JTIDS Integrated Siting Tool (JIST)-technical overview

The author provides a technical overview of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) Integrated Siting Tool (JIST) and discusses its capability to predict point-to-point connectivity of line-of-sight radio links in both hostile and benign environments. JIST is a prototype network planning and link engineering automated tool developed by the Army to lay down JTIDS networks over a variety of terrain conditions. Specific topics that are discussed include the benefits of integrating electronic map backgrounds for site selection, planning for multipath reflections on JTIDS links, and designing a network to operate in an electronic warfare environment. The initial evaluation of the JIST prototype indicates that it provides significant advantages over manual and semi-automated network planning and link engineering methods. The process of extracting evaluation values from hundreds of topographic contour lines, interpolating to calculate Fresnel zone clearances, and then determining signal loss is accomplished in seconds using JIST. This provides the operator with more time to improve network connectivity, using JIST´s automated relay siting capabilities