begins with how raw data is captured. Measurement data has been locked away in paper files, static formats like PDFs, or proprietary software not designed for compatibility or interoperability with other organizations. The complication is that no two software and hardware combinations export their data in the same way - creating data silos and limiting efficient data sharing.

"The Navy, the Air Force and the Army had to deal with different command sets, so they had to build different drivers," said Michael Schwartz, chief executive officer at CalLabs Solutions.

The two-day workshop at NSWC Corona tackled this challenge head-on. Conference attendees discussed ways to standardize metrology data infrastructure and develop a global standard, in addition to sharing their own digital transformation efforts.

U.S. Army Primary Standards Laboratory General Engineer Russell Kauffman spoke to the complexities of data sharing.

"We're getting our feet wet in this transformation, going from a hard-copy PDF to electronic information that can move both from within buildings and across the country," Kauffman said.

The discussions went beyond theory, featuring demonstrations and panel discussions on harmonizing data structures and using AI to advance metrology. Data must arrive fast enough to give warfighters the strategic advantage in modern warfare.

"From a military perspective, what can we put into a digital calibration certificate that will support our combatant commanders?" asked Jeremy Latsko, chief metrologist for the Air Force Metrology and Calibration program.

By bringing these key stakeholders together, NSWC Corona, in partnership with leaders from across the international metrology community, has laid the groundwork for a revolutionary change. Applying these new methods will be equally important for both the joint force and industry partners.

"Digital transformation is indeed a journey, and today we find ourselves at the intersection of all of those elements," said Elvis Acosta, technical director for NSWC Corona Division. "Part of the reason you have all come out is a shared belief in the future that requires you to move forward in a connected, standardized, and secure operating environment."

The digital transformation workshop hosted at NSWC Corona sets the precedent for international collaboration, hosting scientists, experts and technicians from the DoW, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NASA, New Zealand, Germany and others. The coordination of attendees is more than a step in the right direction - it is a full body pivot towards an industry-wide consensus.

NSWC Corona Division has provided analysis and assessment for the Navy since 1964. With expertise in gauging the Navy's warfighting capability, NSWC Corona is a leader in data, analytics, visualizations, digital environments, engineering, and leveraging technology to bridge and integrate the Navy's data silos - enabling informed decision-making by the warfighter. With more than 4,000 scientists, engineers, Sailors, technicians, and support staff, NSWC Corona is located in Norco, California, with two California detachments in Fallbrook and Seal Beach and personnel in 14 additional locations.