Technical survey and forecast for information fusion

We estimate that within ten years there could exist a practically useful methodology for information fusion, in particular for situation assessment in ground warfare scenarios, and that ten additional years of focused research could lead to the fielding of effective such systems within the network-based defence, entailing a substantial productivity boost in the management and analysis of tactical intelligence. This estimate presumes that the quality and quantity of information fusion research is not reduced, but is rather allowed to gradually increase during the next five to ten years. Also in the future, development of such methodology will be contingent on the maintaining of close links between applied and basic research in relevant areas.