Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things

Bonnie Johnson; Anthony Kendall; John Green; Bruce Nagy; Gregory Dogum; Kristin Jones Maia; Michele Meszaros; Jonathan Novoa; Rene Villarreal

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

Research Article |

Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things

Bonnie Johnson^*, Anthony Kendall, John Green, Bruce Nagy, Gregory Dogum, Kristin Jones Maia, Michele Meszaros, Jonathan Novoa, Rene Villarreal

Published in American Journal of Computer Science and Technology (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Received: 12 August 2023 Accepted: 6 September 2023 Published: 24 November 2023

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Abstract

Future large-scale combat operations against a peer or near-peer adversary will involve a cyberspace domain in addition to the more traditional physical domains of air, land, sea, and space. The role that data and information play at every point in this continuum cannot be understated. Moreover, the ability to communicate effectively and coordinate across multiple domains simultaneously—to enable an internet of battlefield things—is dependent upon accessible and reliable information. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated the use of blockchain technology to address challenges with increasing amounts of disparate sensor data and an information-rich landscape that can quickly overwhelm effective decision-making processes. The team explored how blockchain can be used at the tactical edge to support an internet of battlefield thing approach by verifying users, validating sensor data fed into artificial intelligence models, limiting access to data, and providing an audit trail across the data life cycle. The team developed a conceptual design for implementing blockchain for tactical data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications; identified challenges and limitations involved in implementing blockchain for the tactical domain; described the benefits of blockchain for these various applications; and evaluated the findings to propose future research into a wide set of tactical blockchain applications. The team studied three use cases: (1) blockchain at the tactical edge in a “data light” information environment for long range fires, (2) blockchain to secure tactical medical information in electronic health record, and (3) blockchain for collecting multiple types of tactical sensor data for chemical weapons defense to support measurement and signature intelligence analysis using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Published in	American Journal of Computer Science and Technology (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12
Page(s)	126-147
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Blockchain, Internet of Battlefield Things, Hyperledger, Data Fabric, Long Range Fires, Electronic Health Record, Chemical Weapons

References

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APA Style

Johnson, B., Kendall, A., Green, J., Nagy, B., Dogum, G., et al. (2023). Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things. American Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 6(4), 126-147. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

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ACS Style

Johnson, B.; Kendall, A.; Green, J.; Nagy, B.; Dogum, G., et al. Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things. Am. J. Comput. Sci. Technol. 2023, 6(4), 126-147. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

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AMA Style

Johnson B, Kendall A, Green J, Nagy B, Dogum G, et al. Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things. Am J Comput Sci Technol. 2023;6(4):126-147. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12,
  author = {Bonnie Johnson and Anthony Kendall and John Green and Bruce Nagy and Gregory Dogum and Kristin Jones Maia and Michele Meszaros and Jonathan Novoa and Rene Villarreal},
  title = {Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things},
  journal = {American Journal of Computer Science and Technology},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {126-147},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcst.20230604.12},
  abstract = {Future large-scale combat operations against a peer or near-peer adversary will involve a cyberspace domain in addition to the more traditional physical domains of air, land, sea, and space. The role that data and information play at every point in this continuum cannot be understated. Moreover, the ability to communicate effectively and coordinate across multiple domains simultaneously—to enable an internet of battlefield things—is dependent upon accessible and reliable information. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated the use of blockchain technology to address challenges with increasing amounts of disparate sensor data and an information-rich landscape that can quickly overwhelm effective decision-making processes. The team explored how blockchain can be used at the tactical edge to support an internet of battlefield thing approach by verifying users, validating sensor data fed into artificial intelligence models, limiting access to data, and providing an audit trail across the data life cycle. The team developed a conceptual design for implementing blockchain for tactical data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications; identified challenges and limitations involved in implementing blockchain for the tactical domain; described the benefits of blockchain for these various applications; and evaluated the findings to propose future research into a wide set of tactical blockchain applications. The team studied three use cases: (1) blockchain at the tactical edge in a “data light” information environment for long range fires, (2) blockchain to secure tactical medical information in electronic health record, and (3) blockchain for collecting multiple types of tactical sensor data for chemical weapons defense to support measurement and signature intelligence analysis using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things
AU  - Bonnie Johnson
AU  - Anthony Kendall
AU  - John Green
AU  - Bruce Nagy
AU  - Gregory Dogum
AU  - Kristin Jones Maia
AU  - Michele Meszaros
AU  - Jonathan Novoa
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JF  - American Journal of Computer Science and Technology
JO  - American Journal of Computer Science and Technology
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - Future large-scale combat operations against a peer or near-peer adversary will involve a cyberspace domain in addition to the more traditional physical domains of air, land, sea, and space. The role that data and information play at every point in this continuum cannot be understated. Moreover, the ability to communicate effectively and coordinate across multiple domains simultaneously—to enable an internet of battlefield things—is dependent upon accessible and reliable information. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated the use of blockchain technology to address challenges with increasing amounts of disparate sensor data and an information-rich landscape that can quickly overwhelm effective decision-making processes. The team explored how blockchain can be used at the tactical edge to support an internet of battlefield thing approach by verifying users, validating sensor data fed into artificial intelligence models, limiting access to data, and providing an audit trail across the data life cycle. The team developed a conceptual design for implementing blockchain for tactical data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications; identified challenges and limitations involved in implementing blockchain for the tactical domain; described the benefits of blockchain for these various applications; and evaluated the findings to propose future research into a wide set of tactical blockchain applications. The team studied three use cases: (1) blockchain at the tactical edge in a “data light” information environment for long range fires, (2) blockchain to secure tactical medical information in electronic health record, and (3) blockchain for collecting multiple types of tactical sensor data for chemical weapons defense to support measurement and signature intelligence analysis using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

