Digital Image Data Extraction Software Application
l Applied Mechanics Mechanical Design Information Systems Reliability and Human Engineering Electronic Systems Applied Systems Logistics Services
Information Systems Division © 1987-2010 Mercer Engineering Research Center 135 Osigian Blvd. • Warner Robins, GA 31088 info@merc-mercer.org • www.merc-mercer.org • 478.953.6800 This application was developed using an Optical Character Recognition / Intelligent Character Recognition (OCR/ICR) engine, which can accurately recognize both machine and handprint data. Microsoft's Visual Basic .NET served as the development environment for the application. As a part of MERC's support to the CATT Program, the Information Systems Division developed a software application to automate the extraction of data from digital images. Typical image files are of aircraft parts and contain useful information including material specifications and material references. This information is being used to feed a data warehouse, from which intelligent inferences are made about potential suppliers of the parts. MERC participated in the Computer Assisted Technology Transfer (CATT) Program, later renamed the Aging Systems Sustainment Enabling Technologies (ASSET) program, for the several years, along with other government, commercial and academic organizations. CATT is a National Reinvention Laboratory initiated in 1994 by Oklahoma State University to address Department of Defense (DoD) procurement problems. The technologies and processes developed in the CATT program increase the DoD supply base, reduce the time and cost associated with parts procurement, and enhance military readiness.