VL  - 6
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Author Information

Bonnie Johnson

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA

Contact Email
Anthony Kendall

Information Sciences Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA
John Green

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA
Bruce Nagy

Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, Ridgecrest, USA
Gregory Dogum

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA
Kristin Jones Maia

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA
Michele Meszaros

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA
Jonathan Novoa

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA
Rene Villarreal

Systems Engineering Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA

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APA Style

Johnson, B., Kendall, A., Green, J., Nagy, B., Dogum, G., et al. (2023). Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things. American Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 6(4), 126-147. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

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ACS Style

Johnson, B.; Kendall, A.; Green, J.; Nagy, B.; Dogum, G., et al. Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things. Am. J. Comput. Sci. Technol. 2023, 6(4), 126-147. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

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AMA Style

Johnson B, Kendall A, Green J, Nagy B, Dogum G, et al. Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things. Am J Comput Sci Technol. 2023;6(4):126-147. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12,
  author = {Bonnie Johnson and Anthony Kendall and John Green and Bruce Nagy and Gregory Dogum and Kristin Jones Maia and Michele Meszaros and Jonathan Novoa and Rene Villarreal},
  title = {Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things},
  journal = {American Journal of Computer Science and Technology},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {126-147},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcst.20230604.12},
  abstract = {Future large-scale combat operations against a peer or near-peer adversary will involve a cyberspace domain in addition to the more traditional physical domains of air, land, sea, and space. The role that data and information play at every point in this continuum cannot be understated. Moreover, the ability to communicate effectively and coordinate across multiple domains simultaneously—to enable an internet of battlefield things—is dependent upon accessible and reliable information. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated the use of blockchain technology to address challenges with increasing amounts of disparate sensor data and an information-rich landscape that can quickly overwhelm effective decision-making processes. The team explored how blockchain can be used at the tactical edge to support an internet of battlefield thing approach by verifying users, validating sensor data fed into artificial intelligence models, limiting access to data, and providing an audit trail across the data life cycle. The team developed a conceptual design for implementing blockchain for tactical data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications; identified challenges and limitations involved in implementing blockchain for the tactical domain; described the benefits of blockchain for these various applications; and evaluated the findings to propose future research into a wide set of tactical blockchain applications. The team studied three use cases: (1) blockchain at the tactical edge in a “data light” information environment for long range fires, (2) blockchain to secure tactical medical information in electronic health record, and (3) blockchain for collecting multiple types of tactical sensor data for chemical weapons defense to support measurement and signature intelligence analysis using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Blockchain at the Tactical Edge: Enabling an Internet of Battlefield Things
AU  - Bonnie Johnson
AU  - Anthony Kendall
AU  - John Green
AU  - Bruce Nagy
AU  - Gregory Dogum
AU  - Kristin Jones Maia
AU  - Michele Meszaros
AU  - Jonathan Novoa
AU  - Rene Villarreal
Y1  - 2023/11/24
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12
T2  - American Journal of Computer Science and Technology
JF  - American Journal of Computer Science and Technology
JO  - American Journal of Computer Science and Technology
SP  - 126
EP  - 147
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-012X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcst.20230604.12
AB  - Future large-scale combat operations against a peer or near-peer adversary will involve a cyberspace domain in addition to the more traditional physical domains of air, land, sea, and space. The role that data and information play at every point in this continuum cannot be understated. Moreover, the ability to communicate effectively and coordinate across multiple domains simultaneously—to enable an internet of battlefield things—is dependent upon accessible and reliable information. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated the use of blockchain technology to address challenges with increasing amounts of disparate sensor data and an information-rich landscape that can quickly overwhelm effective decision-making processes. The team explored how blockchain can be used at the tactical edge to support an internet of battlefield thing approach by verifying users, validating sensor data fed into artificial intelligence models, limiting access to data, and providing an audit trail across the data life cycle. The team developed a conceptual design for implementing blockchain for tactical data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning applications; identified challenges and limitations involved in implementing blockchain for the tactical domain; described the benefits of blockchain for these various applications; and evaluated the findings to propose future research into a wide set of tactical blockchain applications. The team studied three use cases: (1) blockchain at the tactical edge in a “data light” information environment for long range fires, (2) blockchain to secure tactical medical information in electronic health record, and (3) blockchain for collecting multiple types of tactical sensor data for chemical weapons defense to support measurement and signature intelligence analysis using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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